DAYTONA BEACH -- Despite several hurricanes disrupting
its 2004 fund-raising efforts, the local United Way has
reached its goal of $3.6 million from pledges and other
charity projects.
At a celebration Thursday night at Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University, campaign chairman Bob Davis said more
than $236,000 in special hurricane relief was distributed to
member agencies affected by the storm.
Ray Salazar, president of United Way of Volusia and Flagler
Counties, said Thursday he was pleased with the efforts in the
two-county area to reach its goal, considering so many
businesses were damaged by the three hurricanes that hit the
area last year. Funds will be distributed to United Way's 51
member agencies.
"Businesses had to think hard about restoring their
companies and also running a campaign. But they focused on the
community too and that was very meaningful," Salazar said.
Among those honored at the event were: Humanitarian Award,
Target, Plaza Resort and Embry-Riddle's Pike fraternity;
Changing Lives Award, Child Care Resource Network; Chairman's
Award, Publix Supermarkets; What Matters Award, American Red
Cross and Work Oriented Rehabilitation Center, which recently
affiliated with United Cerebral Palsy Association; and Grand
Gemini Award, Lori Kopp and the residential fund-raising unit.
Gemini Awards were given to Matt Zavadsky, Rick Fraser,
Lori Kopp, Volusia County, International Speedway Corporation,
and Daytona Beach Community College.
-- Suzanne Wymes-Kridner
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