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Special Thanks to our Campaign Cabinet
United Way would like to thank all of our campaign volunteers across the community who are working hard to help us reach our $1.75 million goal this year. We couldn't do it without you! We'd also like to give special thanks to our volunteers leading the different campaign divisions.
Campaign Chair: Dr. Annie Wimbish, Hattiesburg Public Schools
Pacesetters: Jerome Brown, The First
Major Firms: Curt Jones, Regions Bank
Mid-Size Firms: Jim Smith, Grand Bank
Education: Dr. Ben Burnett, Lamar County Schools
Public Service: Derek Arrington; Jackson, Bowman & Blumentritt law firm
Account Revitalization: Bill Hickman, community volunteer
New Account Development: Chris Martin, Hattiesburg Clinic
Agencies: Becky Sims, Domestic Abuse Family Shelter
Grand Givers Society: Glenn and Gayle Galey and Al and Dora Willis
Retirees: Kaye Ray and Iola Williams
Communications: Kemi Simmons, Grand Bank |
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Save the Dates
Southern Miss will be collecting donations for its United Way campaign during the USM vs. Memphis game on Oct. 17. Watch for the student volunteers and help them help us!
Southern Miss will also help United Way by holding its annual Santa's Bargain Basement Mega Garage Sale on Dec. 5. Collection of donated items will begin the week of Oct. 12 if you would like to contribute.
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Coming Soon - 2010 Census
The U.S. Census provides important information for many organizations, including United Way. Census data helps us with strategic planning and studying the needs of our community. You will receive your census in March 2010, so be on the lookout! |
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Agency News
Your United Way investment at work
The Salvation Army
Stein Mart is helping out The Salvation Army Oct. 1-3. Bring your gently used clothing to any Stein Mart on those days and receive a 20% off coupon, good on one item. You can receive a maximum of four coupons, but you can donate as many garments as you like. All clothing received will go to The Salvation Army. Tax receipts are available. |
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Boy Scouts
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Scoutreach Scouts participate in a recent ceremony. The Scoutreach program of the Boy Scouts receives funding support from United Way of Southeast Mississippi. |
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ARC
ARC's Buddy Program got off to a rollicking start thanks to help from the Presbyterian Christian School cheerleaders. They entertained the kids with their cheerleading skills, and then the kids joined in. ARC is sure there are some future cheerleaders in its midst! The October activity is a Western party. Get on your boots and hats and be ready for fun!
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DuBard School for Language Disorders |
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A night of music and dancing to benefit the DuBard School is on tap TONIGHT - Friday, Oct. 2, from 8 p.m. until midnight at the Bottling Company in downtown Hattiesburg. The Cowboy Blues Band with special guests Travis Clark and Ashley Barding will be on hand. Tickets are $10 at the door, with all proceeds going to the DuBard School for Language Disorders.
You can now find the DuBard School on Facebook! The school recently created a fan page to share news of faculty, staff and students. The page includes daily updates of events and happenings at the school. "The Internet will allow us to reach educators and potential students across the nation," says school director, Maureen Martin.
Southern Miss football players, along with Head Coach Larry Fedora, recently visited the DuBard School for the school's Black and Gold Day. Pictured above is sophomore quarterback Austin Davis checking on student Kobie James. |
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DREAM
DREAM of Hattiesburg is a part of the Community Planning Coalition, a collaborative effort between the agency and community leaders from government, law enforcement, local businesses, local media, religious/fraternal organizations, health care organizations, groups that serve youth, youth groups and parent groups. Coalition members work to prevent and reduce the abuse of alcohol, drugs and tobacco among youth and to provide life skills training and leadership skills to youth. The Coalition meets bi-monthly. Reverend Julie Collins is the Coordinator for the DREAM Community Planning Coalition. She can be reached at (601) 545-2102 or at juliecollins@dreamofhattiesburg.org
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2009-2010 Campaign Kicks Off |
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The 2009-2010 community campaign kicked off on Sept. 3 with Campaign Chair Dr. Annie Wimbish announcing this year's campaign goal to be the largest ever - $1.75 million. The money raised will be used to provide funding and support to United Way of Southeast Mississippi's 21 partner agencies.
The kick-off was styled as a military boot camp to train those in attendance about United Way. Volunteers and donors broke into small groups as branches of the military to hear personal testimonies from agency recipients and review best practices for workplace campaigns.
