By By Adam Prestridge
United Fund of Atmore board members are switching things up again this year.
The board decided in 2006 to hold a festival at Heritage Park to highlight the agencies that benefit from United Fund, which proved both informative and fun for those in attendance. After two successful years, the board has once again shaken things up by organizing a business evening, which will include a silent auction to kickoff the 2009 fundraising campaign.
The event, which will be held in conjunction with the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours, is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 and will be held at Creek Indian Enterprises located in the old Trinsic building on Brookwood Drive.
State treasurer Kay Ivey will be the guest speaker and she will touch on the importance of community support. Ivey, the 38th Alabama State Treasurer, was born in Camden in1944. She graduated from Auburn University and worked in education, banking and government before winning her current post. She was director of government affairs and communications for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education from 1985 until 1998. One of Ivey’s duties as State Treasurer is administration of the state’s Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program.
Numerous local businesses have donated items for guests to bid on during the silent auction. Also up for grabs will be a pair of Atlanta Braves baseball tickets and two-round trip plane tickets.
The United Fund of Atmore was formed in 1955 and supported 20 agencies this year including, Easter Seals Alabama; the American Red Cross; Atmore Historical Society; Atmore Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball and Girls Softball; Atmore Pee Wee Football; Atmore Tee Ball League; Escambia County Cooperative Library System; Community Service/Agency on Aging; Atmore Public Library; Deep South Girl Scout Council; Northwest Little League; Progressive Civic and Recreational Club; Atmore YMCA; Alabama Cooperative Extension System; Concerned Citizens of Atmore; Atmore Area Christian Care Ministry; Hospitality House Ministry; Young Life and Children Outreach Ministry.
Bartz believes that everyone in Atmore benefits from United Fund due to the diversity of agencies supported.
A few members of the agencies that receive funds will also speak at the event, which is open to all adults.
Funds are dispersed to each agency based on their requests provided a screening committee approves the amount and the yearly objective is met. The 2008 goal called for $75,000 to be raised, but the funds came up just short with only $73,000 being donated. The 2009 goal will once again be set at $75,000.