Bob and Peggy Weaver, donned their baseball caps and began their role as co-chairmen of the 2006
Hopkins County United Way, at a Wednesday Board Meeting, as they announced the theme of
"Hit One Over The Fence For Hopkins County!"

Weavers "Team-Up"
As Campaign Chairmen For
2006 United Way

by: Bobby McDonald

 

With a campaign theme of "Hit One Over The Fence For Hopkins County," Bob and Peggy Weaver, Owners of Town and Country Cleaners, were named Campaign Chairmen of the 2006 Hopkins County United Way Campaign. The Weavers announced a $140,000.00 campaign goal and Peggy was quick to add that she would be "handling the bats!"

United Way President Deanna Landers presided over the Board Meeting on Wednesday, at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Building, and announced that donations were even better than the goal set for the 2005 Campain. "We have continued to receive donations and the goal of last year has been surpassed," reported Landers. "Thus, we must decide how to allocate funds to the sixteen receptive organizations, and that's a good problem!"

 

The United Way Board agreed to allocated $1,000.00 checks to each of the agencies that receive funds from the local United Way. The checks will be issued in June and July and awarded by members of the board. Agencies receiving the checks and that are funded by the United Way include: N.E. TX Child Advocacy, CASA, Community Chest, Family Haven, Hopkins County 4-H, Our Place, Teen Court, Northeast Texas Alcohol and Drug Program, Girl Scouts, Ministerial Alliance, Meal A Day, Boys and Girls Club, Scan-211, Heritage Outreach, and Child Protective Services.

 

Deanna Landers, center, President of the 2006 Hopkins County United Way, discusses a surplus of
funds with board members, as they allocated monies to local agencies.

Bob Weaver related that this year's campaign is the 51st Annual United Way Campaign, that was begun back in 1955 under the name of United Fund. "It seems that some in the community can remember that the first organized campaign was planned at a table in the old Sellers Cafeteria," stated Weaver. "And, the first goal was only $29,000.00!"

"Things have changed considerably in the past 50 years, but the main aims and goal are still the same......people helping people," expressed Peggy Weaver. "None of us ever know when we might be in need of receiving funds from United Way and thus, it behooves all of us to reachout and make certain that these programs are funded."

"This is one of those fundraising efforts that virtually every dime of the contributions remain in Hopkins County," denoted Bob Weaver. "These funds are local people helping local people!"

"And, we want folks to say 'We Gave to United Way!' instead of 'We Gave At The Office'," expressed Peggy. "This is a very ambitious, but 'do-able' goal to help the people of Hopkins County!"

Bob and Peggy Weaver are the first couple to ever head-up the local campaign and may be starting a tradition for the future.

"I'm excited and ready to get started," stated Bob Weaver. "I want everyone to get excited and join this campaign to help the people of Hopkins County!"

"We're looking forward to Bob and Peggy's enthusiasm and the meetings certainly will be anything but dull," jokingly expressed Charlotte Henderson, Executive Secretary of the Local United Way. "Bob and Peggy will add life to the campaign like never before!"

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