MOUNT VERNON — The United Way of Knox County held its annual meeting Thursday at the Mount Vernon Developmental Center with about 50 people in attendance.
Debbie Urton, president of the Knox County United Way’s board, opened the event by noting the United Way in Knox County is “stronger than ever in 2007.” Executive Director Jennifer Odenweller spoke about the proposed changes for the current Code of Regulations, which were subsequently adopted.
Odenweller gave the Community Impact Report, in which she presented statistics of how the United Way has positively affected people in Knox County. One particular area she made note of was the area of assisted tax-preparation. Through this service, she said, $77,364 in state and federal refunds were returned to residents of the county.
Three volunteers — Curt Kester, Tim Elder and Urton — were recognized for their service to the United Way of Knox County. Lisa Mentzer and Mike Haughton; Steve Oster, Knox County Board of MRDD; and Dr. Dan Martin of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, were approved as new board members.
Bruce White, chief executive officer at Knox Community Hospital, spoke concerning the progress the United Way had made over the past year in terms of fundraising. White also listed the top 15 companies that had campaigned and raised money for the United Way, and presented the top five — Jeld-Wen, Rolls-Royce, Kokosing Construction Co., First-Knox National Bank and Ariel Corp. — with awards.
Odenweller presented an award to White for outstanding community leadership.
