Pledges already coming in for United Fund

United Fund of Kilgore officers, left to right, are David Wylie, Darla Rutland, Pat McCrory, Merlyn Holmes and Patty Ford. United Fund of Kilgore is off to a swift start toward this year's $75,000 goal with $13,767 already pledged.

"We're going to beat that goal," Pat McCrory, 2008 United Fund of Kilgore president, said. "We're going to kick the door down."

The fund kicked off a new year of giving at the annual United Fund of Kilgore Kickoff Luncheon yesterday at Meadowbrook Country Club.

Speakers were Ann Brooks, executive director, American Red Cross; Paula Prince, Red Cross board member and KYKX personality; Ed Arneson, executive director, Heart's Way Hospice; Edie Heinicke, district director, Boy Scouts of America; and, Carolyn Holcomb, Boy Scouts of America leader.

Brooks said Kilgore stepped up to the plate once again, with First Baptist Church being one of the largest shelters for hurricane Gustav evacuees last week.

"American Red Cross is about more than hurricanes and fires," Prince said. "We work together with other agencies to make individuals' lives a little better in the community."

United Fund of Kilgore directors, left to right (seated), are Patty Ford, Darla Rutland and Merlyn Holmes; (second row) David Wylie, Pat McCrory, Jody Clements and Darryl Stratton; (third row) Bobby Bustin, Mike Coston, Sammy York and Vic Price. Arneson offered thanks to United Fund of Kilgore for donations to his organization.

"We are blessed and we are gifted to be one of your agencies," he said.

Holcomb said the money received from United Fund of Kilgore helps support 137 Cub Scouts and 65 Boy Scouts as well as approximately 1,000 in the Learning for Life Program.

"Our organization is about fun and adventure, as well as spiritual growth, fitness, service and family values," Holcomb said. "We participate in every activity our children are old enough to participate in."

The agencies represented by speakers yesterday were only three of the 21 supplemented with aid from United Fund of Kilgore.

Donations to United Fund of Kilgore are divided and distributed between local agencies including American Red Cross, Longview Piney Woods Chapter; Because I Care; Boys & Girls Club of Kilgore; Boy Scouts of America, East Texas Area Council; East Texas Child Advocates, Inc.; East Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse; East Texas Area Council of Camp Fire, Inc.; East Texas Treatment Center; East Texas Literacy Council; Heart's Way Hospice of Northeast Texas; Kilgore Boys' Baseball Association; Kilgore Community Crisis Center; Kilgore Habitat for Humanity; Kilgore Ministerial Alliance Helping Hands; Kilgore Rescue Unit; Kilgore Soccer Association; Kilgore Youth Basketball Association; Kilgore Youth Softball Association; Parenting Resource Center of East Texas; Salvation Army-Longview Corps; and, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas.

Patty Ford, Kilgore United Fund 2007 president, presented Kilgore News Herald with the Presidents Award, for the company's "true support and dedication to the United Fund of Kilgore effort."

"Every time I called, the newspaper was there to help," Ford said, "and when I didn't call, someone from the News Herald called me."

The Kickoff Luncheon was also a time to recognize United Fund of Kilgore 2008 Pacesetters -- those who make their pledge in advance of the campaign's official start.

Platinum pacesetters were recognized for a contribution of $1,000 or more; gold pacesetters have contributed $500 to $999; silver pacesetters receive recognition after a contribution between $250 and $499; and bronze pacesetters have contributed between $100 and $249.

Platinum Pacesetters were Jo S. Maxwell and Signal Well Service, Kilgore Eye Care Center and Drs. J. T., Jadie and Shiloh Roberts, Citizens Bank, and Brookshire's Grocery Company.

Gold Pacesetters were Kilgore National Bank, Gary Boyd, Austin Bank, and Laird Insurance Agency.

Silver Pacesetters were Closure Systems International, Gore Kemp, Bobby and Latane Speer, Pat and Johnnie McCrory, James and Helen Padgett, James Wallace and Bank Texas, Pat Haynes, Ann Dorney and Falcon Resources, Marian Richardson, Express Employment Professionals of Longview, Karl F. Edmonds Inc., Sammy and Cherisa York, employees and board members of Kilgore Community Crisis Center, and employees of Laird Insurance Agency.

Bronze Pacesetters were Jordan Leasing LLC, Patty Ford, David Wylie, Merlyn Holmes, Stepping Stone Preschool, Dr. Bill Holda, Jan Wylie and MB Properties, Kyle Bates, East Texas Treatment Center, McKinnon Construction Co., Inc., Martha Clark, Grace Fellowship of Kilgore, Lucuchunce's Beauty Salon, Joe Cruseturner, Richard and Carolyn Martin, and Fulton Johnson.