Making a difference

This year's recipients of Spirit awards represent both the best ideals of the communities served by the United Way of Southeast Missouri and its mission. The awards were handed out at United Way's recent annual meeting.

Receiving the Spirit of Giving award was Larry Dunger, a United Way board member for nine years and currently serving on the allocations committee. He chaired the 2002 fundraising campaign and was president of the board in 2005 and 2006. He was instrumental in creating a partnership between the United Way and Scott City Senior Center.

AT&T Missouri, recipient of the Spirit of Community award, recognized the company's contributions -- $175,000 over the past 10 years -- and its $50,000 grant to develop strategies to increase parent involvement with student in grades 8 to 12.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, which currently involves more than 300 children, was recognized with the Spirit of Caring award. The organization's ABC mentoring program focuses on school attendance, good behavior and improving grades.

All of these efforts represent major local emphases of the United Way, which strives to identify community needs and ways to meet them.

Those recognized with Spirit awards deserve the thanks of the communities they serve.