United Way exceeds goal
Officers, volunteers and donors had a good reason to shout Friday, Feb. 25, when it was announced that the 2010 Morgan County United Way Campaign exceeded its goal by $86,000.
The good news came at the organization’s Victory Celebration at Holiday Inn & Suites in Decatur.
Contributions and pledges totaled $1,606,000, or $86,000 above a goal of $1,520,00, which was set last fall. The total was $31,000 more than what was reported in 2009 but $237,000 less than what was collected in 2008.
Campaign Chairman Lendon Haggard reported that the county again ranked above the national average in both corporate and employee giving and commended a dozen companies for finding ways to increase their gifts in spite of economic difficulties.
The United Way helps finance 25 charitable agencies and nine youth programs.
Jim Tipler of BP was singled out as recipient of the 2010 John Abbott Award, which is given to the top loaned executive.
The Ira Lay Award for lifetime service was presented posthumously to the late Sandy Clowes, who died in 2010.
Decatur Utilities was honored as the company showing the largest increase in giving, 40 percent, totaling $32,000.
Other companies recognizing for year-to-year increases in giving were: Daikin America, $372,000’ Ascend, 25 percent increase, $65,542; Mundy, $18,000; BP, $87,305
Cerro Wire, 31 percent increase, $9,000; United Launch Alliance, 211 percent increase, $87,000; Del Monte, 38 percent increase, $20,000; GE, $98,000; Sexton ITC, 22 percent increase, $41,500; and Publix, $57,094.
