Ken Armstrong, United Way of the Big Bend
executive director, had a sigh of relief last week w
hen the community campaign came to an end.
However, this evening he was filled with excitement
to announce the final total raised from the 67th
Annual United Way of the Big Bend Community
Campaign.
“I think we felt a lot of pressure this year,”
Armstrong said. “We felt that we might have gone
backwards. All the signs were there.”
While about 200 community supporters of the
United Way gathered at Chez Pierre, enjoying hors d’
oeuvres and sipping wine, pale ales and cocktails,
the magical number was unveiled — $6,529,707.
It matched the previous year’s campaign effort, but
was short of this year’s goal of $6,789,100.
“The community sees the United Way as a pyrometer
of how they are doing,” Armstrong added. “That
goes back to the pressure that we felt. You don’t
want to let the community down. Today was the
biggest feeling of relief.”
During the celebration, representatives from various
United Way donors were recognized for their hard
work and contributions.
The Pinnacle Award, presented to the largest
contributor, went to Publix in recognition of
support from the company’s area locations. The
executive director, had a sigh of relief last week w
hen the community campaign came to an end.
However, this evening he was filled with excitement
to announce the final total raised from the 67th
Annual United Way of the Big Bend Community
Campaign.
“I think we felt a lot of pressure this year,”
Armstrong said. “We felt that we might have gone
backwards. All the signs were there.”
While about 200 community supporters of the
United Way gathered at Chez Pierre, enjoying hors d’
oeuvres and sipping wine, pale ales and cocktails,
the magical number was unveiled — $6,529,707.
It matched the previous year’s campaign effort, but
was short of this year’s goal of $6,789,100.
“The community sees the United Way as a pyrometer
of how they are doing,” Armstrong added. “That
goes back to the pressure that we felt. You don’t
want to let the community down. Today was the
biggest feeling of relief.”
During the celebration, representatives from various
United Way donors were recognized for their hard
work and contributions.
The Pinnacle Award, presented to the largest
contributor, went to Publix in recognition of
support from the company’s area locations. The
stores’ donations totaled $535,000.
Florida State University won the Pillar Award, the
second-highest honor for giving. FSU set a record,
raising more than the university ever had before
with its contribution of $443,000.
“We tried to motivate and remind staff of how
significant their contribution could be,” said David
Perry, FSU chief of police and FSU campaign co-
captain with FSU Provost Larry Abele. “There’s an
extreme sense of pride and respect for the
employees for reaching into their pockets and
giving.”
Florida A&M University also beat its record for
giving with a contribution of more than $88,000 —
a feat that Armstrong said was “cool” being that
both universities had stepped up.
Other area donors were represented as well. Willy
Gamalero, Madison County campaign chair and one
of the “Most Outstanding Neighboring County
Volunteers”, was very pleased with their overall
contribution, considering the economy.
“We raised just over $100,000 this year,” he said.
“We had tremendous support from the bottling
plant, Nestle Water. They still managed to raise a
significant amount of the total despite the massive
layoffs at the plant. I think the people in Madison
County realize the various ways the United Way
helps them. When trouble comes, they believe that
help will come from the United Way agencies.”
See tomorrow’s Tallahassee Democrat for more
coverage.
Awards presented at the event were:
Pinnacle Award – Publix
Florida State University won the Pillar Award, the
second-highest honor for giving. FSU set a record,
raising more than the university ever had before
with its contribution of $443,000.
“We tried to motivate and remind staff of how
significant their contribution could be,” said David
Perry, FSU chief of police and FSU campaign co-
captain with FSU Provost Larry Abele. “There’s an
extreme sense of pride and respect for the
employees for reaching into their pockets and
giving.”
Florida A&M University also beat its record for
giving with a contribution of more than $88,000 —
a feat that Armstrong said was “cool” being that
both universities had stepped up.
Other area donors were represented as well. Willy
Gamalero, Madison County campaign chair and one
of the “Most Outstanding Neighboring County
Volunteers”, was very pleased with their overall
contribution, considering the economy.
“We raised just over $100,000 this year,” he said.
“We had tremendous support from the bottling
plant, Nestle Water. They still managed to raise a
significant amount of the total despite the massive
layoffs at the plant. I think the people in Madison
County realize the various ways the United Way
helps them. When trouble comes, they believe that
help will come from the United Way agencies.”
See tomorrow’s Tallahassee Democrat for more
coverage.
Awards presented at the event were:
Pinnacle Award – Publix
Pillar Award – Florida State University
Cornerstone Award – Buckeye Florida, Capital City
Bank, Capital Health Plan, City of Tallahassee, Leon
County, Leon County Schools, Tallahassee Memorial
HealthCare.
• Anse Cates Award – Anse Cates, retiring campaign
chair, received the inaugural award
• Most Outstanding Employee Campaign
Coordinators – Gina Kinchlow (Florida A&M
University) and Dianna Norwood (Florida State
University)
• Most Outstanding Campaign Volunteer – Ron
Sachs
• Most Outstanding Leadership Giving Campaign –
Publix
• Most Innovative Campaign – Capital Health Plan
• Most Improved Campaign – Rogers Gunter Vaughn
Insurance
• Most Outstanding Partner Agency Campaign – Big
Bend Cares
• Most Outstanding Campaigns (99 or Fewer
Employees) – BB&T and Pennington, Moore,
Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar
• Most Outstanding Campaign (100-499 Employees)
– Dillard’s
• Most Outstanding Campaign (500+
Employees) – Leon County Sheriff’s Office
• Most Outstanding Neighboring County Campaign
– TeligentEMS
• Most Improved Neighboring County Campaign –
Lance
• Most Outstanding Neighboring County Volunteers
- Debbie Sheppard, Capital City Bank in Taylor
County; Scott Barton, Buckeye Florida in Taylor
County; Willy Gamalero, Madison County Community
Bank in Madison County
Cornerstone Award – Buckeye Florida, Capital City
Bank, Capital Health Plan, City of Tallahassee, Leon
County, Leon County Schools, Tallahassee Memorial
HealthCare.
• Anse Cates Award – Anse Cates, retiring campaign
chair, received the inaugural award
• Most Outstanding Employee Campaign
Coordinators – Gina Kinchlow (Florida A&M
University) and Dianna Norwood (Florida State
University)
• Most Outstanding Campaign Volunteer – Ron
Sachs
• Most Outstanding Leadership Giving Campaign –
Publix
• Most Innovative Campaign – Capital Health Plan
• Most Improved Campaign – Rogers Gunter Vaughn
Insurance
• Most Outstanding Partner Agency Campaign – Big
Bend Cares
• Most Outstanding Campaigns (99 or Fewer
Employees) – BB&T and Pennington, Moore,
Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar
• Most Outstanding Campaign (100-499 Employees)
– Dillard’s
• Most Outstanding Campaign (500+
Employees) – Leon County Sheriff’s Office
• Most Outstanding Neighboring County Campaign
– TeligentEMS
• Most Improved Neighboring County Campaign –
Lance
• Most Outstanding Neighboring County Volunteers
- Debbie Sheppard, Capital City Bank in Taylor
County; Scott Barton, Buckeye Florida in Taylor
County; Willy Gamalero, Madison County Community
Bank in Madison County
