Thank you to all who came to the Square in downtown Tyler today to help kickoff the 2010 United Way Campaign! Special thanks to our lunch sponsors: Brookshires and Super 1 Foods, Frito Lay, Coca-Cola, Community Coffee, Tyler Beverages and Pepsi.

United Way board chair and regional president for Prosperity Bank, Clay Thompson welcomed everyone and recognized local dignitaries and volunteers. Tyler Mayor, Barbara Bass once again challenged those of us blessed to be working to get involved and give what we can to help our neighbors in need. Judge Joel Baker read a resolution from the County Commissioner’s Court recognizing United Way of Tyler Smith County for 70 years of continuing service and commitment to Smith County. Toby Goin, former Dallas Cowboy and local spokesperson for United Way, encouraged everyone to give and offered to do what he can to help us reach our goal. Doug Anderson, senior pastor of Rose Heights Church offered a prayer and asked God to bless the work of United Way so people in our community who are in need can be helped.  Board member and KLTV general manager, Pat Stacey thanked our Corporate Pillar companies and accepted checks representing pledges from Brookshires Grocery Company, CB&I, Southside Bank, Prosperity Bank, Express Employment Professionals, and Luminant.

United Way president, Nan Moore announced that, with 30% pledged, the 2010 Campaign Goal is $1,700,000.

United Way of Tyler Smith County is celebrating 70 years of service to our community at the 2010 Campaign Kickoff event, to take place on the Square in downtown Tyler, tomorrow, June 7th from 11:30-1:00. Brookshires and Super 1 Foods, along with Flowers Bakery and Frito Lay have provided free hotdogs and chips for attendees, while supplies last.  Coca-Cola is once again providing drinks for the event along with Communiyt Coffee, Tyler Beverages and Pepsi. Our wonderful Loaned Executives will be our hosts for the event. They will be cooking, serving and encouraging everyone to “LIVE UNITED” in 2010.  The event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Nan Moore, President

We live in the greatest country on earth, the United States of America! It is such a great place, we frequently take most of our freedoms for granted. I hope that you will pause for a moment this weekend to remember our military families; the men and women who are fighting, or who have fought, to preserve these freedoms we take for granted.  I pray that you, your families and friends have a safe and happy celebration this Independence Day weekend! God Bless, Nan

“I am happy to support United Way because it is of utmost importance to me to have an avenue to provide broad support of people in our community who need assistance.  No other organization works with as much effectiveness as the United Way.”

Rocky Gill, Owner

Express Employment Professionals

The Day of Caring Committee members (from left) Lisa Gardner, Nan Moore, Joe Barron, Lesia Anthony, Jimmy Jacobe, Garland Wright and J.D. Osborne pose for a portrait in front of First Christian Church on Monday. (Not pictured: Sam Lanier, Kenny Smith, Doc Deason, Tracy Gilley, Ronnie Dickson, Kim Dickson and Sheri Redden)
(Tyler Paper— Staff Photo By Jaime R. Carrero)

The United Way of Tyler/Smith County is looking for more than 400 volunteers to take part in the 17th Annual Day of Caring.  This year’s community-wide service project is set for June 11 in Tyler. Volunteers will meet at 7:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center at First Christian Church located at Broadway and Loop 323 in Tyler, where they will be treated to breakfast courtesy of Chick-fil-A. Agency representatives will “collect” their volunteers and take them to work at their assigned project sites from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Festivities will finish with door prizes, refreshments and activities at 3:30 p.m. back at First Christian Church Family Life Center.

The idea behind this annual event is for teams of volunteers to help nonprofit agencies perform tasks that can be done in one day, according to an announcement from United Way. The tasks include simple landscaping projects, painting, cleaning and paperwork.

This year, 39 service projects have been identified. In past years, volunteer groups from churches, businesses and civic organizations have come together to help.

For information on volunteering and projects needing volunteers, call 903-581-6376 and speak with Lisa Gardner.

Best selling author and speaker, Marshall Howard left a great impression on Smith County today.  Howard spent the morning with about 40 attendees at Hollytree Country Club teaching his principles for building strong relationships. Techniques are highlighted in his NY bestseller, Let’s Have Lunch Together.  This was the first time that Express Employment Professionals, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Tyler Smith County, joined forces to bring a nationally acclaimed speaker to Tyler.  Nan Moore, President of United Way, said, “If you missed it, you really missed a dynamic opportunity to transform your business relationships and opportunities.”  Rocky Gill, owner of Express Employment Professionals, said, “[Howard] is one of the best speakers I have heard. I wish more people had taken advantage of this opportunity.”

