Friday, November 29 2002
Friday, November 29 2002 |
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united way to say thanks, give back to south Fulton community
By PATRICK STAFFORD There is a campaign currently taking place in south Fulton and across the metro Atlanta region. It is the 2002 United Way campaign. United Way's metropolitan-wide campaign will run until the end of December and expects to raise just under $80 million this year. South Fulton has run a campaign for the last four years. The campaign amount raised has grown each year. I have served as the campaign chairman in south Fulton for the last two years. This year's campaign in south Fulton has set a goal of $650,000. During the previous three year's of the campaign, the Fulton Industrial Business District has accounted for the vast majority of the money raised in south Fulton. While that area's 30,000 employees have continued to contribute during this year's campaign, I have sought to increase the number of companies involved in the campaign from that area. Additionally, I would like to take this opportunity to respectfully urge the other area businesses and residents throughout south Fulton to take a moment before the end of the year and reflect on the things you are thankful for in south Fulton and consider making a contribution as a business entity or on a personal basis on behalf of United Way. Your money will go a long way toward helping others in need. Please be assured that any and every amount will help us achieve our goals and you have my pledge that the money raised in south Fulton will continue to be returned to our community in various ways from Bankhead Highway to Palmetto. United Way recognizes the economic realities and that money does not grow on trees. However, it is during these hard times that those in need seek greater assistance through an established organization like United Way. During these tight economic times, United Way is the primary organization that you will continue to be able to count on to support local agencies and entities as they seek to serve an increasing number of folks in need thoughout our communities. If you live in or own a business in Palmetto, Fairburn, Union City, College Park, Hapeville, and all points in between, I simply ask you to consider giving thanks in the form of a contribution to United Way, so that others may be helped. If you are in the banking community, make sure that your United Way contributions in south Fulton are being counted in south Fulton as your way of thanks to your customers. If you are in the car dealership business, even a small contribution as a way of thanks to your south Fulton community will be a great help. If you are a major mall or a small consultant, I urge you to make a contribution to United Way on behalf of south Fulton. During last year's campaign, Oscar's Restaurant in College Park participated in our "round-up" program whereby customers could round up their tabs to the nearest dollar amount and the difference would go to the south Fulton United Way campaign. We sincerely thank them for their efforts and encourage any and every south Fulton restaurant or hotel to do the same between now and the end of the year as a way of thanks to their south Fulton customers. Please take a moment a give thanks during this Thanksgiving season. Give thanks for your families, friends, relatives and neighbors. Give thanks for heat and electricity and phone service. Give thanks for the mobility you have to get from point A to point B. Give thanks for your children and grandchildren. Give thanks for your parents and grandparents. Give thanks for your health. Give thanks for your local schools. Give thanks for your home. Give thanks ... and consider contributing some money to help and provide some hope to others. To start maximizing your impact on the community, call your south Fulton United Way area coordinator, Mya McGary, at 404-836-7721. Thank you for your consideration. [Patrick Stafford is executive director of the Fulton Industrial Business Association. He can be reached at fibamail@bellsouth.net.] |