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United Way of Fort Smith Area kicked
off its 2007 community campaign September 13 at a breakfast held at Golden
Ventures (formerly Beverly Enterprises). More than 150 people attended the
celebration including community leaders,
United Way's leadership volunteers and agency
representatives. Walter Echols, United Way Board Chairman, gave the welcome.
Leading the way among 40 Pacesetter
companies is Arkansas Best Corporation, nearing $250,000, a $20,000 increase
over last year's contributions. Hugh Maurras, 2007 Campaign Chairman, said
Pacesetters have set the bar high for other companies to follow with their
campaigns.
The Time is Right -
Campaign ideas
Jack Dunn with Golden Ventures, in true
Bob Barker fashion, emceed a segment called "The Time is Right" in which he
spun a wheel and called for various contestants to "come on down" and share
details on what their various corporate campaigns have done to raise funds
for United Way.
Pictured with Jack Dunn is Robyn
Oxford, Rheem Manufactuing - Air Conditioning Division. She told about the
"Purple Prize Patrol" at Rheem. This special team, in purple shirts and with
purple balloons, rides a cart through the plant to award winners of the
50/50 drawings. They create a lot of enthusiam for the campaign. She also
told about their basket auctions.
Mary Kay Teeter, WWL, brought a
cookbook for Jack to hold during her time on stage. They are selling
cookbooks for $15 with proceeds to benefit United Way. Another idea WWL uses is
"Take-out for United Way"
where food is ordered from various restaurants and brought into the company
on certain days. They are also taking orders for fresh evergreen wreaths and
garlands for the Christmas season.
Cindy Barker, Arvest, told about their
golf tournament, Day in the Park and A-Bay auction. They also hold a
luncheon to thank those who give at the leadership level and to invite
others to join in leadership giving.
Betty Wiley, First National Bank,
related how their recent Bake Sale made more than $3,000 for United Way.
Their Stonewood Branch offered Razorback baked goods on Friday before the
Hog's first game. The Brooken Hill Branch had a contest between two
employees with both getting a pie in the face as they tied. A cookout was
held on Court Street.
Patti West, Golden Ventures, noted how
they hold a trivia contest each year and also have an auction of donated
items from individuals and businesses.
 Additional kick-offs
were held in surrounding communities of Ozark, Van Buren and Booneville. In
Ozark, Yvonne Case, Franklin County DHHS; Eddie Melton, Bank of the
Ozarks; and Sarah Fowler,
United Way, were among the speakers at lunch in
Wiederkehr Weingarten. Penni Burns, Ozark Area
Youth Organization, told what a difference it makes to
receive United Way
funds. In addition, Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, ATU-Ozark Campus, shared the
importance of investing in our communities.
In Booneville, the kick-off was held at
the Jeral L. Hampton Meeting Room. Robert Herrera, First Western Bank,
welcomed the crowd. Ellyn Schleiffarth, Girl Scounts; and Rick Scott, Boys &
Girls Club of South Logan County, told about their agencies and the impact
of United Way.
In Van Buren, the
early morning breakfast crowd was
 welcomed
to the Continuing Education
Center by the drum
corps of the Van Buren High School Band. Jim Ford, Summit Medical
Center, told
everyone to take their shoes off and wiggle their toes. "That is the good
feeling you should feel when you give to United Way," noted Jim. Jeff Inness,
Van Buren Boys & Girls Club; Cindy Massengale, Stepping Stone School; and
Christy Williams, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Crawford and Sebastian
Counties, shared how United Way is important in their agencies. Bob Freeman,
Mayor of Van Buren, shared that "United Way
pulls at my heart. It is one of my passions."
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