Howard presented his relationship building techniques to United Way’s 2010 Loaned Executive team at their annual retreat held Thursday, May 20th at Garden Valley Golf Resort. Also featured at the retreat was the president of Diversified Nonprofit Services, Kevin Bingham, who co-authored the book, The Perfect Nonprofit.  Bingham spent Thursday morning leading the LE team through effective leadership and time management exercises.

United Way is looking for more opportunities to partner with Express and the Tyler Chamber to bring in other speakers over the next few months. For information about Howard or his book, visit his website at www.marshallhoward.com.  For more information about Bingham or his book, visit www.dnsassociates.com.

Thanks to the ongoing support of the community, the United Way of Tyler/Smith County, through its partner agencies, is able offer health and human services programs that will help build a stronger future for our community.  Having recently completed its allocation process, the United Way of Tyler/Smith County is pleased to announce the following distribution of funds for the 2010-2011 fiscal year:  

 ADAPT (Adolescent Development & Achievement Program of Tyler) - $41,884

American Red Cross – $53,460

Arc of Smith County (Association for Retarded Citizens) - $20,233

Azleway, Inc. - $28,245

Bethesda Health Clinic – $40,000

Boy Scouts of America, East Texas Area Council - $60,133

Boys and Girls Clubs of East Texas - $31,856

CASA for Kids of East Texas - $18,918

Champions for Children - $22,430

Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County - $65,000

East Texas Crisis Center - $87,870

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas - $28,478 

Goodwill Industries of East Texas - $27,226

Habitat for Humanity of Smith County - $30,000

Literacy Council of Tyler - $99,200

Niños de Promesa - $28,599

North Tyler Day Nursery – $48,600

Parent Services Center, Inc. - $30,722

Parents Anonymous of Tyler, Inc. - $38,177

Salvation Army - $115,778

SCCADA (Sister Communities Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse) - $13,000

Smith County 4-H - $3,728

Tyler Day Nursery - $85,421

YMCA of Tyler - $78,042

 To donate to United Way of Tyler/Smith County, or for more information on programs and services, please visit the Store Link below or call 903-581-6376.

Gail Evans

Human Resources

United Technologies-Carrier Corporation

“I support the United Way of Tyler/Smith County monetarily because I believe it is the best way to help multiple agencies and people in need. I can give through payroll deduction through my employer and know that it is well managed and helps the organizations it supports in the community where I live. It is an honor for me to be able to give of my money and time to an agency that helps so many people.  I am grateful that I have been able to contribute my time to support the United Way by being a board member as well as serving on the Agency Relations Committee in the allocation process. It has enabled me to become familiar with the United Way as well as the agencies and the many ways they serve our community. It is amazing how much good is done at the agency level with the monies the United Way contributes.  It is a privilege to be in a position to help others and I believe the United Way is the most efficient way to accomplish that.  I feel blessed that I can help rather than being one who needs help. I appreciate the United Way for giving me a way to give back to my community.” 

Presented at the Annual Luncheon

March 11, 2010

2009 Loaned Executive of the Year was awarded to:

Carl Hiltpold with Prosperity Bank

Pictured from left to right: 2009 Campaign Chair Clay Thompson, award recipient Carl Hiltpold, 2008 recipient Gail Dorough, United Way Campaign staff members Dacia Edmonson and Sheri Redden

Other award recipients include:

EMPLOYEE CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR

Presented to the Employee Campaign Coordinator who was able to rally fellow employees to go above and beyond for United Way

Recipient: Janette Land with CB&I

CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

Presented to Campaign Cabinet member who goes above and beyond the call of duty

Recipient: Diannia Jackson with Tyler Police Dept.

THE “WE CARE” AWARD

Presented to the employees of a high achieving company

Recipient: The Employees of United Technologies Carrier

THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD

A “traveling trophy” presented annually to a department of Smith County or a department of a city within Smith County, whose staff has demonstrated exceptional commitment to our community through their employee contributions to United Way

Recipient: Tyler City Manager’s Office

2008 & 2009 CAMPAIGN CHAIR, CLAY THOMPSON

AWARDED THE CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN’S PLAQUE

2009/2010 BOARD CHAIR, HENRY BELL

RECEIVED THE BOARD CHAIRMAN’S PLAQUE