(Shreveport, LA) – United Way of Northwest Louisiana’s (UWNWLA) Centennial Celebration raised more than $30,000 to kick off its next 100 years of providing essential programs and services to Northwest Louisiana. UWNWLA celebrated its 100-year anniversary by highlighting the past, present, and future of its service and honoring outstanding volunteers in our community. Irma Rogers, President of Martin Luther King – Community Development Corporation, was named Volunteer of the Century and received $500 as a thank you for her service to our community.

“It was a very humbling and most rewarding experience to be recognized in the class of excellent volunteers selected as finalists for Volunteer of the Century,” said Irma Rogers. “United Way is viewed as a premier organization for Northwest Louisiana. Winning this great honor is even more rewarding to me because it says my work has not been in vain.” Other Volunteer of the Century honorees included Alvin Moore, Executive Director of Christian Service; Jana Freeman Forrest, Market President of BOM Bank; Lisa Cronin, CEO of Common Ground Community, Inc.; and Sherry Fuller, Dress for Success Shreveport – Bossier Board Member.

 

 

UWNWLA made its event interactive and entertaining by incorporating an upscale carnival theme, games, and performances from Aerial Expressions. Guests had the opportunity to win grand prizes through raffles, play mini-golf, have their fortunes told by UWNWLA President & CEO, Dr. Bruce Willson Jr., and learn the importance of what United Way does through mini-games.

The success of the event was made possible through generous sponsorships like the Argent Financial Group. “It’s not often that we get to celebrate an organization that has been making a meaningful impact on our community for 100 years,” said Tim Quinn, Argent Financial Senior Vice President & Trust Officer. “Argent Financial is a proud supporter of United Way of Northwest Louisiana because of the important ways it strategically addresses needs in our community.” A few of the many generous Centennial sponsors included Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino, Bank of Coushatta, Cintas Corporation, Progressive Bank, Southern University Shreveport Louisiana, BOM, McInnis Brothers Construction, Inc., and McInnis Insurance Agency, Inc.

 

“It is because of our generous supporters that United Way’s efforts are successful, and it’s the reason we will carry on for another century,” said UWNWLA President & CEO, Dr. Bruce Willson Jr. “I see United Way in the next 100 years deepening and strengthening its relationship to the governmental entities where we serve. They are helping to set the agenda of citizens where we live by bridging the gap between the municipality and the workplace to bring everyone together.”

UWNWLA looks forward to continuing the fight for health, education, financial stability, and essential needs for another century. For more information on United Way of Northwest Louisiana, visit unitedwaynwla.org.

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