Area Business Leaders Recognized as United Way of the Concho Valley Kicks Off 2018 Campaign

SAN ANGELO, TX — Hundreds attended the annual awards celebration for The United Way of the Concho Valley at the McNease Convention Center for lunch yesterday. The luncheon was prepared by Rio Concho Catering.

The event kicked-off the 2018 campaign theme, “Imagine the Possibilities.” The United Way partners with regional non-profit organizations to implement what are best described as special projects. For example, for the 2018-2019 year, the following non-profit organization projects were awarded United Way grants:

• Adult Literacy Council’s English as a Second Language,
• Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council for the Concho Valley’s Adult Treatment Program,
• Boys & Girls Club of Menard’s Project Learn Program,
• Boys & Girls Club of San Angelo’s Education and Career Development Program,
• Children’s Advocacy Center’s Court Appointed Special Advocate Program and the Hope House Program,
• Children’s Emergency Shelter’s Safe & Sound Program,
• Concho Valley Home for Girls’ Connect by 25 Program,
• Concho Valley Regional Food Bank’s Hunger Relief Program,
• Galilee Community Development Corporation’s Helping Hands Program,
• Girl Scouts of Central Texas’ SISTERS Program,
• Institute of Cognitive Development’s Peace Begins at Home Program,
• San Angelo Early Childhood Center’s Infant,
• Toddler & Pre K Program,
• Sonrisas Trail’s Pediatric Therapeutic Riding Program,
• Texas Southwest Council Boy Scouts of America’s Nurturing Youth Through Cub Scouts Program,
• The Salvation Army’s Emergency Assistance Program,
• West Texas Counseling & Guidance Center’s Community-wide Reduced Fee Counseling Program and Veterans Outreach Program, and
• YMCA’s Scholarships for After-School Care Program.

To fund these projects, the local United Way embarks on an annual fundraising program. Regional businesses are encouraged to help raise money for the next year’s projects. These fundraising efforts are called “campaigns.” For example, organizing a golf tournament, or benefit event. Or, generally for larger business or government organizations, an internal fundraising effort from among its employees.

Ethicon, Inc. was the recipient of the Chairman’s Circle Award yesterday, which is presented to companies with donations of $100,000 or more.

Campaign Chair Joe Munoz announced that last year’s Campaign (in 2017)raised a total of $1,187,664.

Employee Team Spirit Awards were given to companies that employ creative strategies in order to achieve successful campaigns. They were presented to:

• Atmos Energy,
• San Angelo Community Medical Center, and
• 1st Community Federal Credit Union.

Outstanding Achievement Awards were presented to companies that demonstrated superior support to the 2017 Campaign. Included were:

• AEP,
• Jim Bass Cars and Trucks,
• Foster Communications,
• Texas State Bank,
• Market Street San Angelo,
• First Financial Bank,
• Enterprise Rent-a-Car,
• First National Bank of Mertzon,
• HEB #052,
• San Angelo Water Services (Culligan), and
• Kevin Wade, Clinical Director at West Texas Counseling and Guidance Center.

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Above: Todd Price, GM of Jim Bass Cars & Trucks, accepts an award for his company's Outstanding Achievement . (LIVE! Photo/Joe Hyde)

Yellowhouse Machinery Company received the “New Beginnings Award” for running a first time United Way Campaign.

The Walton Foster Excellence in Media Award was given to KLST-TV photographer Freddy Deanda.

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Above: Foster Communication's Fred Key presented the Walton Foster Excellence in Media Award to KLST-TV photographer Freddy Deanda.(LIVE! Photo/Joe Hyde)

The Spirit of Caring Award was presented in honor of Gary Naylor, former Business Manager for United Parcel Service in San Angelo, Brownwood and Alpine. Naylor passed away in January. Under his Leadership UPS increased its United Way Campaign by 17%.

John Austin Stokes, Executive Director of the Concho Valley Council of Governments will serve as the 2018 United Way of the Concho Valley Campaign Chair.

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Above: Waiting the in the wings: John Austin Stokes, Executive Director of the Concho Valley Council of Governments will serve as the 2018 United Way of the Concho Valley Campaign Chair.. (LIVE! Photo/Joe Hyde)

This year’s theme, “Imagine the Possibilities,” is centered on the non-profit community projects the 2018 fundraising efforts will finance. The concept serves as an inspiration to Concho Valley residents to create a brighter future for our children, our senior citizens and for the community through support of the local United Way.

The Annual Campaign Kick-off will be a “Day of Caring” scheduled for early September. Volunteers will be needed to handle work projects at all of the local program providers’ locations. Individuals and company teams may sign up at the United Way office, located at 955 Turner Street, San Angelo or call the United Way office at (325) 949-3617 for more information.