Mark Your Calendars!

Allocations Agency Tours
January 11 - January 15

Executive Committee Meeting
Thursday, January 21, 2010
United Way Office @ 8 a.m.

Special Events Meeting
Thursday, January 21, 2010
United Way Office @ 9 a.m.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, January 18, 2010
United Way Office Closed

Final Allocations Meeting
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Trustmark Bank, 4th Floor
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Volunteers Needed
Visit our volunteer center to learn more about volunteer opportunities in your area and sign up to volunteer.

United Way of Lowndes County
Agencies & Programs
American Red Cross
Boys and Girls Club
Boy Scouts (Pushmataha Council)
Columbus AFB Youth Center
Community Resource Connection
Community Volunteer Center
CONTACT Helpline
Dial-a-Bus
Four H Clubs of Lowndes County
Girl Scouts of Northeast MS
Greater Columbus Learning Center
Helping Hands
Home Delivered Meals
Recovery House
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
The Salvation Army
YMCA

Community Outreach Programs
Charity Tracker
Summer Fan Drive
USPS/United Way Food Drive
Disaster Relief & Recovery Assistance
Lowndes County Home Repair Initiative
Community-Wide Blood Drive
School Supply Drive
Prescription Discount Cards
Emergency Food & Shelter Block Grant
Community Volunteer Center
Adopt a Family Christmas Program
Share One
AmeriCorp VISTA Program

2009-2010 Board of Directors
Marilyn Agnew
Lynn Atkins
Susan Bell
John Bowen
John Brady
Kathy Brown
Dr. Gary Bouse
Roger Burlingame
Whirllie Byrd
Beth Cook
Bryant Cook
Will Cooper
William Corder
John R. Davis
Learnard Dickerson
John Dowdle
Dennis Erby
Scott Ferguson
Matt Fowler
Brandt Galloway
Sarah Heinkel
Jason Heliniak
James Hrusovsky
Deborah Junkin
Frances Jutman
George Kerekes
Brenda Lathan
Amber Brislin
Stuart Phillips
Beth Robinson
Scott Singley
Kevin Stafford
Stewart Stafford
Greg Stewart
James Tisminkakis
Leslie Watkins
Jim Wilson

United Way Staff
Janice Ballard, Executive Director
Michelle Avant, Office Manager
Frances Tucker, Receptionist
Meagan Coughlin, Project Coordinator
Janie Shields, AmeriCorp VISTA

Give to the United Way.
Contribute today by calling 328-0943!

                        WHAT'S NEW FOR 2010?

United Way poised to meet $600K campaign goal
        by Jason Browne from The Commecial Dispatch

An anonymous donation of $25,000 has the United Way of Lowndes County poised to reach its campaign goal.

With the huge boost, which came from a single donor, the agency has raised 96 percent of its 2009-10 goal. According to Jan Ballard, executive director of the United Way, the amount raised since September sits at $574,265. The goal is $600,000.

Dennis Erby, board president for the local United Way, said the anonymous donor is a friend and local businessman who requested his name be withheld.

“He and I had a conversation about what’s going on, and he expressed his desire to do something in the community more than what he’s done in the past,” said Erby. “I believe that it gives credence to the fact that there are people in our community that believe in the fiduciary responsibility the United Way has taken on.”

Ballard expects campaigns among Columbus city employees and Lowndes County employees, to raise another $12,000. Those campaigns have concluded and the final tallies are being calculated.

A third campaign is in the works at a local industry.

If United Way reaches its campaign goal this year, it will be the first time since 2000 the agency has hit its mark. The goal was $550,000 in 2000 and was increased to $600,000 the following year based on economic indicators.

Last year, the United Way of Lowndes County celebrated its 55h birthday, and its campaign concluded with $504,000 raised.

The money being raised through these campaigns and donations is essential, Ballard said.

“It’s especially important this year because our agencies continue to serve higher numbers than in previous years. It’s not too late for businesses and residents to make their donations before the allocations budget is finalized in a few weeks,” said Ballard.

The United Way funds 18 non-profit agencies which serve Lowndes County including The American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, 4-H Club, the Greater Columbus Learning Center and The Salvation Army.

It has also put nearly $150,000 in reserve funds into the community in recent years to deal with weather-related disasters.

Read the article on cdipsatch.com.

Share One
United Way of Lowndes County partnered with Columbus Light and Water for the Share One program. Share One is a program to help those in need due to temporary hardship or misfortune that may need financial assistance with their utility bill. Columbus Light and Water is providing their customers the option to contribute to the Share One program through their utility bill. This is an ongoing process and customers may sign up at anytime.

