United Way campaign award winners are, from left, Chuck Ivins, who accepted the teen volunteer award for his daughter, April Ivins; Terri Ulmer, allocations volunteer; Joseph Burns and Shirley Smith, volunteers; Carol McMillin, combined federal campaign volunteer; Curt Follmer, leadership; and Kim Magoun, corporation award for the Isle of Capri.(C. Todd ShermanThe Vicksburg Post)

[02/21/03]Curt Follmer and Shirley Smith received the top awards Thursday during the annual meeting of the United Way of West Central Mississippi.

Also, Briggs Hopson III was installed as the chairman of the board of directors for the local combined charity campaign for 2003. He was joined by Todd Boolos as first vice chairman,Abraham Green as immediate past chairman and Cindy Howington as treasurer.

Overall, the local campaign raised $1.68 million last fall to help fund 25 member agencies this year.

In presenting the Leadership Award to Follmer, outgoing chairman Green said Follmer had worked with the United Way for eight years and served as a member and chairman of the board, head of the Allocations Committee and has worked with other local organizations including the American Red Cross, the Vicksburg Warren County Chamber of Commerce, the Vicksburg Community Alliance and the Mississippi Gaming Association.

Follmer is vice president and general manager of Rainbow Casino.

Barbara Tolliver, president of the United Way, presented the award to Smith, calling her “a strong advocate for community involvement.”

Smith is a United Way board member and member of the Allocations Committee, the Life Influencing Panel, works with focus groups on developing a strategic plan for the United Way and on the Combined Federal Campaign and supports the Middle Mississippi Girl Scouts.

She is employed at the Vicksburg National Military Park.

The local United Way also honored the Isle of Capri Casino as the Corporation of the Year.

“The true meaning of teamwork is the first word that comes to my mind because this corporation is a strong advocate of the concept in every sense of the word,” Tolliver said in presenting the award.

She said the people who lead and staff the Isle worked on many community problems through contributions to the annual campaign, volunteer hours, hosting meetings and the donations of mattresses for the needy, among other works.

Since General Manager Kim Tullos was out of town, the award was accepted by the Isle’s senior directors.

Other awards presented were:

Teen Volunteers of the Year: April Ivins and Turner Simmons.

Allocations Volunteer of the Year: Terri Ulmer.

Allocations Chairman’s Award: Kim Tullos.

Campaign Chairman’s Award: Todd Boolos.

Each of the various division chairmen presented Bronze Awards to those companies and organizations that achieved 25 percent to 49 percent of the potential that could have been raised if all employees gave their Fair Share of one hour’s pay per month; Silver Awards for those who raised 50 percent to 74 percent; Gold Awards to those who raised 75 percent to 94 percent; and Awards of Excellence to those raising 95 percent to 100 percent of potential.

[02/21/03]The Combined Federal Campaign was also honored for raising $305,500, 43 percent of which went to the United Way of West Central Mississippi. This amount was 115 percent of the goal and 5 percent more than was raised in the 2001 campaign.