Caring Trustworthy Inspiring Dynamic Results-Oriented

United Wayof Northeast MississippiServing Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tishomingo and Union counties

SPRING • 2011

On Tuesday, February 15th celebrities of the highest order emerged from their limos and took a walk on the United Way red carpet! With appearances by Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Jack Nicholson, Vivica Fox, Ben Stiller, Kathy Bates, Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry and cameos by the incomparable Buzz and Woody from Toy Story and Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz, the day proved to be a great one for celebrating the achievement of the 2010 Campaign Goal. As you see in the pictures, a great time was had by all!

One of the most prestigious awards given that day was the J.G. Berry Award. Presented annually, this award is given to a volunteer who epitomizes United Way’s mission of “creating opportunities to improve people’s lives in the communities we serve.” J.G. Berry was a community leader who helped transition Tupelo Community Chest into Lee United Neighbors (later known as United Way) in the early 1960s. And the winner was. . . Gerald Wages!

Wages is Executive Vice President for External Affairs for North Mississippi Health Services, joining NMHS in 1969. He is a former United Way Board President, Campaign Chairman and Funds Distribution Volunteer. When asked of his volunteer and professional activities, Board member Eddie Wright states: “The words ‘quiet confidence’ come to mind. If he is a participant (as opposed to the leader) in a group, he doesn’t usually say much. When he does speak, you need to pay attention because it is usually ‘gold.’ Gerald always conducts himself as a gentleman and is always prepared.” Congratulations, Gerald! We have been honored to have you be a part of our organization.

Each year during the Celebration we also present the award for Campaign Volunteer of the Year. This year, accepting on behalf of an entire committee, was Carla Enis, Employee Campaign Coordintor for North MS Health Services and NMMC. Carla and her team did an outstanding job this year, exceeding all expectations! Since there are so many employees at so many locations in our Northeast Mississippi community, there was extraordinary effort made to ask all employees to participate on as personal a level as possible. T-shirts and candy bars were given to all “fair

share” donors, and even all of the clinic locations were visited. Congratulations, Carla and team, for your excellence in the 2010 campaign!

A special thank you to all of the individuals who helped to make the Campaign Celebration a success. Many of these folks were part of the skits that made us laugh heartily, and some worked diligently behind the scenes to make things come together smoothly. A HUGE “Thank You” to our celebrities: Thomas Saulsberry, Mary Werner, John Oxford, Josh Mabus, Cathy Robertson, Chauncey Godwin, Che Clay, Rodger Brown, Beth Randle, Greg Pirkle, Evie Boyd, Lynn Nelson, Leighton Gibens and Tom Booth. Thanks also to Chef Cletus Brekke for an “Oscar worthy” meal, First United Methodist Church for its outstanding staff and facility, Tupelo Community Theatre for its generosity in lending props and costumes, Chuck McIntosh for video footage and Rick Willis, Liz Dawson and John Oxford for their help in planning. Last but not least, we certainly want to thank our hosts extraordinaire. . . Scott Reed and Shane Hooper for their quick wit and ability to keep the show on the road! We are so very grateful to you all!

For a complete listing of awards and honors presented during the Campaign Celebration, please refer to pages 4, 5 & 8. Without the help of the individuals listed and the companies they represent, it simply would not have been possible to achieve the lofty goal of $2.15 million. THANK YOU all for what you’ve done for the United Way and the Northeast Mississippi community!

United Way Rolls Out the Red Carpet

Rodger Brown (left) hams it up as the cowardly Lion with Beth Randle (right) as Dorothy

Cathy Robertson (left) presents the J.G. Berry Award to Gerald Wages

(right) of North MS Health Services

Josh Mabus (left) and John Oxford (right) as Woody and

Buzz from Toy Story

I am so pleased to be serving as your 2011 President of the Board for United Way of Northeast Missisippi. I have enjoyed

being involved in many roles as a volunteer, some of the characters during the Campaign Celebrations of late have been most memorable! Our former President, Shane Hooper, gave us his leadership and determination that resulted in a successful 2010. I certainly want to thank Shane for his service!

