The United Way of the Pine Belt Region began the 2020 fundraising campaign season Thursday morning, July 30 with a breakfast to honor the UWPBR pacesetter companies. The pacesetter companies conduct their UW campaigns during August to set the pace for giving in the communities.
The campaign for 2020 is entitled “Launch Your Community to Greater Heights.”
“This year’s been tough,” exclaimed Rhonda Gilbert, UWPBR executive director. “And, it’s been a time of uncertainty. This year’s campaign is going to be different. We have a lot of virtual things in the works, including utilizing our Facebook page and Website more and having virtual meetings through Zoom.”
Gilbert mentioned a couple of special volunteers who passed away this year.
“We’re going to miss Mr. Walter Love and another past president Mr. Rex Gilbert. We want to remember them today because they were such an important part of the United Way for so many years.”
The 2020 UWPBR pacesetter companies. Photo/Linda Cranford
2020 Regional Campaign Chair Chris Phillips with Mississippi Power Company introduced the 2020 Pacesetter companies which include BancorpSouth Bank, City of Laurel, Dixie Electric Power Association, EDA of Jones County, First State Bank, Hunt Southland Refining Co., LLC, Jones County School District, Laurel School District, Mississippi Power Company, Regions Bank, Sanderson Farms, Inc. – Laurel and Collins, South Central Regional Medical Center, Southern Pine Electric – Taylorsville, and Trustmark National Bank.
“Our community needs us more now than ever,” stated Gilbert. “We need to respond by giving back as much as we possibly can to get us to that greater height. It’s going to be tough, and it’s going to be an uphill climb. We’ve faced tough times before, but we have never lived through a pandemic.”
Several representatives from the different agencies who are partnered with the United Way of the Pine Belt spoke to the guests including Dawn Trest, executive director of the YWCO, Eagle Scout Fletcher Horne representing the Boy Scouts, Van Williams, social service program director for The Salvation Army in Laurel, Deb Antrim, board president of Samaritan’s Closet and Pantry in Waynesboro, and Becky Stewart, executive director of Domestic Abuse Family Shelter.
The representatives spoke about the importance of the UWPBR’s funding. They spoke of ways the funding supports their services and helps them maintain their existence.
The United Way of the Pine Belt Region partners with 22 agencies across five counties, including Jones, Jasper, Covington, Smith, and Wayne, to bring needed services to the communities and fulfill their mission “To increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another.”