Thursday, August 17, 2017

United Way Opens New Office

Moore Haven, FL  – United Way of Hendry and Glades celebrated the opening of a United Way House in Moore Haven with a ribbon cutting and open house on July 28th. The Moore Haven United Way House is located at 200 Second Street.

United Way Houses bring services to the communities where they are needed. The Moore Haven United Way House provides space for agencies to assist clients, making multiple resources available to residents in one location. Hope Connections is the lead partner agency for the United Way House.

“By partnering with United Way, Hope Connections can better serve our most vulnerable seniors in Hendry and Glades counties,” said Samira K. Beckwith, president and CEO of Hope Healthcare. “Last year, Hope provided more than 24,000 meals through home delivery and at Hope Care Centers like the one in the new Moore Haven House.”

With the addition of the Moore Haven House, there are a total of 19 United Way Houses throughout Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee Counties.

Over 80 people attended the ribbon cutting, and many toured the facility. Speakers included: Representative Cary Pigman and Glades County Manager Paul Carlisle. Additional speakers were Matt Hudson, Hope Healthcare Vice-President; Cliff Smith, President of the United Way; and Lisa Sands, Manager of the LaBelle United Way House.

Cliff Smith welcomed the crowd and thanked many people for their attendance including the Glades County Commissioners, School Board Members, School Superintendent Scott Bass, and United Way Partner Agency representatives. “Having a United Way House in Moore Haven is a priority for United Way, and we are thrilled that we are cutting the ribbon today on this new location,” said Smith.

“The idea behind the United Way Houses is that agencies can come together and offer their services to the community under one roof, and create an environment of collaboration and partnership. Last year, our 19 houses served over 310,000 individuals in our communities and this House will bring an increase in the numbers of families who are helped here in Moore Haven,” he concluded.

Lisa Sands presented special Community Partnership Awards to thank those involved in making the House a reality including: the Glades County Commissioners and County Manager Paul Carlisle; Shannon Hall of the Glades Electric Charitable Trust; Tommy Perry of Johnson-Prewitt; Micki Morgan of Clyde Johnson Contracting; and United Way Allocations Team Leader Scott Bass. Arlene Bettencourt, a former United Way employee, received special recognition for advocating bringing services to Moore Haven for many years.

A local network of 27 United Way Partner Agencies will receive funds from the United Way of Hendry and Glades fundraising campaign. All money raised in the United Way campaign stays in the local community to help support the local human service network. These agencies include: Abuse Counseling and Treatment (ACT), The Salvation Army, Harry Chapin Food Bank, RCMA, Children’s Advocacy Center, Child Care of Southwest Florida, Healthy Families, and many others.

In addition to raising funds for human service organizations in our community, the United Way promotes partnerships and collaborations among agencies, helping them to work together focusing on issues and solutions that continue to improve lives.

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