This year’s campaign theme is “Unite to Fight,” which represents the organization’s renewed focus on boldly confronting issues faced by area residents, said organization President Denise Durel.
“Today, I am asking you to join us to help combat our most pressing issues here in Southwest Louisiana,” Durel said. One such issue, she said, is recent flooding. Durel thanked donors for their part in helping about 450 households recover from flood damage through United Way’s ongoing Flood the Love initiative.
West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital President Janie Fruge, this year’s campaign chair, said the “Unite to Fight” theme “demonstrates the power that we have when we band together, the power to change the course of someone’s life for the better.”
United Way also recognized organizations Thursday for completing a Pacesetter campaign prior to the event and raising over $1,000. Thirty groups were recognized as Pacesetters, including the St. Nicholas Center for Children, Wal-Mart and Capital One.
Durel gave a special tribute to Leonard Richard, who served as campaign chair for BioLab for 30 years before he died in July at 58. United Way announced that the award will be given out every year to a person who shares Richard’s generosity and faithful spirit. The award was given to Sarah Ellzey, who co-chaired with Richard for 30 years.
Richard’s wife, Daphne, and brother Wayne accepted the $1,000 check in Leonard’s memory to be donated to his favorite agency, Calcasieu Community Clinic.
Durel said Richard was one of the first people she met after arriving in Lake Charles seven years ago. She described him as a wonderful person to be around and a dedicated public servant.
“He was 100 percent committed and supportive of United Way, but he was also so fun and always had a smile on his face,” Durel said.
The event closed out with a T-shirt contest. Each year, organizations design a T-shirt and costume based on the campaign theme. This year’s winner — judged by level of applause — was Rain CII, an industrial carbon company. Rain CII representatives wore long American flag capes and a T-shirt that read, “United we can fight anything.”
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