George Boatwright
Publix Supermarkets, Inc.
In every
organization there are the unsung heroes, the quiet, unassuming
individuals who
work tirelessly to help the organization succeed. While
others take the stage, these folks are
content to write the scripts and build the stage. Their
role is critical to the success of the
organization, but often their efforts are not fully appreciated.
Just try to
imagine our United Way fundraising campaign without a Kick Off and a
Victory
Celebration. Imagine our United Way
without BE A BUNNY and SCHOOL TOOLS or without newsletters and campaign
brochures. What would our United Way be
without Family Fun Day and Raising the Steaks? How
could we possibly exist in 2010 if we could not become
a fan of
United Way on Facebook? Thankfully,
because of the work of our Volunteer of the Year, we do not have to
worry about
such dilemmas.
Our 2009
Volunteer
of the Year is our Great Communicator. He
has chaired our Communications Committee, and has
served on our Board
of Directors and Executive Committee. He
has grilled hot dogs for Family Fun Day, filled baskets for BE A BUNNY
and
sorted school supplies for SCHOOL TOOLS. Without
this volunteer, the message of LIVE UNITED in
Aiken County would
not have been heard with such resonance.
Our 2009
Volunteer of the Year is a person of great heart and of great
compassion. He believes in the mission. He is a leadership contributor, a committed
worker and a strong advocate within his business and throughout Aiken
County. He LIVES UNITED.
Volunteers are the backbone of United Way. From helping us to keep fundraising costs down - that way almost all of every contribution gets to the people who need it most - to providing the critical link that pulls business, government and human service agencies together - we can do so much more working together than we can alone - volunteers are involved in heroic efforts to improve our community.
Just a few of the ways volunteers help include:
- giving their time to determine the needs of the community
- allocating funds to agencies and programs with proven impact
- serving on United Way's board
- planning and staffing events and activities
- working with United Way-supported agencies and programs
When you volunteer, you're touching people's lives directly. When volunteers are asked why they do it, they usually respond that yes, they enjoy doing something for others, but the most compelling reason is that it makes them feel great!