Cooper Lighting, a division of Cooper Industries, Ltd., recently presented a corporate gift to the local United Way. A corporate match of approximately $15,000 was added to the $30,000 in pledges made by local Cooper Lighting employees. The $45,000 total marks the fifth consecutive year that Cooper Lighting has been the largest United Way contributor in Fayette County. That total also amounts to 22 percent of the $207,000 raised in the Fayette community.

"That is a phenomenal percentage for one company to contribute back to this community," said Arnold Martin, chair of the local advisory board and owner of Absolute Lending & Mortgage. "This company is incredibly dedicated to United Way and to the community that supports them."

According to Denise Thomason, the Cooper Industries Foundation matches employee donations in the communities in which it operates. In 2005, the company and its employees donated more than $1 million to United Way organizations around the United States. Metro Atlanta and Fayette County make up one of the 30 local United Way agencies supported by local employees and the Cooper Industries Foundation.

"Cooper Industries has singled out United Way organizations around the country as the largest recipients of our philanthropy programs, with contributions of more than $30 million made since 1989," said Cooper Lighting President Dave Feldman. "With its broad range of services, United Way agencies provide tremendous community support in the cities where Cooper Industries divisions operate and where our employees live and work."

Locally, United Way supports Boy and Girls Scouts, Community Schools, Family YMCA, Fayette Samaritans, Meals on Wheels, Youth Protection Home and the Joseph Sams School.

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