By Dawn Burleigh

dawn.burleigh@orangeleader.com

 

First Financial Bank hosted the annual United Way Kickoff Breakfast on Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church.

The event held for industry management, campaign chairs and members of the United Way Board of Directors, executive directors and board president starts the fundraising for the organization.

Campfire provided the food for the event.

With approximately 90 persons in attendance, Campaign Chair Steve Aguilera shared stories of agencies who ‘Choose to Care’, the theme for this years campaign.

United Way of Orange County, Texas has already raised 20-percent of the $800,000 goal for this year.

During 2015, local United Way agencies provided over 34,000 service contacts for individuals in Orange County.

Services/Agencies funded by the United Way of Orange County, Texas:

Anayat House                                                                               Salvation Army

Boy Scouts of America                                                                Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club

Boy’s Haven                                                                                 Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas

Camp Fire USA                                                                            Shorkey Education & Rehabilitation Center of SETX

Friends Helping Friends                                                               Southeast Texas Hospice, Inc.

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council                                            Spindletop MHMR / Tejas Centre

GOALS (Great Orange Area Literacy Service)

Unity Treatment Center

Habitat for Humanity

Vidor Children’s Fund

Orange Community Action Association

Family Services Woman & Children’s Shelter

OCARC, Inc

MCA of Southeast Texas

Rape & Suicide Crisis of SETX

Right Choice of Orange County

Keith Brice, service director at Granger Chevrolet, announced the 3rd Annual Granger Chevrolet 5K Walk/Run to benefit the United Way of Orange County, Texas. The event raised over $14,000 for the organization. The run will take place at 8 a.m. Sat. Oct. 15.

Report Luncheons for Campaign Chairs for United Way will start at noon Friday, Sept. 30 and continue every Friday in October at the Salvation Army.

A training session for new campaign chairs will be held at 10 a.m. Wed. Sept. 7 at the United Way office located at 1506 West Park Ave. in Orange.