The J. G. Berry Award is given each year during the Campaign Celebration to the citizen that demonstrates service to their fellow man and has been a long time volunteer and leader in United Way. This year’s recipient, Gerald Wages, has those qualities. He has given graciously of his time and resources to help United Way, our agencies and his community. It’s my pleasure to congratulate Gerald on this accomplishment.

Cathy Robertson served as our 2010 Campaign Chair. Her tireless efforts were again rewarded with a successful campaign and achieving the goal. She has offered her leadership on the Executive Committee for 2011 and I am grateful to have her serve again. We are looking forward to the campaign for 2011- Greg Pirkle has accepted the challenge to be our Campaign Chairman. We certainly all will look forward to his leadership and success.

Thanks also to B.B. Hosch for his willingness to aid in administering the funds that were allocated to our 65 agencies this year. And to our donors who were willing to share their resources I will say simply this, without you, there would be very little to distribute! So I thank you on behalf of the Board, Executive Committee and agencies for your generosity and dedication to our cause. We are all standing on the success and hard work of those who have gone before us. I look forward to another great year with United Way of Northeast Mississippi helping to fill the needs of our agencies and our community.

Chauncey Godwin

From the President’s PenChauncey Godwin 2011 Board President

Chickasaw CountySharon AtkinsonTiffany BeanLamar BeatyJewlene BrownBarbara BuggsBirdie BurdineTom Byrne, Jr.Linda CarnathanDonna ChrestmanJohnna CorleyHolly CrosthwaitJoyce EastHank FranklinJim GordonBetty HolderTalitha HudsonFloyd IngramShenia JonesSteve SchultzScott ShempertTerri Turner

Itawamba County Tommy ChambleeTina HarrisAngie KinderNatalie KlineSuzanne LittleRuth McKinneyBrian QuinnJudy SmithJeffery StrunkMike ThornJanice WatsonTommy WeatherfordAlisha WilsonCharlotte Wolfe

Lee County Terry AndersonLynn BeadlesJerilynn BillingsleyFrances BrasfieldMarshall BriscoeTerry BullardDale ButlerTab CherryRenee CreelyMechelle CrosbyConnie DavidsonDianne Davis-Loden

Liz DawsonCathy FitzpatrickAndy GarnerJanice GarrettAmanda GaskinKristi GholsonBrad GloverMargaret GratzTommy GreenTonya HensleyRhonda HerringMario HilliardDeborah KellettMichael LindseyDonna LodenMike MaynardAnn McMillanCatherine MizePaul Mize, IIIJohnna MooreRachel PierceGreg PirkleCathy RobertsonTammy RodgersRon RoofThomas SaulsberryRon StephensCrystal TuckerRhonda WeaverCharlotte WilburnCathy WilliamsRuss WilsonLarry WitcherDiane Wolf

Pontotoc County Ronnie BellPat BenjaminVerna ButlerPatti ClatorKen CorleyKay DavisG.B. GrissonDavid HamiltonTiffany HeardMarie JonesJudy KiddTracy KramerBonnie LittonPatsy MaffettAllen MaxeyConnie McDonald

Mitzi MooreLee OswaltDiane SimmonsBonnie Ware

Prentiss County Debbie BishopJoe CarterMike CarterGail ChildersPatrick EatonAnn FloydJohn FloydMary FrennWalter MooreKeith ParkerChristy SchellFelix ShumpertLisa StevensSergio WarrenBetty Williams

Tishomingo CountyDonnie BrownJohn CastleberryBeth DavisTed DayDebra EstesTim FaulknerJill LongLaura McClungLisa PhelpsTim WiggintonMary Ann Wright Union County Donna BridgesRev. Bill EverettBelvia GiachelliLori GoodeLanell HudsonGracie JacksonCathy MartinRuth MartinAllen MaxwellMartha Frances MonroeMike NoblesJan PannellBobbie Ann RorieVickie RowlandAnne Shirley

Funds Distribution Volunteers by County

To some, the word “life” is simply the sum total of one’s days. To others it brings to mind a board game, a box of cereal, or to Mrs. Gump, “a box of chocolates.” To Michael Sullivan and his staff, however, L.I.F.E. means empowering people with significant disabilities to be as independent and as fully involved in their communities as they can and want to be. Living Independence For Everyone - L.I.F.E. - does many different things for the disabled community in Northeast Mississippi.

