By By Adrienne McKenzie
United Fund will be hosting a fun kick off event tomorrow in Atmore Heritage Park to spotlight local agencies assisted by the organization.
According to United Fund president Ann Glavan, 20 agencies will be at the kick off, which will be a community-wide event that is held along with the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours.
"Twenty agencies will be there and they will have information about what they do as an agency," Glavan said. "We hold the kick off event so that we can create an awareness in the community that board members and employers will be approaching individuals and employees about their opportunity to give to United Fund."
The kick off event will not only be informative, but Glavan said it will also be fun.
"Each agency will actually have a drawing, something we can give away through the evening," she said. "Board members will be there to welcome everybody and to tell a little bit about the work of the board. We're anticipating having the ECHS and Northview bands with their cheerleaders and the Academy's cheerleaders will also be with us. There will be activities for children. Also, there will be free hotdogs, drinks and icees. We have general door prizes that we will be giving away so everybody will have the opportunity to register for the general door prizes and also meet with the agencies and register for their door prizes. Lou Vickery will be there interviewing each of the agencies."
Glavan said area boy and girl scouts and the Atmore Area Commerce of Chamber ambassadors will be at the event. There will also be a jump house and games for children.
Several businesses in the community have donated to United Fund in different ways to assist with the event that will showcase what the organization does for Atmore agencies.
"Various businesses here in town are working with us in donating either their employees' efforts and/or door prizes and refreshments," Glavan said. "It's a wonderful way for the community to come together and encourage those who work in the community."
Glavan said the goal to raise this year is the same as last year, $75,000.
"We expect to surpass that goal again this year," she said.
Glavan said the event could not be made possible without the work of the United Fund kick off committee members. The committee consists of Chad Bartz, Renee Hardy, Adam Prestridge, Lee Ann Allen, Cathy McKinley, Sandra Gray, Lacinda Mitchell, Susan Smith, George Roberts and Glavan. She said she appreciates all of their hard work put in to the event.
"We've got a lot of people involved," she said. "We couldn't do this without everyone in the community and the board members. We had a kickoff committee who worked towards making sure this will be a big success."
The event will be from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Thursday.