How does it work?
Customers can call to request and application or visit CL&W to sign up. CL&W needs signed authorization to give authority to charge customer accounts. Specify the dollar amount you would like to give each month. We are only asking for one dollar per month. The amount will be added to your utility bill each month. You may also make a one-time contribution.

Where does the money go?
Your contribution will be placed in a special account with the Columbus Light and Water. Funds from this account will be available in voucher form for those in need. Helping Hands will screen and recommend individuals and families with financial need to Columbus Light and Water. Recipients will present vouchers to Columbus Light and Water and the amount will be applied to their bill.

Where do you get help?
Those needing help must contact Helping Hands at 328.8301 to get more information on the vouchers.

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New to United Way - Online Giving!

United Way of Lowndes County recently teamed up with United Way of America to offer you an easy, safe way to support our network of care. To donate online and begin helping your neighbor in Lowndes County, please click on the link below!

Adopt a Family Christmas Program - Huge Success!
United Way of Lowndes County extends a generous thank you to the community for their support of the Adopt a Family program. We received over $10,000 of contributions, toys, and gifts. 33 families from the Golden Triangle area received assistance with Christmas last month that included 10 couples, 18 single moms, four single fathers, one grandmother, and 84 children. United Way recognizes the WCBI staff for partnering with us, the Community Resource Connection for screening the families, Payless Shoe Store for providing gift certificates, and all of the companies, organizations, clubs, and families that helped make this year’s Adopt A Family a huge success!

Read the full story here...

WOW - CMSD raised $73,500 for United Way!
A heartfelt THANK YOU to the Columbus Municipal School District students, teachers, and administrators for raising a record breaking $73, 500 for our campaign. Way to go! A special thanks to Marilyn Agnew for her hard work and leadership in leading this campaign above and beyond!

Read the full story here...

United Way is registered with the Better Business Bureau

United Way of Lowndes County Privacy Policy
United Way of Lowndes County will never sell, trade, share or rent your personal information to our merchant partners, member agencies or any third parties without your prior consent or as required by law. To be acknowledged for making a designated gift to a funded agency, we will need confirmation from you to provide your contact information to the agency.

Information gathered about you or your business by United Way of Lowndes County is used solely for our purposes to maintain records of contributions as required by our audit firm and by law.

United Way recognizes agencies and businesses that contribute to the annual fund drive in campaign progress reports to the community and at our annual meeting held in March of each year. United Way will honor the wishes of agencies and businesses that choose to remain anonymous. To opt out, simply advise us by contacting the United Way office at (662) 328-0943.

You may find United Way of Lowndes County financial information at GuideStar.org, or visit us at 501 7th street North, Suite 5, Columbus,MS during normal office hours.

United Way Annual Allocations Process Underway
The annual allocations process is underway. This year's allocations team is lead by Stewart Stafford who is serving as the Allocations Chair. United Way thanks our volunteers serving on the allocations committee for their time and participation in this process.

YMCA kicks off Lowndes County Shrinkdown

WHO:    YMCA & Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle

WHAT:   Lowndes County Shrinkdown

WHEN:   Friday, January 8
              10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Downtown YMCA, Caledonia YMCA, New Hope YMCA, YMCA Wellness Center

The Lowndes County Shrinkdown is a free, eight-week community awareness program open to the public that will provide an opportunity to put New Years’ resolutions into action and improve health.

The Shrinkdown begins on Friday, January 8. From 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., participants will be registered; weighed by YMCA fitness instructors; and, receive a description of the program containing program goals, healthy living tips, and weekly recipes. Weekly weigh-ins will be held at all four YMCA branches and participants should register at the branch where they plan to weigh-in each Friday.

Those who weigh-in will be eligible for door prize drawings to be awarded each Monday and their names will be entered into a grand prize drawing selected on March 9th. The grand prizes will be a one year family membership to the YMCA and $250 cash, provided by Malachi Financial Group.

Weekly Lunch & Learns will be available each Friday, beginning January 15th, with a variety of topics, including Benefits of Exercise, Navigating the Supermarket, Understanding and Monitoring Blood Pressure/Cholesterol and more. Bring your lunch if you wish and enjoy these informative sessions.

For more information, contact the downtown YMCA, 328-7696, Caledonia YMCA, 356-9622, New Hope YMCA, 328-0212 or the YMCA Wellness Center, 243-1162.

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