By PEGGY KING
CORDELE — Crisp, Dooly and Wilcox Counties officially kicked off their 2009 United Way campaign last week with breakfast at Crisp Regional Hospital.
Volunteers under the direction of Campaign Chairperson Bridget Milani will be working to raise $50,000 to meet this year’s goal.
Board Chairperson Jessica Carter reported that 90% of every dollar raised in the three counties is spent locally. United Way of Crisp, Dooly and Wilcox Counties supports 10 agencies in the community, she said, including Agilis, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Department of Family & Children Services (medication for seniors), the Council on Aging’s “meals on wheels” program, Easter Seals, Prevent Child Abuse Crisp County, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Liberty House and St. Paul Learning Center.
Assisting Milani with the fundraising campaign this year are Natalie Koontz who will work with the larger business organizations in the community; Christy Clary who will work with smaller firms; Frank Olson who heads up the public campaign; Susan Barge who directs the residential drive; Shelvia Koontz who works with professionals and Denise Bauer who will work in Dooly County.
Other members of the team are Laura Horne, Noel Williams, Heath Hamilton, Shannon McGinnis, Amy McBryant, Jennifer Reese, Ashley Hobbs, Geraldine Mann and Pam Cook.
“I’m committed to keeping the community informed,” Milani said. “We want to reach out to Dooly and Wilcox Counties more and get excitement in our schools. We’re looking forward to making a difference.”
Guest speaker for the event was Kelly Chadwick who directs Prevent Child Abuse Crisp County and also supervises the “First Steps” and “Healthy Families” programs.
When she first started working with the Department of Family & Children Services, Chadwick said, she worked in “intervention.” Now she’s involved more with “prevention,” and she is pleased that the number of abused children in the county has decreased from 200 to 50 during the time she’s been working with the program.
“You never know what a child is going through at home,” she said, explaining that some children have no water and no power. In some instances, she added, six year olds are looking after two year olds.
“We couldn’t do our work without United Way,” she added.
For conducting successful employee campaigns for United Way during the past year, Crisp County Power Commission, Crisp Regional Hospital, Marvair and the Crisp County Schools were recognized during the kickoff breakfast.
A number of individuals also were recognized for their support of the organization.
Contributions have remained steady in spite of the recession, Carter said. “None of our agencies was cut during the past year,” she added.
