United Way honors volunteers, students|[2/16/06]

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 17, 2006

With a banquet theme of Results You Can See, Steve Burtchaell, a hurricane Katrina evacuee from St. Bernard Parish, held up a black dress shoe during his speech at the annual banquet of the United Way of West Central Mississippi.

Burtchaell explained how he obtained the pair of dress shoes with the help of the United Way.

&#8220I came here in a pair of sandals,” said Burtchaell, who saw 10 feet of water flood into his home. &#8220We are recipients of the help of the United Way. They gave my family all the things we needed. That was a big thing because we didn’t have anything.”

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Executive Director Barbara Tolliver said that Burtchaell was chosen to speak Thursday at the Vicksburg Convention Center because he could give a firsthand account of how the local United Way helps those in need and sum up the work of the organization in 2005.

&#8220In Vicksburg we have found the most compassionate people,” Burtchaell said.

Mark Buys, who was elected chairman of the United Way of West Central Mississippi for 2006, said he got satisfaction in hearing Burtchaell’s speech and knowing his time and money went to help those in need.

&#8220I think that was a tremendous testimony of one family affected by Katrina,” said Buys, an officer with BancorpSouth. &#8220He is a testament of what United Way is all about.”

Buys, a former chairman of United Way in Brookhaven, said he had been involved with the organization for about 25 years.

&#8220I’m excited about the opportunity to serve my community,” Buys said.

Also during the event, five students were given Bruce Alan Ebersole Jr. Memorial Scholarships. The award is named for a graduate of St. Aloysius High School, who was a charter member and first president of Teen HELP, a United Way auxiliary for young people. Ebersole died in 2004, and the award was established to honor him and the work he began with Teen HELP, Tolliver said.

In 2005, the United Way raised $1,515,791, up from just less than $1.5 million last year, and exceeding the $1.5 million goal for this year.

This year Jackie Libbett, director of security for Rainbow Casino, and Julie Marcy, a biologist with the Engineering Research and Development Center, were both named volunteer of the year.

&#8220It was especially difficult to select one person,” Tolliver said. &#8220So many people rose to the occasion, but two stand out as Energizer bunnies. They kept going and going.”

The Leadership Award was given to Ken Hicks with May and Company, while the director of the year was awarded to Stacey Waites.

River Region Health Systems was named the corporation of the year.

Other award winners were: