At St. Thomas, VI, – On Saturday, October 2, United Way of St. Thomas-St. John paid tribute to over 300 individuals, businesses, and private and public entities for their contributions to and volunteer support of the United Way 2003-2004 fundraising campaign.

Speaking before a large crowd at the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas, past campaign chair Steve Baker, hailed the outstanding efforts of the volunteers and the generosity of the Virgin Islands community which “helped to make positive changes in thousands of lives.”

Five companies were named the Corporate Supporters of the Year for their contributions of $10,000 or more to the United Way. They are the Prosser ICC Foundation, Tropico Management, LP, the West Indian Company, Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig, LLP, and International Capital Management, LLP. Outstanding Corporate Support awards for gifts between $5,000 and $9,999 went to nine companies. Receiving these honors were the Bank of Nova Scotia, FirstBank, Consolidated National Corporation, A. H. Riise Stores, Antilles Gas Corporation, Baker Magras and Associates, Sea Chest, Caneel Bay Resort, and Topa Properties, Ltd. The top three companies receiving Gold Awards for gifts between $1,000 and $4,999 were Banco Popular, ADT Security Systems, and American Yacht Harbor, Inc. Baker highlighted the significance of employee campaigns to the United Way, stating that over 30% of the campaign total came from employee campaigns. Ninteen employee groups were recognized as Gold Award winners because their per capita gift amounted to $100 or more. They are ICC, Atlantic Tele-Network, Sea Chest, Seslia Securities, Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig, LLP, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, United Parcel Service, Innovative Cable TV, Austin Advertising, Theodore Tunick & Co, ADT Security Systems, Dudley, Clark & Chan, V.I Territorial Public Defenders, MSI Building Supplies, Legal Services of the V.I., Red Hook Ace, Knight Quality Stations, Lockhart Realty, Inc., and St. Thomas Dairies.

Awards were also given to Cornel Williams for his leadership role as the 2003 United Way president and Steve Baker for his extraordinary efforts as the 2003-2004 campaign chair.

		Photos by Eric Johnson