Ryan Kelly presided over the meeting. Anthony Harris provided the opening prayer and then led the Club in the Pledge of Allegiance. Latreaka then led the club in the Four Way Test. The meeting was held at the Mugshots Bar and Grill in Hattiesburg.
Lucy announced Rachel Riley, Jennifer Zuniga and Dalton Finch were all guests of Mallory again this week. Logan Kemp is a visiting Rotarian of Columbia, was the guest of Lee Kemp. Lee Kemp won the drawing again his week but not the card.
Lucy then introduced Amy Lyon, Director of Community Impact for United Way of Southeast Mississippi. Amy is responsible for overseeing the process of funds distribution, funded agency support, community research and community collaboration.
Amy informed us that United Way is the largest privately funded nonprofit in the world. Each united way is run independently with their own board and staff. There are over 1100 United Way worldwide. There are seven in MS alone. 1940 is when United Way started in Forrest County, adding Lamar in the 70’s, Perry County in 1990 and Marion County in 2013.
There are three areas United Way focuses on: Education, Health and Economic Stability.
Each day, United Way of Southeast Mississippi works to correct people with needs to the resources available to meet those needs for the purpose of creating positive change across SEM. Every year thousands of employees get involved in their company’s workplace giving campaign to support United Way of Southeast Mississippi solutions that improve health, expand education, grow livelihoods and assess essential needs.
The workplace campaign is about more than raising money for worthy causes. It also strengthens connections between employees and their families.
United Way has a “Born Learning” program. This program equips parents to create early learning opportunities for young children. Reading is the foundation for learning, and yet too many children enter school without even the basic skills they need to learn to read. Research has shown that children learn best when they are engaged and having fun.
United Way also has a literacy program for children 0-5. Free books are shipped to the parents each month at no cost to the parents. So far only Forrest and Lamar County so far and are working on Marion and Perry Counties.
UW also has a 211 statewide resource and referral service that connects callers with a variety of health and human services resources specific to their needs and geographical areas. 211 is a nationwide number that covers all 50 states and 95% of the US population. Calls are tracked so that they can see the most needed services in that specific community.
When you give to United Way, your contribution helps foster both individual and collective success. Learn how you can help us strengthen your community, and many other communities around the world.
There are several ways to give to UW. You can donate money, donate stock and even donate Bitcoin.
For more information, please visit https://www.unitedway.org
The United Way motto: If you don't do it, it won't get done. Give the United Way."
There being no further business to come before the club, Ryan thanked Amy for her presentation and then adjourned the meeting with our motto: “Service Above Self.”