United Way of Greater Chattanooga recently hosted approximately 400 supporters at its Annual Meeting and Campaign Celebration, during which key companies, volunteers and clients were recognized for their efforts that helped the organization achieve success in 2008, including raising more than $11.7 million for programs that advance the common good by educating children to be ready for school, helping families and individuals build economic stability, and supporting the most vulnerable in our communities.

Of the more than $11.7 million pledged to United Way of Greater Chattanooga during the campaign, Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties raised $539,364 in the 2008 campaign, a 7.27% increase over their 2007 donations. All undesignated funds raised in North Georgia will stay in North Georgia, so local residents will benefit from local dollars contributed to United Way.

The 2008 campaign was the first of its kind for United Way, thanks to the new “Live United” focus. Individuals were asked to give, advocate and volunteer as a means of engaging the community in a more hands-on fashion with United Way’s work.

After a video thanking the community for its generosity, board chair Tom Edd Wilson presented several companies with awards for their tremendous efforts that helped to push the 2008 campaign up to the mid-range target goal. Nominees for the Company of the Year awards were assessed on participation, fundraising, Leadership participation and other aspects of campaign involvement. Winners were determined by a panel of judges.

The following North Georgia companies were recognized for excelling in their United Way campaign efforts:

Large Company of the Year runner-up: Shaw Industries

Chairman’s Award: Roper Corp.

New Business Award: Publix

Another campaign award presented was for the North Georgia Campaign Volunteers of the Year, an honor which went to Connie Bernal (Walker County) and Phil Ledbetter (Catoosa County) with the Ferst Books Foundation Community Action Teams of Catoosa and Walker counties. They were instrumental in helping United Way connect with the school systems in both Catoosa and Walker counties. Their hard work and persistence was vital to the annual campaign’s success in North Georgia.

In addition to the campaign awards presented, United Way also recognized the Salvation Army’s Emergency Assistance Program (which also serves Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties) as the United Way-funded program that demonstrated the most far-reaching community impact in 2008 by presenting them with the Impact Program of the Year award.

One of the major accomplishments of the Salvation Army in 2008 was providing emergency assistance for our neighbors in their time of need. Over the past year, this program provided relief to Hurricane Gustav victims through food and gas vouchers to help them return home. Area residents who had a hard time making it through the summer received fans, air conditioners and utility assistance from the Beat the Heat campaign. And when families couldn’t make ends meet after losing jobs in the fourth quarter, the program provided them with utility payments, rent and food.

Tom White was recognized as the Services Volunteer of the Year for his work since the mid-1990s with United Way’s Tennessee and North Georgia Allocations Committees and for serving as its chairman for the past four years. During this time, White’s dedication to the committee has resulted in unparalleled oversight.

United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society (a society of donors who invest $10,000 or more to United Way) presented Pamela Perry with the Courage Award for overcoming personal difficulties and becoming self-sufficient with the help of several United Way partner agencies and programs, including Partnership for Families Children and Adults and Children’s Home/Chambliss Shelter.

United Way advances the common good by educating children to be ready for school, promoting economic stability so people can provide for themselves and their families, and by caring for the most vulnerable in our community. Thanks to an endowment fund that covers all overhead and administrative expenses, 100% of contributions go directly to these services that help individuals and families in greater Chattanooga, including north Georgia and northeast Alabama.

Education: Investing in children

Research shows there is a strong correlation between the number of books in the home and literacy; 16,863 children (including 1,967 in Catoosa, 775 in Dade and 1,601 in Walker counties) are receiving a free book a month, as of the end of 2008.

Research shows that children’s success is directly linked to a relationship with a loving adult devoted their development; 494 family members participated in 2,024 hours of parent education sessions in 2008.

Research shows that many children who enter school with insufficient skills also have developmental delays; 15% of children receiving books have been screened free-of-charge and 85% of those screened have age-appropriate developmental skills.

(Economic) stability: Building stable lives

The new Building Stable Lives Pilot Project was launched in 2008 involving more than 50 community partners with Partnership for Families, Children and Adults as lead agency.

Located in a mobile office at East Lake Recreation Center, the project is already seeing results. Of the 55 families served since August, two have already achieved stability by completing their initial education and training goals, finding and working at full-time jobs, and obtaining affordable housing.

Supporting the most vulnerable

United Way’s 2-1-1 Call Center saw a 20% increase in calls over 2007 and identified 28% more needs. In the last quarter of 2008, the call increase was 50% higher over the same time in 2007. In addition to referring individuals and families for services, United Way’s 2-1-1 also helped EPB distribute 381 fans in June and July; screened callers for Food Stamp eligibility, leading to a 15% increase in the number of families receiving assistance; referred 1,737 callers to VITA/EITC sites during 2008; and sent 4,916 families to agencies for assistance with holiday gifts and meals.

More about the Courage Award winner

Pamela Perry and her 2-year-old daughter were alone and in desperate need. She found help through United Way-funded programs at Partnership for Families, Children and Adults and Children’s Home/Chambliss Shelter.

These programs helped stabilize Pamela’s life by locating financial assistance, housing, counseling, legal assistance and child care for her daughter. Pamela began to take control of her life. She went back to school, completed a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and is now a program manager at the Coalition Against Domestic and Community Violence of Greater Chattanooga. Pamela says she doesn’t regret anything she has endured — it has made her a stronger, better person. She took back her life, and now she can give back to others.

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