PANAMA CITY — United Way of Northwest Florida announced its largest contributors in 2014 at its annual meeting on Thursday.
In total United Way received $1,684,460 in 2014, up from $1,520,000 in 2013.
“That really blew it out of the water this year,” United Way President Bryan Taylor said. “To see the dollar amount exceed the amount from last year, that has not happened in a while.”
Local Publix stores contributed the most at $222,309, 10 percent more than last year. Taylor said it is usually Publix policy for corporate to match 70 percent of the employee fundraising contributions.
“It’s part of Publix culture,” Lynn Haven store manager Stephen Tucker said. “This is our No. 1 because United Way helps so many people.”
United Way spread $1,039,183 to 50 affiliated agencies and 55 unaffiliated agencies. Family Services Agency received the most in 2014 at $100,831. It was followed by the Boys and Girls Club of Bay County at $76,988,, and Bay County Council on Aging at $65,209.
American Red Cross of Northwest Florida, Girls Incorporated of Bay County, Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, St. Andrew Bay Center, Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida, Early Education and Care, Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Mental Health America of Bay County and Salvation Army Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center all received more than $20,000. The Rape Crisis Center received $20,692, but closed in January.
“We’re a support agency who gives to direct services in the community,” Taylor said. “The only direct service we have
Taylor also recognized the largest local contributor to the national campaign, which was Tyndall Air Force Base at $107,349. Tyndall received $9,228 from the United Way for its base youth programs.
“Tyndall is one of the more giving military bases I’ve seen,” Airman First Class Randall Hunt said.
BASIC of Northwest Florida had one of the largest increases for an agency contribution at 154 percent up to $3,163. BASIC provides services to people diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.
“When we support United Way we support our agency,” BASIC president Valerie Mincey said. “In the past, I more or less let staff give what we want. This year I told them, you donate $5 a month per person that’s the equivalent you spend on sodas in a month at the office. There was not any hesitation.”
The top agency workplace campaigns were Anchorage Children’s Home at $9,234 and Covenant Hospice at $7,511.
Top 10 Contributors
- Publix, $222,309
- RockTenn, $177,006
- Gulf Power, $96,158
- Bay District Schools, $68,178
- Trane, $57,376
- Bill Cramer GM, $42,468
- UPS, $35,277
- Gulf Coast State College, $34,521
- Regions Bank, $28,847
- Arizona Chemical, $28,302