By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
Do you have a child who plays youth baseball? Do you check out books at the public library? Have you needed blood recently? If you answered yes to any of these, or take advantage of some other local agency, it is time to give back.
Tomorrow is the kickoff luncheon for the United Fund, the agency that keeps many of our local programs going through donations. This year, they are setting their goals high as they look to raise $100,000 to keep these existing programs that affect so many people's lives going.
The luncheon will be held at noon at the Lions Community Center and will be the first event during a six-week fundraising campaign. The cost for tickets is a $7 donation which will help keep a long list of groups up and running through the upcoming year.
The special guest at the luncheon will be Deborah Johnson of the Red Cross who will explain how the United Fund helps the Red Cross and how it helps the community.
This year's drive chairmen are Terrence Breckenridge and Louie Turner.
There will be other fundraisers throughout the six-week period. Although details have not been made, Breckenridge said the division heads of the group have been named and it will be their responsibility to contact the various businesses, churches and other groups within the community.
The United Fund has played a role in improving lives in Atmore since 1955. Each year, the group re-evaluates their plan to make sure they are helping as many people as possible.
In the past, Atmore's business and industrial leaders have paved the way for the United Fund drive. This year, their goal is to get more people within the community involved.
Last year, the drive raised $78,000. Breckenridge said he thinks they can do better.
This year's division heads are: industrial-Deborah Johnson and Sara Skelton, government-Becca Smith and Vicki James, Creek Indian Nation-Edie Jackson, professional-Jimmy Crook, Northeast Atmore-Eldred Pritchett, special division- John Brannon and A.T. Days and business-Sheila Faircloth, Rene' Godwin and Nancy Helton.
The groups that will benefit from each and every dollar raised through this year's fundraising drive are: Girl Scouts, Atmore Public Library, Southwest Mental Health, Atmore Lion's Club, NW Escambia Little League, Atmore tee ball, Agency on Aging, Gulf Coast BSA, Escambia County Mental Health, Escambia County 4-H, YMCA, Alabama Crippled Children, Escambia County Coop Library, Red Cross, Atmore girls softball, Bambino baseball, Babe Ruth baseball, pee wee football, Progressive Civic and Recreational Club.