Through national programs, such as Americorps Project L.I.N.C., L.I.F.E. offers advocacy, peer training and work projects. In the area of advocacy, Michael and his staff appeal to the local, state, and even federal government on behalf of disabled individuals. They have even marched in our nation’s capital! L.I.F.E.’s staff members also go to local businesses to make sure they are handicap-accessible. Because the staff at L.I.F.E. is predominantly made up of people with disabilities, peer counseling is an added benefit.

Sullivan, who is blind, explained how he would tell someone who had just become blind how to pour a cup of coffee. “You just stick your finger over the side, and when your finger gets hot, then stop!” Sullivan quips. In some cases, L.I.F.E. takes client service a step further by building wheelchair ramps and handicap-accessible showers in the homes. Because the goals for each individual client are unique, the definition of success is as well. Michael explains that they consider themselves successful when they have assisted a client in meeting his or her individual goal. In 2010, L.I.F.E. served 383 people in its 19 county service area.

When asked to recall a particular story, Michael simply stated that there are too many to mention. He did, however, refer to Emily, his assistant, quite often. When Michael met Emily, she was nineteen years old and had just been confined to a wheelchair due to a broken neck. “Now,” Michael proudly points out, “she is about to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Mississippi.”

For more information on the services of L.I.F.E., please contact Michael Sullivan at 662-844-6633 or visit their website, www.lifeofms.com.

Agency Spotlight: L.I.F.E. of MississippiContributing Writers: Chris Douglass and Michael Sullivan

Funds Distribution Volunteers

Before

After

Union County Funds Distribution Volunteers (front row left to right): Jan Pannell, Anne Shirley,

Mike Nobles, Vickie Rowland (back row): Lanell Hudson, Bobbie Ann Rorie, Cathy Martin, Lori Goode, Donna Bridges,

Ruth Martin, Gracie Jackson

Chickasaw County Funds Distribution Volunteers (left to right): Sharon Atkinson, Hank Franklin, Tom Byrne, Jr., Terri Turner,

Jewlene Brown, Donna Chrestman, Joyce East, Talitha Hudson, Betty Holder, Scott Shempert, Lamar Beaty, Birdie Burdine,

Tiffany Bean, Jim Gordon, Holly Crosthwait

Lee County volunteers tidy up after the night’s agency allocations have been decided.

North Mississippi Health Services & NMMC $506,775

BancorpSouth $174,749

Franklin Corporation $100,786

MTD Tupelo $79,571

PHILIPS Day-Brite $75,087

Renasant Bank $64,231

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company $52,618

Wal-Mart $51,881

Journal, Inc. $37,521

City of Tupelo $30,119

Franklin Collection Service $29,806

Magnolia Business Centre $29,700

NEW Corp of Tupelo $28,574

Lee County Schools $27,270

ITW Paslode $26,673

Tupelo Public Schools $25,067

Bauhaus USA, Inc. $25,000

Haworth, Inc. $22,959

Mississippi Methodist Senior Services $22,800

R.W. Reed Co. $20,555

Top Twenty Total Gifts

Corporate Giving AwardsAll America Awards (Corporate Gifts of $20,000 or more) BancorpSouth Bauhaus Franklin Corporation Franklin Collection Service Wal-Mart

Spirit of Mississippi Awards(Corporate Gifts of $10,000 -$19,999) Brevard Family Foundation ITW Paslode Journal, Inc. MTD Tupelo PHILIPS Day-Brite Renasant Bank Toyota

Magnolia Awards(Corporate Gifts of $5,000 to $9,999) Belk, Inc. Caterpillar First National Bank of Pontotoc Haworth, Inc. Independent Furniture Supply La Vino, Inc. Reed Manufacturing Southern Diversified Industries Tennessee Valley Authority

