The sound of wheels squealing and metal crashing could be heard and the song, “I Can’t Drive 55,” played overhead in the banquet room of the Sanderson Farms Corporate Office Thursday morning, September 5, when United Way of the Pine Belt Region Executive Director Rhonda Gilbert, dressed in racing gear, crashed through a symbolic brick wall to introduce this year’s campaign theme, “Be a Driving Force for Caring.” A 1969 Chevrolet Camero, owned by Sanderson Farms retiree Thomas McCoy, greeted the members of the United Way PBR Pacesetter Companies as they entered the facility to enjoy a delicious breakfast catered by SCRMC Southern Catering to kick off the 2019 campaign.
Each year the United Way PBR pacesetter companies, consisting of 14 local companies this year, begin their campaigns in August, prior to the regular campaign kickoff in September, to set the pace for giving for others to follow.
During the breakfast, Campaign Chair Russ Griffin announced that pledges and contributions for the 2019 Campaign from the pacesetter companies totaled $436,418, which is 66 percent of the goal of $660,000 set for this year’s campaign. This is an increase of 14 percent over last year’s kickoff!
The funds raised through the campaign are allocated to 23 partner agencies throughout a five-county area which includes Jones, Jasper, Wayne, Smith and Covington counties.
The funds provide financial assistance to these service agencies that fulfill the United Way’s goal of improving education, helping people reach financial stability, and promoting healthy living. The partner agencies include Boy Scouts of America Pine Burr Area Council; Boys and Girls Club of Covington County; The Good Samaritan Closet and Pantry; The Children’s Center for Communications and Development – USM; DuBard School for Language Disorders – USM; 4-H Advisory Councils – Covington, Jasper, Jones, Smith and Wayne Counties; Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi; Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers – Wayne County; Parents for Drug Free Youth; Pine Belt Youth Coalition; YWCO; Salvation Army – Covington, Jasper, Jones, Smith and Wayne Counties; American Red Cross – Covington, Jasper, Jones, Smith and Wayne Counties; The ARC of the Pine Belt; Domestic Abuse Family Shelter; Good Shepherd Clinic; Foster Grandparents Program; Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention; and First Call for Help.