The Brown County United Way hosted their annual campaign appreciation luncheon Thursday to celebrate the donors who made this year’s funding possible for 15 agencies across the county.

The 2011 campaign was able to raise $245,000 which was 75% of the $325,000 goal set for the year.  Although the goal was not met, Executive Director Karen Lynch expressed how appreciative the United Way was to receive such generous contributions from many businesses and individuals in a year that was economically difficult.

Guest speaker and Executive Director of the Family Services Center Doak Givan stated that it is vital to keep giving and that donors are important to the United Way.

“We have a lot to be thankful for in this community and that is you (the donors),” stated Givan.

Each state agency has been mandated to come up with 10% budget cuts from the previous year.  Givan explained that this will have a direct impact on services and clients of Family Services Center and all United Way agencies.

“I also pray that we do not grow weary doing good,” said Givan.  “Times are hard and it is easy to get discouraged.  It is my prayer that we keep fighting the good fight for doing good.”

Givan explained that although grant money is important, these grants received usually dictate how funds are used, who can be served, and what services can be provided.  United way funding to agencies such as Family Service Center helps to fill those gaps in services to individuals that need help but do not meet the criteria or guidelines of certain grants.

Over the past four years at Family Services Center, 6,978 individuals have been helped because of generous contributions to the United Way according to Givan.  These individuals have received services such as counseling, parenting education, anger management, supervised visits and exchanges, literacy, tutoring and mediation.  Hundreds of others have received help from referral services.

Today, Givan put a face to one of those numbers, a person that overcame fear and pride to get help.  A previous client, Kari Reichenau, shared her story.  Family Services Center helped her through hard times and helped her get back on her feet as a newly single mother of two.  She pointed out that it sometimes is difficult to “swallow your pride and ask for help”.

“I am so grateful to the people at Family Services Center and the help they gave me during that time,” stated Reichenau.

The agencies serving Brown County who received funding from the proceeds of the 2011 United Way Campaign were:

• American Red Cross, Pecan Valley Chapter
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Boy Scouts of America, Texas Trails Council
• Brown County Association for Retarded Citizens
• Cancer Services Network
• Family Services Center
• Latch Key Program
• Mid-Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
• Salvation Army Loaves & Fishes
• The Ark
• Boys & Girls Club
• Brown County 4-H Clubs
• CASA in the Heart of Texas
• Girl Scouts of Central Texas

Top Contributors were:

• 3M  $59,247
• Kohler Company   $45,960
• Brownwood Regional Medical Center    $18,600

Contributing $5,000 – $10,000:

• Atmos Energy
• Landmark Life Insurance
• Citizens National Bank
• Texas Bank
• City of Brownwood
• Superior Essex
• United Parcel Service
• Kroger
• Underwood’s Cafeteria

Contributing $3,000 – $5,000:

• Oncor Electric
• Central Texas Foundation/J.R. Beadel
• DanHil Containers
• Chevron Phillips Performance Pipe
• Brownwood ISD
• Howard Payne University
• The Brownwood Bulletin
• Wal-Mart
• Stephen and Sandra Kelley Foundation

Contributing $1,000-$3,000:

• TYC Ron Jackson Unit
• Federal Express
• JC Penney
• Family Services Center
• TDCJ Havins Unit
• The Ark
• Burl & Sarah Brown

Pictured above are Family Services Center Executive Director Doak Givan, Kari Reichenau, and Director of Brown County Association of Retarded Citizens Von Bates.