The campaign has already raised about 30% of our goal, thanks to the work of our Pacesetter organizations. Way to go, Pacesetters! Special appreciation goes to our All-Star Pacesetters: BancorpSouth, The First, Forrest General Hospital, Regions and Wesley Medical Center.
We encourage the rest of our participating organizations to follow the great lead set by our Pacesetters!
If your employer does not hold a United Way campaign, and you would like to learn more about participating, please contact the United Way office at 601-545-7141.
Campaign Chair Dr. Annie Wimbish speaks to WDAM news during the Campaign Kick-off. |
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| Student United Way Chapter in Action
| United Way of Southeast Mississippi is proud to announce the formation of a new Student United Way organization on the campus of Southern Miss. United Way hopes this group will educate young people about United Way and get them engaged in the community.
The organization's president, Greg Gandy, wants to connect student organizations on campus to service organizations in the community. One of the group's goals is to increase high school retention rate, and he hopes to work with The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club to attain this goal.
"We want to let people know we're here, and we're willing to take on any project," Gandy said. "We want students to know we can connect them to any service-based organization in Hattiesburg."
United Way is encouraged and pleased with this group's progress and looks forward to working on many worthwhile projects together.
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Agency News
Your United Way investment at work
Pinebelt Association for Families |
| The Pinebelt Association for Families has a new location at 122 South Main Street in Petal. It's right across the street from Dollar General in Petal's downtown business district.
Pinebelt Association for Families recently partnered with the Mississippi Dept. of Agriculture and the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development Area Agency on Aging to distribute 350 vouchers for farmers' markets produce to citizens over 60 years old. The vouchers enabled senior citizens to receive $28 worth of fresh produce from farmers' markets in Hattiesburg, Petal and Laurel. This is the first time Pinebelt Association for Families administered the program, and officials hope to continue with it next year.
About 100 grandparents and their grandchildren visited Jackson as part of a day of learning and fun, sponsored by the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program. Participants toured a cotton gin at the Agricultural Museum and stopped at the Mississippi Museum of Science for "Snake Day." Pictured above are children worn out from full their fun day who fell asleep on the way home.
Upcoming events include a garden show in Crystal Springs on Oct. 16 and the annual Grandparent Picnic at Camp Shelby on Oct. 17. The Pinebelt Association for Families is also currently working on assembling Thanksgiving dinner baskets for elderly grandparents.
If you would like to participate in or help with any events, call (601) 582-0909. |
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Domestic Abuse Family Shelter
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Activities in Hattiesburg include a proclamation signing at the Mayor's office on Oct. 8, at 10 a.m., a vigil on Oct. 22, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center and a self-defense class on Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Sigler Center.
The Race to Erase Domestic Violence takes place on Oct. 17 in Hattiesburg. It's sponsored by the Hattiesburg Area Young Lawyers Association. The 5K Run and Walk begins at 8 a.m., and a 1 mile Fun Run and Walk starts at 8:45 a.m. The course begins on the Longleaf Trace at Jackson Station. Pre-registration fees (by Oct. 11) are $20 per racer, $50 for families with more than 3 members. Race day registration is $25. Make checks payable to HAYLA and mail to HAYLA, P.O. Box 18109, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. For questions, or to get an entry form, contact Katrina Hall-Odom at kmho2007@gmail.com
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Letter to the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter from a volunteer who has relocated to Arkansas:
"I wanted to write you all (first) to tell you how much I miss working with you, and (second) to thank you for being such a big part of my summer. Helping at DAFS taught me so many important things, and mostly it was a blessing to meet so many kind and powerful women (and children). My first day at the Women's Shelter of Central Arkansas is tomorrow, and I can only hope that I will be just as lucky with the people I meet there. Again, thank you so much for everything, and I hope to visit when I am home for Thanksgiving. You are always in my thoughts." |
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Children's Center for Communication and Development
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The Children's Center for Communication and Development at the University of Southern Mississippi has received a very special donation of $500. What makes the donation special are the donors - two, five-year-old cousins. The little girls, Maddie Lightsey and Emma Tucker, held a garage sale in Oak Grove to raise money for the school, which Maddie's four-year-old brother attends. Maddie and Emma sold their old toys and clothes that didn't fit them anymore.
"What an amazing and meaningful gift for two five-year-old children to give to the Children's Center," said Center Director Margaret Buttross-Brinegar.
Maddie and Emma with Mason, a student at the Children's Center for Communication and Development
Story and photo courtesy of University of Southern Mississippi |
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Please forward this email and tell a friend or co-worker about United Way! |
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