Gum Tree Awards (Corporate Gifts of $2,500 to $4,999) AT&T Atmos Energy B & B Concrete Co., Inc. Hunter Douglas, Inc. J.C.Penney Co. R.W. Reed Co. Regions Bank Robinson and Associates, Inc. Room to Room Furniture Sara Lee Tecumseh Products The McCarty Company UPS - Tupelo

Employee Giving AwardsCommunity Leadership Award (Gifts of $100,000 or more) North MS Health Services & NMMC BancorpSouth

Community Impact Award (Gifts of $50,000 to $99,999) Cooper Tire Franklin Corporation MTD Tupelo PHILIPS Day-Brite Renasant Bank

Community Building Award(Gifts of $25,000 to $49,999) City of Tupelo Lee County Schools Magnolia Business Centre NEW Corp of Tupelo Tupelo Public Schools Wal-Mart

Community Spirit Award(Gifts of $10,000 to $24,999) American Furniture Manufacturing, Inc. Baptist Memorial Hospital - Union County Caterpillar, Inc. First National Bank of Pontotoc Haworth, Inc. Hunter Douglas, Inc.

JESCO, Inc.Journal, Inc. Lane Furniture MS Methodist Senior Services Nail McKinney, P.A.R.W. Reed Co. Reed Manufacturing Company Regions Bank Sara LeeWTVA/WLOV/WKDH UPS - Tupelo

Campaign Potential AwardsPotential is calculated by taking the number of employees times the average annual gift to United Way of Northeast MS ($179.74). This dollar amount is 100% of the campaign’s “potential.”

Presidential Awards (100% of Campaign Potential) BancorpSouth Boy Scouts - Yocona Area Council Community Bank CREATE Foundation Family Resource Center of Northeast MS Franks, Franks, & Jarrell, PA Good Samaritan Health Services Habitat for Humanity of Northeast MS Hardy Reed Capital Advisors Hope Family Ministries

Campaign Awards

Jack Reed, Jr. (left) is interviewed on the red carpet by Joan Rivers (Mary Werner)

Oscars presentation table

Magnolia Business Centre Nail McKinney, P.A. OB-GYN Associates, P.A. R.W. Reed Co. Reed Manufacturing Company Ross & Yerger SAFE, Inc. Stuart C. Irby Co. The Byrne CPA Firm P.A. Survival, Inc. United Way of Northeast Mississippi Weatherall Printing

United Way Awards (90% to 99% of Campaign Potential) American Red Cross NEMS CASA Community Development Foundation Digestive Health Specialists PA First National Bank of Pontotoc Regional Rehabilitation Renasant Insurance Trustmark National Bank

Gold Awards (75% to 89% of Campaign Potential) Atmos Energy Faith Haven General Atomics IBM Corporation ITW Paslode JESCO, Inc Southern Diversified Industries UPS - Booneville Woodland Furniture

Silver Awards (50% to 74% of Campaign Potential) Alpha House Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi C B & S Bank Catch Kids Excel Federal Express First American National Bank Girl Scouts Heart of the South Haworth, Inc. Hunter Douglas Journal, Inc. LIFE Mississippi Radio Group Mitchell Distributing MTD Tupelo Phelps Dunbar, LLP PHILIPS Day-Brite

Regions Bank Renasant Bank Sprint Print The McCarty Company UPS - Tupelo WTVA/WLOV/WKDH

Bronze Awards(25% to 49% of Campaign Potential) Allstate Insurance Giving Campaign American General Finance AT&T Bank of Okolona BNA Bank Boys & Girls Club of Union County Central Service Association Circadence City of Tupelo Fibre Craft Franklin Collection Service Franklin Corporation Fulton Telephone Company Home Decor Innovations Ikon Office Solutions J.C.Penney Co. Lee County 4-H Club Merchants & Farmers Bank Mississippi Methodist Senior Services New Albany Gazette NEW Corp of Tupelo North Mississippi Health Services & NMMC Pontotoc Electric Power Association Sanders Clinic For Women Sara Lee Smurfit Stone Container The Salvation Army Tishomingo County Electric Power Assoc. United Funeral Service, Inc.

Participation Awards (5% to 24% of Campaign Potential) American Furniture Manufacturing, Inc.

