St. Thomas, VI, September 28 – The United Way of St. Thomas-St. John officially started its 2002-2003 fundraising campaign on Saturday, September 28, 2002 at its campaign kickoff and appreciation breakfast held at The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas. Fifty-three companies, organizations and individuals came forward to announce their donations, helping the United Way to raise $155,574 on the first day of the campaign.

Campaign Chairman Steve Jones praised the generosity of the early supporters of the campaign and thanked them for their confidence in the United Way. He said, gratefully, that with 24% of the goal achieved, the challenge of raising $650,000 was lessened.

Leading the group of kickoff donors was the West Indian Company with $15,000, and the law firm of Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig pledging $12,500. FirstBank followed with a pledge of $7,000, Dr. and Mrs. Alfred Heath with $5,000, Randy Knight with $5,000, Caneel Bay with $5,000, John Anderson Companies/Topa Properties with $5,000, and the Bank of Nova Scotia with $5,000.

Other early contributors were Banco Popular de Puerto Rico with $4,000, A. H. Riise Stores with $3,500, ADT Security Systems with $3,000, Tom Runquist with $3,000, Knight Quality Stations with $3,000, the Karen Ingeborg Lockhart Foundation with $2,700, Financial Trust with $2,500, Henry and Penny Feuerzeig with $2,500, George Dudley and Susan Laura Lugo with $2,500, the St. John Community Foundation with $2,500, the Pharmed Group with $2,500, Theodore Tunick & Co. with $2,500, E. Jonathan Gjessing with $2,000, Guardian Insurance with $2,000, and Topa Insurance with $2,000.

The remaining contributions included Adriane Dudley with $1,950, Mr. and Mrs. John Amerling with $1,800, Rotary Club of St. Thomas II with $1,500, Christine Lloyd, M.D. with $1,500, Carole DeSenne with $1,500, AT&T of the V.I. with $1,500, Caribbean Packaging with $1,400, Caribbean Auto Mart with $1,200, Murphy’s Automotive with $1,200, St. Thomas Dairies with $1,000, Caribbean Cable TV Association with $1,000, Birch, DeJongh, Hindels and Hall with $1,000, Ellen McLean with $1,000, Lonnie Willis with $1,000, Micol Morgan and Ishmael A. Meyers, Jr., Esq. with $1,000, Frank Odlum, M.D. with $1,000, John Franklin, M.D. with $1,000, Drs. Sidney Comissiong and Ruth Watson with $1,000, Lawrence Goldman, M.D. with $1,000, Dr. and Mrs. Rupert Peterkin with $1,000, Dr. and Mrs. Vincente Poblete with $1,000, Dr. and Mrs. George Rosenberg with $1,000, Drs. Secundina Mercardo and Cosme Barretta with $1,000, Dr. Adam Shapiro & Pamela Berkowsky with $1,000, Virgin Islands Orthpaedics & Sports Medicine with $1,000, Kate N Design with $1,000, the Westin Resort with $1,000, Unlimited Holdings with $1,000, Henry Wheatley with $1,000, and MLC Management with $1,000.

The balance of the kickoff contributions, or $21,324, came from the United Way board of directors and staff members.

The United Way uses the money it raises during its annual campaign to support 18 member agencies. They are American Red Cross, V.I. Council of Boy Scouts of America, Carabana Ensemble Theater Company, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People’s Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Fair Haven Camp, Friends of Volunteers in Public Schools, Girl Scout Council, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, Shaky Acres, Victim Advocate Program and the V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning.