Kevin Hall
The Moultrie Observer
MOULTRIE —
Last year, the Unite d Way of Colquitt County set a lofty goal of $420,000 for its annual fund-raising campaign, and to organizers’ own surprise they made it.
The charity didn’t plan to set its goal that high for 2013, campaign chairman Marc DeMott said, but once all the adding was done that’s exactly what they came up with.
“We knew it was tough last year,” DeMott told supporters at Wednesday’s United Way luncheon, “and we knew it would be tough this year.”
Nonetheless, he said, donors came through: Pledges and gifts total $434,012.
DeMott made the comments as he, United Way Chairman Bob Swadel and UW Executive Director Angela Castellow prepared to give awards to those businesses and groups that met fund-raising goals.
Awards included:
100% Participation: Hamilton Elementary School, Funston Elementary, Okapilco Elementary, Willie J. Williams Middle School, Gifted Center, Doerun Elementary, Stringfellow Elementary, R.B. Wright Elementary, Sunset Elementary, Central Office, Colquitt County High School, C.A. Gray Junior High and Moultrie Stadium Cinema.
Star Award (Bronze) ($25-49.99 per employee): The Moultrie Observer, South Georgia Banking co., Department of Family and Children Services, Belks, Colquitt EMC, Moultrie Technical College, Moultrie YMCA, Turning Point Hospital, Colquitt Regional Medical Center and Colquitt County Board of Education.
Star Award (Silver) ($50-74.99 per employee): Serenity House, Moultrie Housing Authority, Green Oaks Center, Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, Bud K Worldwide and National Beef.
Star Award (Gold) ($75 or more per employee): Colquitt County Arts Center, McLean Engineering, Sunbelt Expo, Commercial Banking Co., Windstream and Ameris Bank and Bancorp.
Extraordinary individual donors were recognized: David Tyndall, who matched 1 percent of the campaign goal for several years; Jimmy Jeter, who gave $8,500; and Dan Jeter, who gave $16,000.
Chairman’s Award: Riverside Manufacturing, who has provided many years of continuous support. This year Riverside gave $35,096 — $25,000 of that as a corporate gift, which more than matches what the employees pledged.
Fair Share Award: Southwest Georgia Bank, which gave $38,000; that’s $240 per employee plus a corporate match of $480 per employee.
Top Giver Award: Sanderson Farms, where 780 employees pledged a total of $54,899, which the corporation then matched for a total pledge of $109,799.