Baldwyn Public Schools Baptist Memorial Hospital - Union County Big Brothers Big Sisters Best Buy Booneville School District Caterpillar, Inc. Chickasaw Co. School District City of Fulton City of New Albany Cooper Tire FMC Technologies FXI Foamex Gardner-Simmons Home for Girls

H.M. Richards, Inc. Itawamba Community College Houston School District Itawamba County Government Itawamba County Schools JESCO, Inc. Kline Mechanical Systems, Inc. Kroger - West Main Kroger - Barnes Crossing Lane Furniture Lee County Schools Lee County Board of Supervisors Leggett & Platt Mitchell, McNutt & Sams M.M. Winkler & Associates MS State Board of Health Mueller Copper Tube NCADD Northeast Mississippi Community College Omega Motion Pontotoc County Schools Southern Motion Super Sagless, Inc. T.J. Maxx Tecumseh Products Tishomingo County Employees Toyota Tsusho America Tremont Floral Supplies, Inc. Tupelo Anesthesia Tupelo Coca-Cola Tupelo Manufacturing Tupelo Public Schools Union Spring & Manufacturing Corp

Campaign Awards

Pierce Brosnan (Greg Pirkle) is interviewed on the red carpet by Campaign Cabinet member, Mary Werner (as Joan Rivers)

Shane Hooper (left) and Scott Reed (right) host the

Campaign Celebration

Chickasaw County Alpha House $650American Red Cross $2,500Autism Center of Tupelo $500Boy Scouts $181Boys & Girls Club/Houston $25,000CATCH Kids $5,500COPES $12,000Excel $15,500Faith Haven $1,000Family Resource Center $3,000Gardner-Simmons $1,000Girl Scouts $4,500Habitat for Humanity $2,000Harden House $500Hope Family Ministries $600LIFE $2,500Mission Okolona Food Pantry $1,550NCADD $1,800NMMC Camp Breathe Ezzze $500NMMC Cancer Assistance Fund $1,000NMMC Diabetes Assistance Fund $1,000NMMC Heart Assistance Fund $400NMMC Social Work Fund $500North MS Kidney Foundation $3,000Okolona Dollars for Scholars $1,264Parkgate Pregnancy Clinic $600Regional Rehabilitation $3,500SAFE, Inc. $1,000Sally Kate Winters $1,372Salvation Army $18,000Special Education Bowling $2,000Survival, Inc. $3,700Women First $2,700

Itawamba County 4-H Itawamba County $2,200Alpha House $500American Red Cross $1,500Autism Center of Tupelo $1,000Big Brothers Big Sisters $150Boy Scouts $700Faith Haven $2,500Family Resource Center $1,250Food Pantry West $12,500Fulton Food Pantry $15,000Gardner-Simmons $750Girl Scouts $700Harden House $2,200Hope Family Ministries $450LIFE $1,100NCADD $1,200NMMC Camp Breathe Ezzze $500NMMC Cancer Assistance Fund $200NMMC Diabetes Assistance Fund $387

NMMC Heart Assistance Fund $200NMMC Hospice Assistance Fund $387NMMC Social Work Fund $1,000North MS Kidney Foundation $1,000Parkgate Pregnancy Clinic $700Regional Rehabilitation $1,950SAFE, Inc. $1,500Salvation Army $600Special Education Bowling $750Survival, Inc. $1,000Women First $900

Lee County 4-H Lee County $15,000AEE $10,000Alpha House $35,000American Red Cross $53,950Big Brothers Big Sisters $12,000Boy Scouts $72,700Boys & Girls Club/North MS $96,450CASA $8,000CATCH Kids $30,000El Centro $2,500ExPect $16,500FAITH Food Pantry $20,000Faith Haven $53,000Family Resource Center $26,250Gardner-Simmons $40,000Girl Scouts $40,000Good Samaritan Free Clinic $46,000Habitat for Humanity $58,000Harden House $3,000Hope Family Ministries $2,000LIFE $6,000Meals on Wheels $42,000NCADD $48,500Neighborhood Development $1,500NMMC Camp Breathe Ezzze $3,000NMMC Cancer Assistance Fund $8,000NMMC Diabetes Assistance Fund $7,000NMMC Heart Assistance Fund $3,000NMMC Hospice Assistance Fund $4,000NMMC Social Work Fund $12,000North MS Kidney Foundation $9,000Regional Rehabilitation $28,500SAFE, Inc. $70,000St. Luke Food Pantry $5,000Salvation Army $135,000Special Education Bowling $5,500Sunday Fund $7,500Survival, Inc. $16,200Women First $15,000

