Our year is off to a wonderful start at United Way for Jackson & George Counties.  Now, as most of you know, we host our VIP (Volunteers are Important People) Event during what is known as National Volunteer Appreciation Week, which is in April each year.  This year we honored numerous residents of Jackson County that keep our community United throughout the year.  Categories included Youth Volunteer of the Year, Adult Male and Female Volunteers of the Year and Team of the Year, with all nominees making a difference in adult and youth areas.  We also gave our top honor of Humanitarian to a man who has continually made a difference in the lives of so many in our community.

Frank Spires, a dedicated volunteer for Our Daily Bread, has worked tirelessly since his retirement to make sure that when a need arises, it is fulfilled.  A priceless effort that anyone who knows Spires will tell you is his life’s work.  A very dedicated volunteer and true Humanitarian, Spires was speechless when announced as the 2013 United Way Humanitarian award recipient.  This is the highest honor bestowed on

any individual by United Way’s Board of Directors.

If you know someone who you feel deserving of any of the honors given at our VIP Event, please keep that person in mind when the nominations come around again in February 2014.  Also, there is a list and photos of each of this year’s winners on our website and Facebook page.

Keeping our two-county areas UNITED is a full community effort and takes a large team.  We want everyone to know that we appreciate all that they do to keep Jackson & George Counties such a beautiful community to call home.

We also would like to thank all of our Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Sponsors for everything they do to make this United Way excellent.

 Warmest regards,

 Carolyn E. Moore, CEO, United Way for Jackson & George Counties