Press Release July 14, 2008 United Way of Lawton-Fort Sill announces Pacesetter Companies United Way of Lawton Fort Sill kicked of their campaign to raise 1.8 million dollars for 20 local charities with a luncheon sponsored by Comanche County Memorial Hospital. This year 19 companies have been selected to be a “Pacesetter” company for this year’s United Way of Lawton-Fort Sill campaign. In addition to agreeing to start early, July the 14th and finish their campaign by the 25th of August, Pacesetters provide wonderful examples of adding fun to the process. “Companies that agree to be Pacesetters have a big responsibility”. David M Hegwood, Area Manager for CenterPoint Energy stated, “As a Pacesetter our goal is to establish momentum for the rest of the contributors in the city to follow. The needs in our community grow every day, while the resources seem to diminish. I know at CenterPoint we are up to the challenge.” CenterPoint uses employee safety meetings to reach every associate with the opportunity to give.
According to Loni Robbins, this years Pacesetter Chair, “When a business offers to run a campaign for United Way employees have an opportunity to participate in something bigger then themselves. Every one of their employees has a chance to care and get involved. It only takes a couple of dollars from everyone’s paycheck to make a huge difference. Services from United Way and their partner agencies impact the the livability of our communities.”
Critical to the success of any campaign is someone on staff that will manage the process of presenting the campaign to other employees. The Employee Campaign Coordinator (ECC) receives training and assistance from the campaign leadership, Loaned Executives and the staff at United Way. ECCs will participate in the Loaned Executive training provided later this week, July 16 and 17 at Great Plains Technology Center. Examples of fun events planned by the Pacesetter Companies is the August 8th golf tournament sponsored by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and the Great Escape give-away package sponsored by a number of local businesses who have donated more than $2,500 in products and services. The Pacesetter Chair, co-chairs, Pacesetter Companies and Employee Campaign Coordinators Chair: Loni Robins and Co-Chair Shelly Fields Arvest Bank Katie Duffy and Cheryl Barnes Bank First Michelle Ratcliff Bar S Foods Company Angela Lane Billingsley Ford & Hyundai of Lawton-Fort Sill Cathy Stone CenterPoint Energy Danny Chauvin City of Lawton Jim Russell Comanche County Memorial Hospital Taylor Farmer Comanche Home Center Debbie Abbott Dillard's Carrie Harrison Fairfield Inn and Suites Tina Long GEO- Lawton Correctional Facility Roberto Valentin Golden Corral Craig Riha Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Casey Jameson, Sandy Bjork, and Kayla Saltus Great Plains Technology Center Debbie Thompson IBC Bank Justin Dipprey Stanley Adrienne Winslow and Brandy Crandall TechMasters | 
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