PRESS RELEASE - March 30, 2004 THOUSANDS HELP UNITED WAY SURPASS GOAL OF $800,000!

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, VIRGIN ISLANDS, March 30 – The United Way of St. Thomas-St. John has concluded its 2003-2004 campaign, raising a record-breaking $800,212.00, thanks to thousands of generous donors and volunteers. The campaign was led by Steve Baker, president of Baker and Magras. His campaign cabinet included Shirley Quetel Hendricks, Susan Stockdale, Victor Chugani, William Lambert, Dr. Margaret Sprauve, Margaret Moore, Cherri Carty, Carole DeSenne, Averricia Williams and Marion Esannason.

The good news was announced at the United Way annual meeting and campaign celebration held at Petite Pump Room on March 26. In his prepared remarks to the membership, Baker commended the dedicated work and effort of the many volunteers. He contributed the success of achieving and surpassing, the largest goal in United Way’s history to a multi-prong approach. The strategy included targeting businesses that were previously unsolicited both on St. Thomas and St. John, and improving and expanding employee campaigns, the “heart and soul of United Way’s fundraising efforts.”

Key highlights of this year’s campaign include:

• The 2003-2004 campaign began with over 400 volunteers participating in United Way’s Day of Caring held at Charlotte Amalie High School.
   
• The successful implementation of United Way’s newest leadership giving program, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society (individuals contributing $10,000 or more annually) led by Hurdle “Trip” Lea, III, president of Margate Management, L.P. and Ira Lubert of Belgravia Partners, L.P. The 14 founding members collectively contributed $175,000 to the Society.
   
• Approximately 30 per cent of the campaign goal represents donations from 122 employee campaigns. Employee campaigns with significant increases in contributions were Marriott Frenchman’s Reef (162%); Innovative Telephone (113%); St. Thomas Ritz Carlton Resort (81%); Knight Quality Stations (70%); Bolongo Bay Resort (58%); Westin Resort (35%) and First Bank (34%).
   
• The Pacesetters (individuals contributing $500 – $9,999) chaired by Raymond Szymanski, attracted 21 new members, with 170 individuals contributing over $186,000.

Equally as pleased by the news were the representatives of the 16 human service agencies supported by the United Way. This year approximately $575,000 will be distributed to the member agencies in the form of allocations, technical assistance and in-kind support. Those agencies are: American Red Cross, V.I. Council of Boy Scouts of America, 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, 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, V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning, and the Yellow Cedar Group Home.