United Way of Central Georgia reported that the organization had exceeded its fund raising goal of $5 Million by raising $5,009,404 in 2015. The announcement was made by 2015 Campaign Chairman Eddie Norris, President & CEO of CB&T Bank, at United Way’s Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration held at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins.

“What a year for the people in our communities that are served by the United Way of Central Georgia.  Meeting our goal of $5,000,000 means that we can meet more of the unfunded requests by our partner agencies.  This is truly a remarkable accomplishment by the staff and volunteers responsible for raising this money and making sure we get the most return from those dollars for those in our communities in need.  I could not be more proud of George McCanless and his team at the United Way.  They are true professionals and care deeply about the folks they serve.  I also want to give a huge thank you to the Campaign Cabinet, the United Way Board of Directors and all the other hundreds of volunteers that made making this goal possible.  I believe breaking the $5,000,000 mark is the start of something really big for this community.  This achievement is energizing and with this momentum the sky is the limit.”

GEICO and its associates were named United Way of Central Georgia’s top contributor for the 12th year in a row, pledging $1,123,608 during the 2015 United Way campaign. GEICO associates raised $922,418 and their corporate gift was $201,190.  

Special awards were also given to employee campaigns that had the highest dollar increases over last year in small, medium and large divisions.  Winners included Perdue Foods, Robins Financial Credit Union, Kroger #641, The Telegraph, MetroPower, and Family Counseling Center.  Highest per capita awards (most money donated per employee) were given out to GEICO, State Bank & Trust Company, Publix Supermarkets, L.E. Schwartz & Sons, Inc., Mauldin & Jenkins, and Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce. Highest percent of participation awards were given out to Perdue Food, BB&T, Save-A-Lot Foods Distribution, Spherion Staffing, Thomason Lift Truck, Macon Volunteer Clinic, Mulberry Street Investments, Rainbow House Children’s Resource Center, Georgia Power Plant Scherer, Youmans Chevrolet, Houston County Council on Aging, Family Counseling Center, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia, and Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce.  The Top 25 Campaigns were also recognized.

The 2015 Combined Federal Campaign, which is the annual charitable effort for all federal employees in our region, raised $866,035.  United Way of Central Georgia and our partner agencies will receive $92,540 of the money raised in the CFC Campaign.

A new award was presented this year to the former United Way of Houston County Board Chairman and businessman Jack Steed.  Jack received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution in helping expand United Way’s impact in Central Georgia, including playing a pivotal role in the 1989 merger of the United Ways of Bibb and Houston County.  The 2015 Volunteer of the Year Award, named in memory of Macon-Bibb Firefighter Lt. Randy Parker, a former United Way Loaned Executive, was presented to this year’s recipient, Mercer University’s Dr. Mary Alice Morgan for her outstanding community contributions.

“Since our United Way has never raised over $5 Million, saying that was a stretch goal for this year’s campaign would be an understatement.  But in keeping with our campaign theme, thanks to a lot of true community Super Heroes we were able to set a new record” stated George McCanless, President & CEO of the United Way of Central Georgia.  “Campaign Chair Eddie Norris, his campaign cabinet, and the Resource Development and Community Impact teams at United Way deserve an incredible thank you for their efforts. And of course none of this would be possible without those other Super Heroes, the companies and individuals throughout Central Georgia that open their hearts and their pocketbooks to support their fellow Central Georgians.”

New board members were elected during the business part of the meeting.  They include: Erin Crider, Lineage; Steve Daughtery, Coliseum Hospital Northside; Herb Young, Frito Lay; Tim Andrews, Houston County Board of Commissioners; Charles Briscoe, Community Health Services of Georgia; Cyndey Busbee, Navicent Health; Dr. Mark Scott, Houston County Schools, Ret. General Bob Mc Mahon, Fickling & Company; Eli Morgan, State Farm; and Bernard Snell, US Attorney’s Office.

The new officers of United Way’s Executive Committee were also announced.  They include: Chair,  Theresa Robinson, Georgia Power; 2016 Campaign Chair, John Rhea, Robins Financial Credit Union; Vice Chair Communications Marketing, Thomas Bacote, iHeart Media; Vice Chair Community Impact, Donna Ellis, Georgia Power; Treasurer, Larry Brumley, Mercer University; and Past Chair, Bruce Leicht, State Bank & Trust;