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GREG TRAVIS/Ledger & Times
Teresa Speed, center, is pictured above receiving this year’s Kathie Gentry Lifetime Achievement Award. Making the presentation is Thelma Warford, last year’s recipient. Looking on, at left, is Alice Rouse, president of the United Way’s board of directors. |
United Way sets ‘Fair' goal
By GREG TRAVIS
Staff Writer
The United Way of Murray-Calloway County's 2006-2007 “Fair Share” Kick-Off and Volunteer Celebration banquet was held Tuesday evening at Murray State University's Curris Center with Matt Griffin, MSU's head football coach, as the guest speaker.
The banquet is the official start of the 2007 Annual Giving Campaign. The United Way of Murray-Calloway County raises money on an annual basis to help various agencies in the community. Money is raised through individual giving, payroll deductions and business/corporate donations and help support the United Way's 11 member agencies and other local, targeted community needs.
Member agencies include 4-H, Adult Education, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Gentry House, Humane Society, Main Street Youth, Merryman House, Need Line, Purchase Area Sexual Assault Center, Red Cross and Senior Citizens.
"The Kick-Off Banquet is the highlight of our campaign. I feel that it is one of the most successful United Way kick-off's in the state. It's an event that everyone looks forward to. It honors our volunteers who are the real backbone of the United Way campaign," commented Peggy Billington, executive director of the United Way of Murray-Calloway County.
Griffin told the group that he was proud to be in Murray. “This is a very important organization. The whole world today is about choices and it is a meaningful choice to support the United Way. These are powerful, caring people in the community,” he said. “And they demonstrate the caring power of the community.”
Griffin said he was a big believer in themes, and that a mission of the MSU team was, “Things that we do for ourselves die with us. Things that we do for others live forever.”
He said that Murray-Calloway County was a very engaging community. “This is not a small town, it is a progressive, great and caring town. Murray is a model community for United Way.”
The group set a 2007 campaign goal of $315,000, reported Doug Lawson, 2007 Campaign Chair.
Lawson told the group, “We have established a game plan that will allow every able-bodied, gainfully-employed, loving person in our community to take a small portion of their earnings and give to United Way of Murray-Calloway County. This donation is called ‘Fair Share or Better.' The Fair Share formula is easy - one hour of pay per month or better donated to the United Way.
“If everyone could find it in their heart to give one hour of pay per month, the ability to help the children, the elderly, the homeless and the less fortunate in our community would be overwhelming,” he said.
The group also watched a video which showed how caring is implemented in the community every day.
Among the evening's highlights were the presentations of the Kathie Gentry Lifetime Achievement Award, Presidential Awards and the Volunteers of the Year Awards.
Murray High School Principal Teresa Speed was presented with the Kathie Gentry Lifetime Achievement Award by Thelma Warford, last year's recipient. The award was initiated in 2001 by the United Way board of directors to honor Kathie Gentry, the longtime director of Need Line. “Kathie Gentry was an inspiration to so many people. She spent her lifetime serving this community,” Billington noted.
She said the award represents a lifetime of humanitarian service to others in the community. Nominees for the award exhibit the characteristics and attributes of Kathie Gentry which include being selfless, caring and compassionate in a quiet, unassuming way, respectful of the humanity and dignity of all people and serving others above and beyond the call of duty, it was reported.
In introducing Speed, Warford stated, “Teresa Speed has impacted the lives of hundreds of youth in this community and continues to do so on a daily basis.
“However, there are 13 people that have been especially touched by the selflessness, caring and compassion of this person - her children. Four of these children are hers; one is her husband's and six are former foster children that she and her husband have adopted. Let me tell you about the other two. Recently she attended a court hearing for the placement of two sisters into foster care. Once there, she could not allow that to happen and the decision was made to begin the adoption process. She knew that her family could, and would, make room for two more beds in their home. Had she chosen to take them as foster children, she would have received a stipend from the state - but she opted for guardianship and receives nothing.
“Now, I said hundreds of youth have been influenced by this person. That's because on a daily basis, she is a guiding light for the students at Murray High School. It's her job as principal to oversee the running the school, but she doesn't look at her job as something she does from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day. After the bell rings, you can count on her to be at any and every event that her students are involved in. Whether it's an academic event or a sporting event, she's there cheering them on.
“She is also a Rotarian - and in the Rotary directory members are asked to list their hobbies. One of the hobbies she has listed is ‘Children.' It's obvious that she is passionate about children, whether they are her kids or her Murray High kids,” Warford concluded.
Speed said when receiving the honor, “It is hard to believe a person could receive an award for doing something they loved.”
Presidential Awards were presented toSamantha Haneline and Nancy Mieure. They were cited for their outstanding service and dedication to the United Way. Board of Directors president Alice Rouse said the individuals selected for recognition have given of themselves to help the organization. “These people stand out. They have made my job easier and they have tirelessly promoted United Way.”
Individuals selected as Volunteers of the Year, and their agencies, were introduced by Billington. They included:
€ 4-H: Dan and Vi Wood;
€ Big Brothers/Big Sisters: Dr. Neil Weber;
€ Calloway County Adult and Family Education: Marion Bradtke;
€ Gentry House: Tonia Casey;
€ Humane Society: Powell and Carol Henderson;
€ Main Street Youth Center: Nathan Moore;
€ Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center Outreach Office: Sheriff Larry Roberts;
€ Need Line: Justine Cleaver;
€ Purchase Area Sexual Assault Center: Ida Heady;
€ Red Cross - Calloway County Chapter: Kathryn Fox;
€ Senior Citizens Center: Ruth Daughaday.
€ United Way Board: Mark Kennedy.
Other major United Way contributors that were recognized include: Briggs & Stratton; Kenlake Foods; Wal-Mart; Murray-Calloway County Hospital; Pella; Webasto; Kopperud Realty; Murray Board of Education; Heritage Bank; US Bank; BB&T; Regions Bank; and Murray Bank.
Story created Aug 30, 2006 - 11:48:41 EDT.
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