United Way Rocks!

UNITED WAY OF LEE, HENDRY, AND GLADES SURPASSES
CAMPAIGN GOAL ONCE AGAIN
FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 12, 2008) – United Way of Lee Hendry and Glades announced at the Red Sox vs. Twins game at Hammond Stadium that local residents and companies contributed $7,600,332 to create real and lasting solutions to critical local issues. This surpasses the goal announced in June of $7.2 million and is a 10% increase over the amount raised last year. This is the 10th year in a row that residents and companies have come together to produce a double digit increase in giving. This makes our community’s United Way the number one United Way for campaign increases in the entire nation over the past decade.
"Throughout this campaign, I have repeatedly heard how much people value United Way and the results being achieved," stated Scott Edmonds, 2007-2008 United Way Campaign Chair and Chairman, President and CEO of Chico’s FAS. "The community has placed its trust in United Way and their network of partner agencies and initiatives to help the most people in the most efficient and effective way possible. I want to thank all of you who contributed and I promise you that your gift is going to improve the quality of life for the people of our community!”
"We are very proud to be part of a caring and generous community," said Cliff Smith, President of United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades. “We are pleased that we will not only be able to fully fund our 70 partner agencies, but we will be able to support them with additional funds so that they can help even more of our friends, neighbors, families and co-workers right here in our community.”
Sarah Owen, Director of Community Cooperative Ministries, a United Way Partner, is
delighted with the news. “United Way funding is crucial to our program. The fact that United
Way has achieved their fundraising goal during these slow economic times gives all of us in human services the confidence that we will be able to provide the critical services that our community needs.”
Since the inception of United Way in 1957, 80 million dollars have been raised in our community. All money raised in the United Way campaign stays in the local community to help support the local human service network. United Way partner agencies and initiatives like Alvin A Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center, Children’s Advocacy Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, LARC and United Way 211 serve a diverse range of needs in our community such as nurturing children and youth, strengthening families, meeting critical needs such as helping the elderly and disabled live independently, and empowering communities by bringing health and human services to neighborhoods.
In addition to raising funds for human service organizations in our community, the United Way promotes partnerships and collaborations among agencies and initiatives, helping them to work together focusing on issues and solutions that continue to improve lives.
2007 marked the organization’s 50th anniversary. The United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades has been “the way the community cares” since it was established in 1957. For more information please call United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades at (239) 433-2000 or visit www.unitedwaylee.org.