Staff
Suwannee Democrat
Lake CIty — A month prior to tonight’s United Way of Suwannee Valley Annual Meeting, United Way Board President Mike McKee determined desperate times required desperate efforts. He challenged the community to raise campaign pledges at least equal to the 2009 level. McKee, who said he has not had short hair since a crew cut as a child, committed to having his head shaved at the annual meeting if the community could raise these funds to return to an upward trend in the annual United Way fundraising totals. Additional community support had been received, yet the 2011-12 total was $8,809 shy of the 2009-10 results. Tonight PotashCorp of White Springs and its employees presented United Way with a check for $10,000 over its original contribution, thus achieving the goal of reaching the 2009 level. During the annual meeting McKee made good on his challenge and had his head shaved. Thanks to Mike's challenge and PotashCorp's generosity the campaign total is $571,361. Together with grant funds of $504,612, United Ways community impact total is $1,075,973.
