By KWGS News
Tulsa, OK – Don Walker, President of ARVEST Bank, was elected Chairman of the 2010 Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW) Board of Directors at the organization's 85th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at the newly remodeled Convention Center Ballroom. More than 600 attended the event, which included the election of new officers and board members and the presentation of 2009 campaign awards.
"The Tulsa Area United Way faced tremendous challenges during our 85th campaign but this remarkable community stepped up to help us reach our goal," said outgoing Board Chairman Bill Grant, President of The Holmes Organisation, Inc. "I turn the organization over to Don Walker with great confidence that we're well-equipped for 2010. I know Don will provide excellent leadership for TAUW and our community."
Walker, 2009 Campaign Chair, presented major awards for the 2009 annual campaign. Recognized as members of the Million Dollar Club were Williams, QuikTrip, Bank of Oklahoma, N.A., the J.A. Chapman & Leta M. Chapman Trusts (1949 and 1966) and ONEOK, Inc. Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. was awarded the Key Club Award and the Green Country Award went to the City of Owasso. The Sun Leadership Award was presented to Union Public Schools.
Also receiving recognition were McAfee & Taft, Trailblazer Award; Zeeco, Ignite! Award; Youth Services of Creek County, winner of the Green Country Illuminate! Award, and The Parent Child Center of Tulsa, winner of the Tulsa Illuminate! Award. The newly-created Small Business Award went to Leaders Life Insurance Company.
The second annual Live United Spirit Award was presented to Alberta "Peaches" Johnson for her exemplary volunteer work for Broken Arrow Seniors, a TAUW partner agency. This award honors an individual from one of TAUW's 63 partner agencies who has made an indelible mark on the lives of others.
"Tulsans look out for one another," Walker said. "With the generous donation of time, gifts and energy from the tens of thousands who participate in the campaign each year, we worked together to raise an amazing $23.9 million that is being used right now to provide help to more than 740,000 individuals."
Board officers elected at the Annual Meeting included Board Chairman, Don Walker, ARVEST Bank; Chair-Elect, Dan Ellinor, Bank of Oklahoma, N.A.; Vice-Chair, Robyn Ewing, Williams; Secretary, Jim Kneale, Ret., ONEOK, Inc.; Assistant Secretary, Mike Messick, TWU Local 514; Treasurer, Mike Rhoads, Rhoads Advisory Group, LLC; and Assistant Treasurer, Sandi Westbrook, QuikTrip Corporation.
Elected for three-year terms, expiring in 2013, were: Keith Ballard, Tulsa Public Schools; Paul Cornell, SpiritBank; Jeff Crippen, Omni Air International; John Gibson, ONEOK, Inc.; Jim Kneale, Ret., ONEOK, Inc.; Dave Kollmann, Flintco Companies, Inc.; Phil Lakin, Tulsa Community Foundation; Tom Long, Matrix Service Company; Bobby Lorton, World Publishing Company; Chuck Mitchell, OG&E-Sapulpa; Mike Neal, Tulsa Metro Chamber; Jim Norton, Jim Norton Toyota; Mike Rhoads, Rhoads Advisory Group, LLC; Rod Sands, Explorer Pipeline Company; Tray Siegfried, The NORDAM Group, Inc.; Vanessa Thompson, Community Volunteer; and Sandi Westbrook, QuikTrip Corporation.
Elected for one-year terms, expiring in 2011, were: Susan Bickert, Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Julian Brewer, in2vate, llc; Nevyle Cable, First National Bank & Trust of Okmulgee; Tally Ferguson, Bank of Oklahoma, N.A.; Craig Ketchum, McJunkin Red Man Corporation; Mary M lon, The Journal Record; Dave Ratcliff, CWA Local 6012; Clint Swanson, Rogers and Bell; Bruce Thames, T.D. Williamson, Inc.; David Wagner, Saint Francis Health System.
From the more than 500 companies and organizations who won awards, 60 companies earned Best of the Best Awards. Best of the Best Awards recognize organizations with a campaign increase of at least five percent, employee participation of 75 percent or more and employee per capita giving of $250 or more.
The recipients of this award were: Ability Resources, Inc.; Adams Hall Asset Management, LLC; Allied Bearings Supply Co., Inc.; American Residential Group; Anchor Gasoline Corp.; BancFirst - Tulsa; The Bridges Foundation; Broken Arrow Neighbors; Camp Fire USA Green Country Council, Inc.; The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges; Commerce Bank; Community Service Council; Credit Counseling Centers of Oklahoma; DVIS/Call Rape; Eastern Oklahoma Donated Dental Services; Frederic Dorwart Lawyers; GableGotwals; Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma; GlassWilkin, PC; Goodwill Industries of Tulsa; Grant Thornton, LLP; Hall Estill Attorneys at Law; Holly Refinery; The Journal Record; Leaders Life Insurance Company; LIFE Senior Services; Magellan Midstream Partners, LP; Neosource, Inc.; NuStar Energy; ONEOK, Inc.; The Parent Child Center of Tulsa; QuikTrip - Corporate and Division; Retired Senior Volunteer Program; Robinowitz Oil Company; Seminole Energy Services; Street School; Thurmond Consulting, Inc.; Tulsa Area United Way; Tulsa CARES; Tulsa CASA, Inc.; Tulsa County- Administrative Services, Board of Commissioners, IT Department, Personnel, Social Services; Tulsa Metro Chamber; Tulsa Public Schools- Area Superintendents, Media & Library Services - Fulton; Visiting Nurse Association of Tulsa; Williams; Youth Services of Creek County; Youth Services of Tulsa; and Zeeco.
Companies who participated in the Combined Federal Campaign that won Best of the Best Awards were: 10th Circuit Court of Appeals; Social Security Administration- Bartlesville, Tulsa; U.S. Bankruptcy Court- Eastern District; United States Postal Service-Customer Service Administration.