You may be seeing some familiar faces in your neighborhood talking about the importance of the 2009 United Way of Southwest Michigan annual campaign.

This year, United Way has organized teams of business leaders from the many communities in Berrien County to talk with business owners and operators about starting their United Way campaigns, said 2009 Campaign Chair Gary Easterling. With all of the volunteers helping the team leaders, there are more than 50 community leaders volunteering with United Way.

“This is a very difficult year for many people,” Easterling said. “But, that is also why this is such a crucial year for our community to run a successful United Way campaign. People who have never needed services supported by the United Way – many who have been donors in the past – will be looking for assistance.”

The 2009 United Way Campaign Cabinet will be broken into 8 different communities with team members working in each community. “United Way supports all of Berrien County,” Easterling said. “We thought it was important to have representatives from each area working to advocate for the good work of United Way in their own communities.”

United Way President Anna Murphy is thrilled with the enthusiasm and dedication of so many community members. “Each one of these individuals is dedicated to improving their communities,” she said. “United Way is lucky to have such an extraordinary group of volunteers.”

The Team leaders are:

St. Joseph........................ Joe Dick, Vice-President, Chemical Bank; Rick Dyer, President, Edgewater Bank

Benton Harbor................ Dr. Robert Harrison, President, Lake Michigan College

Coloma/Watervliet.......... Susie Moser, Branch Manager, Edgewater Bank and Bill Moser, Independent Dealer, Shakeley Products

Buchanan......................... Alice Kring, Owner, Redbud Insurance; Monroe Lemay, Director, Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce

Berrien Springs............... Dr. Neils-Erik Andreasen, President, Andrews University

Harbor Country............... Bill Mars, VP & Harbor Country District Manager, Horizon Bank; Marlene Kramer, Mortgage Loan Originator, Horizon Bank

Stevensville..................... Mary Jo Tomasini, 2008 Campaign Chair and Owner/President of Competitive Edge, Stevensville

Bridgman:  ...................... Don Barnes, Owner, Don Barnes Farm Bureau Insurance Agency

Individual/

Major Donors................. J. C. Anderson and Charles Jesperson (focusing on donors outside the workplace)

Volunteer Opportunities

United Way is always looking for dedicated volunteers. If you would like to help with the United Way campaign in your area, contact United Way Campaign Director Retta Curneal at 269/925-7772 ext. 18.

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