Pontotoc County Alpha House $1,000

American Red Cross $7,400Autism Center of Tupelo $1,000Banah Pregnancy Testing $5,000Boy Scouts $6,500CATCH Kids $9,500Faith Haven $8,000Family Resource Center $2,950Gardner-Simmons $1,000Girl Scouts $1,500Habitat for Humanity $11,000Harden House $2,000Hope Family Ministries $1,250LIFE $1,000NCADD $2,150New Haven School $2,000NMMC Camp Breath Ezzze $900NMMC Cancer Assistance Fund $1,000NMMC Diabetes Assistance Fund $300NMMC Heart Assistance Fund $100NMMC Hospice Assistance Fund $1,500NMMC Social Work Fund $1,050North MS Kidney Foundation $2,000Parkgate Pregnancy Clinic $500Regional Rehabilitation $3,000SAFE, Inc. $2,500Sally Kate Winters $300Salvation Army $14,800Special Education Bowling $1,150Survival, Inc. $1,500Women First $3,000

Prentiss County 4-H Prentiss County $7,000Alpha House $500American Red Cross $4,000Autism Center of Tupelo $800Boy Scouts $2,000Boys & Girls Club/Baldwyn $10,000Boys & Girls Club/Booneville $13,000Faith Haven $2,000Family Resource Center $2,000Gardner-Simmons $1,500Girl Scouts $2,000Harden House $500Hope Family Ministries $500LIFE $1,000NCADD $1,000NMMC Camp Breathe Ezzze $500NMMC Cancer Assistance Fund $800NMMC Heart Assistance Fund $300NMMC Hospice Assistance Fund $1,500NMMC Social Work Fund $600North MS Kidney Foundation $700Parkgate Pregnancy Clinic $500Regional Rehabilitation $2,000

SAFE, Inc. $2,000Salvation Army $4,000Special Education Bowling $1,000Survival, Inc. $500Women First $700

Tishomingo County 4-H Tishomingo County $1,000American Red Cross $1,900Boy Scouts $1,000Boys & Girls Club/Iuka $7,500Faith Haven $372Family Resource Center $500Food Depot of Tishomingo Co. $4,500Girl Scouts $500Harden House $260Helpful Samaritan Food Pantry $2,300Junior Auxiliary of Tish. Co. $1,250LIFE $250NMMC Camp Breathe Ezzze $900NMMC Cancer Assistance Fund $460NMMC Heart Assistance Fund $100NMMC Social Work Fund $100North MS Kidney Foundation $250Regional Rehabilitation $750SAFE, Inc. $100Women First $300

Union County American Red Cross $4,000Autism Center of Tupelo $4,500Boy Scouts $2,000Boys & Girls Club/New Albany $20,000Faith Haven $5,000Family Resource Center $750Girl Scouts $1,000Good Samaritan Food Pantry $16,000Hope Family Ministries $1,800LIFE $1,000Lighthouse $6,850NCADD $2,500New Haven School $11,000NMMC Camp Breathe Ezzze $300NMMC Cancer Assistance Fund $500NMMC Diabetes Assistance Fund $180NMMC Heart Assistance Fund $150NMMC Social Work Fund $800North MS Kidney Foundation $2,000Parkgate Pregnancy Clinic $200Regional Rehabilitation $1,500SAFE, Inc. $520Salvation Army $7,000Survival, Inc. $200Women First $1,500

Agency Allocations

There were a total of 142 volunteers from Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tishomingo, and Union Counties who worked on the Funds Distribution process from December 2010 to February 2011. B.B. Hosch, Lee County Funds Distribution Chairman, did a fantastic job throughout the process keeping things on track. We’d like to thank B.B. for his unbiased leadership and dedication to the agency allocations process.

