CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands, September 25 – Scores of volunteers turned out on Saturday, September 23, 2006 at United Way’s first combined Day of Caring and 2007 Campaign Kickoff event held at Ebenezer Gardens, a United Way supported agency. Over 130 volunteers from throughout the community painted a colorful mural of island scenes on the facility’s parking lot wall that had been pre-sketched by artists, Mace McDowell, Mark Sabino, Clay Jones, and Vincent Bambini. Volunteers also prepared a community garden for the elderly residents of Ebenezer Gardens.

Kim Moholland, Chair of the Day of Caring, said “It’s so gratifying to see so many people giving up their Saturday morning to put their passion for caring into action.”

Over a sumptuous lunch prepared by The Chef’s Table along with pizzas, sandwiches and drinks donated by other businesses, 2006 Campaign Co-chairs Cheryl George-Chance and Ray Szymanski paid tribute to the many donors and volunteers who made last year’s campaign a successful one. Alicia Boatwright and Ermin Boschulte, the 2007 Campaign Co-Chairs, then accepted over 50 kickoff donations from businesses and individuals.

Boatwright and Boschulte were plainly overjoyed at the initial tally of $214,152 raised from donors who had made their pledges in advance of the kickoff event. In response to Boschulte’s invitation for donations from the crowd, several businesses and individuals stepped forward with an additional $22,040, for a total raised of $236,192.

Boatwright praised the generosity of the kickoff donors and urged everyone to give to the campaign in whatever way they can. “Every dollar counts and will make it possible for United Way to achieve its goal of $800,000.”

Leading the group of kickoff donors were Al & Margaret Cohen, Ambassador and Mrs. Henry Kimelman, Howard & Letty Hulsman, Richard & Alicia Stephenson, pledging $10,000 each. These leaders in giving are members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, a United Way major giving program for individuals who contribute $10,000 or more annually to the United Way.

The corporate kickoff donors were::

Pledges received from individuals were:

The balance of the kickoff contributions came from the United Way board of directors.

The monies raised by the campaign will support the following local, human service agencies: American Red Cross, V.I. Council of Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Habitat for Humanity of the V.I., Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning, and the Yellow Cedar Group Home. Funds raised will also support United Way’s Venture Grant program.