United Way of Northeast Louisiana hosted a very special “Celebrating Excellence” awards reception today to honor the outstanding employee campaigns and individuals for their extraordinary efforts and unwavering commitment to helping people and improving community.  The 2009 campaign was a successful one with the community coming together to raise $3,004,600!  Annmarie Sartor , 2009 Campaign Chair, attributed the success to local businesses and their employees who worked very hard to increase their campaigns, generous giving of individuals through United Way’s leadership societies, and the hard work of the dedicated campaign volunteers.  Janet Durden , President, told the crowd, “The generosity of this community always amazes us – even more so this year.  Even in times that continue to be challenging for all of us, you all are living united – helping to create positive change in our community and also helping those who need it most.  It’s inspirational.”

The prestigious Cypress Award was presented for the seventh year.  This award is the highest honor given to a local company and its employees by United Way of Northeast Louisiana .  The award is a striking photograph taken by Melvin Rambin that travels from company to company each year.  This year’s winner, Ouachita Independent Bank, demonstrated their commitment to the community by running an exemplary campaign, providing sponsorships to many community nonprofit organizations, and actively volunteering with United Way.

Recognizing that a strong community is a reflection of dedicated corporate and employee support, the Circle of Honor, Special Achievement, and Campaign Leaders Awards were also presented.  The Circle of Honor award recognizes those platinum level companies that support United Way’s purpose through their corporate and employee giving, best practices, and non-financial contributions.  This year, there were 47 companies at this level.  They are:  Affiliated Mortgage Corp.; Allen, Green & Williamson; ANGUS Chemical and ASW Local 786; Argent Financial Group; Associate Business Printing; Bancorp South; Bank of Ruston; Boy Scouts of America, Louisiana Purchase Council; Capital One; Centric Federal Credit Union; CenturyLink; Community Financial Insurance Center, LLC; Community Trust Bank; Cross Keys Bank; Entergy – Sterlington; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; EPCO; Faulk & Foster; Financial Institution Service Corp.; First National Bank; Hogan Hardwoods; Hulsey, Harwood & Company; iBERIABANK; Jim Taylor Chevrolet; Lazenby & Associates; Lincoln Builders; Luffey, Huffman, Ragsdale & Soignier ; New York Life Insurance Company; Northeast Louisiana Cancer Institute; Orthopaedic Clinic of North Louisiana; Ouachita Fertilizer; Ouachita Independent Bank; P&S Surgical Hospital; Poly Corr, Inc.; Progressive Bank; Radiology Associates; Reeves, Coon & Funderburg; Regions Bank; Ryan Auto Group; Scott Companies; S.E. Huey; Southern Apparatus; Strauss Interests; Stuart Irby; UPS Monroe; United Way of Northeast Louisiana; and Voith Paper Rolls South, Inc.

The Special Achievement Award honors gold level companies that focus on their corporate and employee giving and best practices.  There were 17 companies at this level.  They are:  AIMS Inc.; ATMOS Energy; Berry Plastics; Dean Morris, LLP; Foodbank of Northeast Louisiana; Georgia-Pacific Corp.; Hatch, Mott, MacDonald; Holyfield Construction; Inter-Mountain Management; James Machine Works; Monroe Area Guidance; Ouachita Parish Assessor’s Office; Ouachita Parish Green Oaks Detention Center ; Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office; Thomas & Farr Agency, Inc.; TXI; and UPS Ruston.

Campaign Leaders Awards were presented to the top ten companies raising the most dollars in the 2009 Campaign through their corporate and employee giving.  They were:  CenturyLink - $353,369; Strauss Interests - $130,577; St. Francis Medical Center - $107,796; Community Trust Bank - $104,192; ANGUS Chemical and USW Local 786 - $80,817; Graphic Packaging International Mills Division Plant 31 and USW 364& Graphic Packaging International Beverage Packaging Division Plant 70 and USW 654 - $75,366; Chase - $71,785; P&S Surgical Hospital - $62,679; Brookshire Grocery Company - $52,675; and Entergy West Monroe - $51,656.

In addition, there were five companies that received New Campaign Awards.  United Way President, Janet Durden , stated, “Together these seven new campaigns raised $19,696 and were critical to the success of the campaign.”  New campaigns in 2009 were:  Heard McElroy & Vestal, LLP; Inter-Mountain Management, LLC; Monroe Packaging; Ouachita Parish Probation Department and Salon 165.