How the Funding Process works:

United Way is a vital part of your community! Our agencies need your continued support, as there is never enough funding to give each agency what it requests. Your gifts positively impact thousands in our community - we could not survive without you! To be a part of the process and make the decisions on where United Way dollars go, become a Funds Distribution Committee member. Contact Shelia McCool at 662-841-9133 or email shelia@unitedwaynems.org for more information.

The Distributing of United Way FundsContributing Writer: Lacy Carr

Agency completes Funding Request Forms. These are reviewed by United Way staff for accuracy.

Funds Distribution Volunteers attend a training session, are divided into panels, with each panel given 3 to 5 agencies to study.

The interview is a time for panel members to ask questions about the funding request, budgets, mission, board makeup, etc.

The Chairperson presents the committee’s recommendation to the Board

of Directors for final approval. Allocations are paid to agencies quarterly.

Once the schedule for site visits and interviews are complete, Volunteers visit agencies to see the programs each one provides. The agency has the opportunity to impress upon the volunteer their need for United Way money.

The Volunteers meet to hear each panel present agency information and funding recommendations.

When all requests have been presented, the committee makes adjustments until the total funding amount is within the budget for that county.

Pontotoc County Funds Distribution Volunteers (front row left to right): Bonnie Ware, Judy Kidd, Connie

McDonald, Kay Davis (back row): Pat Benjamin, Patsy Maffett, Tracy Kramer, Diane Simmons, Verna Butler

Tishomingo County Funds Distribution Volunteers (left to right): Tim Faulkner, Beth Davis, Lisa Phelps,

Ted Day, John Castleberry, Tim Wigginton, Laura McClung, Jill Long, Donnie Brown

Prentiss County Funds Distribution Volunteers (left to right): Sergio Warren, Keith Parker, Walter Moore, Ann Floyd, Joe Carter, Gail Childers, Christy Schell, Debbie

Bishop, Felix Shumpert, Mary Frenn

Itawamba County Funds Distribution Volunteers (left to right): Tommy Chamblee, Jeffery Strunk, Judy Smith,

Charlotte Wolfe, Ruth McKinney, Natalie Kline, Lynette Weatherford, Brian Quinn, Tommy Weatherford

Funds Distribution Volunteers

NONPROFIT ORgaNIzaTION

US POSTage PaID

PeRMIT #186

United Wayof Northeast Mississippi213 West Main Street, Suite 110Post Office Box 334Tupelo, Mississippi 38802

Chickasaw: 662-456-4234Itawamba: 662-862-5557Lee: 662-841-9133Pontotoc: 662-489-5576Prentiss: 662-728-0318Tishomingo: 662-423-2368Union: 662-539-0018

Fax: 662-680-5754www.unitedwaynems.org

The United Way newsletter is a quarterly publication produced by the United Way of Northeast MississippiPresident: Chauncey Godwin, HoneyBaked Ham Co. and CaféCommunications Chair: John Oxford, Renasant BankExecutive Director: Melinda TidwellCampaign Director: Jamie SealeContributing Writers: Chris Douglass, Lacy Carr

OUr MissiONto create opportunities to improve people’s lives in the communities we serve

Help United Way “go green” by allowing us to email your newsletter!

Just contact Jamie@unitedwaynems.org. Thank you!

Congratulations, Best & Brightest of 2010

Growth Award (Largest % increase for an organization with total giving under $10,000)

Haworth, Inc.

Progress Award (Largest % increase for an organization with total giving over $10,000)

Magnolia Business Centre

Advancement Award (Largest dollar increase for an organization with total giving under $10,000)

Atmos Energy

Achievement Awards (Largest dollar increase for an organization with total giving over $10,000)

North Mississippi Health Services and NMMC

Distinguished Service Award (for commitment to excellence in Campaign ideas and practices)

PHILIPS Day-Brite

Campaign Volunteer of the Year North Mississippi Health Services and NMMC Campaign Team