Community Leaders Honored at Highlands County Annual Meeting

United Way of Central Florida Highlands County Division hosted its Annual Meeting on April 4 at the Sebring Civic Center. The organization gathered to celebrate volunteerism and assess the impact United Way is making on the communities in Highlands County.

Dusty Johnson, 2011 Campaign Chair, announced that more than 2,000 donors had pledged a total of $470,000, the third-highest collection in Highlands County history and an 11 percent increase over the previous year. Johnson also thanked the 55 businesses and government agencies that ran donation campaigns.

John Shoop, CEO at Highlands Independent Bank, received the prestigious United Way Citizen of the Year Award. Dan McAuliff, a Director at South Florida Community College, was also honored as the Volunteer of the Year.

Appreciation awards were presented to the 2011 Highlands County Advisory Board Chair, Robin Sheck of SunTrust, and Campaign Chair, Dusty Johnson of Heacock Insurance. Special awards were also presented to two long serving board members who retired this year: Joe Bustamante, Publix Super Markets Southgate Plaza, and Sandy Marcum, Highlands Independent Bank.

Other appreciation awards were given to the 2011 Community Investment Team Co-Chairs, Steve New and Claudia Bishop. The Community Investment Teams assume the task of reviewing the agency programs to offer the best possible return of donor dollars.

South Florida Community College was recognized for its continued support of United Way. United Way also honored Tami Cullens, the 2011 Loaned Executive sponsored by Mosaic Industries.

Alan Jay Wildstein, owner of Alan Jay Automotive Network, was recognized for his contributions as an Alexis de Tocqueville Society member of the United Way of Central Florida – Highlands County Division. Membership in the society is granted to individuals and families who invest $10,000 or more annually to United Way.

Awards were presented to recognize exemplary corporate citizenship of companies that generated the highest total number of dollars pledged in Highlands County. The Top Ten Dollar Accounts winners for 2011 are:

1.     Publix Super Markets- $137,242
2.     School Board of Highlands County– $78,031
3.     Alan Jay Automotive Network– $37,058
4.     Florida Hospital Heartland Division- $21,002
5.     Lykes Bros. Inc. - $19,271
6.     South Florida Community College –15,566
7.     Highlands Independent Bank –$15,000
8.     SunTrust Bank –$13,900
9.     Heartland National Bank –$11,996
10.   CenturyLink –$11,748

Awards were also presented to companies that achieved the highest per capita employee gifts based on the total employee contributions. Through this analysis, the United Way selected the following Generous Givers winners.

1.     CliftonLarsonAllen – Per capita gift of $460
2.     MorganStanley SmithBarney – Per capita gift of $450
3.     SunTrust Bank – Per capita gift of $342
4.     Heacock Group Inc – Per capita gift of $257
5.     Heartland National Bank – Per capita gift of $249
6.     Publix Super Markets – Per capita gift of $201
7.     Wicks, Brown, Williams– Per capita gift of $154
8.     Highlands Independent Bank – Per capita gift of $121
9.     Alan Jay Automotive Network – Per capita gift of $121
10.   The Andersons, Inc. - Per capita gift of $117

United Way recognized those employee coordinators that went above and beyond for their campaigns and brought about great results. Brian Stokes, North Sebring Publix, helped increase their campaign by 29% for a total gift of $56,112. Belinda Decker, Clerk of Courts, helped increase their campaign by 163%! Susie Hale, South Florida Community College, helped increase their campaign by 27% to reach their highest total ever! Finally, Robin Scheck, SunTrust, was named Employee Coordinator of the Year. SunTrust's average employee gift increased by an astounding $203 this year! She helped double their employee giving and raised a total of $13,900.

Photo courtesy of Highlands Today