2019 UNITE Awards Dinner honors service to the community

Fourteen local organizations were awarded direct grants Thursday night, March 28, during the annual UNITE fundraising dinner at New Albany First United Methodist Church.

UNITE (Union County/New Albany Initiative to Excel), an affiliate of CREATE Foundation of Tupelo, was founded in 2002, and this was the 17th consecutive year grants have been awarded.

Speaker for the event was Trentice Gooch Imbler, formerly of New Albany, who has made a distinguished career in Tupelo as a business woman and for her civic and philanthropic work. Imbler was introduced by Billye Jean Stroud.

Tupelo businesswoman Trentice Gooch Imbler was the featured speaker at the 2019 Unite awards dinner.

A key feature of the annual UNITE dinner is recognition of a local person as Volunteer of the Year. The 2019 Volunteer of the Year is Karen Corpstein, who was recognized for her work with the Good Samaritan Center Food Pantry.

Billye Jean Stroud, introducing the main speaker at 2019 Unite Awards Dinner.

Bo Collins, president of BNA Bank, reported that the total endowment balance for UNITE is approximately three-quarters of a million dollars. In 2005 the Stephens family pledged its support by matching every dollar raised, two for one. More than $600-thousand has been raised locally since 2002, and the CREATE Foundation has contributed more than $100-thousand.

Including the grants awarded Thursday night, UNITE, more than 200 UNITE grants, totaling $350-thousand, have been awarded to 39 different local organizations.

This year’s UNITE grant recipients and the purpose for which the grant was made include:
–Boy’s and Girl’s Club of New Albany: offset budget deficits.
–First Choice Center for Women: Infant car seats and infant protection awards program.
–Junior Auxiliary of New Albany: Winter clothing at Christmas
–Magnolia Recreation and Resource Center: Exercise equipment flyers, games refreshments, etc.
–New Albany Main Street Association: Community Center kitchen equipment.
–New Albany Symphony League: Carnegie Link Up program in New Albany public schools.
–New Haven Center: building addition.
–Pilot Club of New Albany: Tracking bracelets for the rescue of lost children and adults.
–UCDA Leadership Academy: Youth leadership academy.
–Union County Good Samaritan Center: food and energy assistance.
–Union County Heritage Museum: Community Partner Program, activity kits.
–Union County Library System: Updating the library.
–Union County Literacy Council: Reading and math materials–
–Union County Master Gardeners Association: New Albany Lawn and Garden Show.

Contributions may be mailed to UNITE, P. O. Box 125, New Albany, MS 38652.