September 19, 2017, Fort Smith – United Way of Fort Smith Area kicked off its 2017 Campaign with a celebration luncheon at the Blue Lion in Fort Smith. A large crowd attended the drop in luncheon including community leaders, United Way’s leadership, volunteers and agency representatives. A short program began at noon with United Way Board Chair, Les Smith, from Arvest, giving the welcome and introducing the 2017 Campaign Chair, Sherry Sims, from Rheem. Sherry presented her campaign message to the community and announced the Pacesetter of the Year award winner, Greenwood Public Schools. Pacesetters run their campaign during the month of August to help jumpstart the United Way fund drive. The total dollars raised by Pacesetter companies of $951,210, was announced by United Way President, Eddie Lee Herndon.
United Way of Fort Smith Area is at work in your community. We all have a stake in providing opportunities for a better life for all. Together, we can build stronger, healthier, and more prosperous communities. In 2016, the campaign raised over 1.8 million dollars, all of which was reinvested back into the community. If you would like to hold a workplace campaign and help United Way in their efforts, please call Penni Burns at 479 782 1311.
“The Pacesetter campaign in August is essential to the overall success of the campaign”, stated Eddie Lee Herndon, UWFSA President”. “At a time when we are nearly overwhelmed with requests, every single donation large or small makes an enormous impact in our community. We are incredibly grateful to all of the companies that helped us achieve nearly half of our goal in just 30 days. ”.
The Pacesetter companies are: ArcBest Corporation and its subsidiaries; ATU-Ozark Campus; Arvest Bank; AT&T; Baldor Electric Company; BancorpSouth; BHC Insurance; Booneville Public Schools; Citizens Bank & Trust; Community National Bank of Booneville; County Line Public Schools; First National Bank of Fort Smith; Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club; Golden Living; Greenwood Public Schools; Hanna Oil & Gas; OK Foods; Magazine Public Schools; Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Ozark Area Youth Organization; Rheem; Stepping Stone School; Sykes; UPS-Fort Smith; UPS-Sallisaw; Trane Custom, and United Way of Fort Smith Area.
United Way of Fort Smith Area serves Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties in Arkansas and LeFlore and Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma. Its mission is to improve lives by connecting people and resources in its six-county area.