United Way celebrates $5.13 million in annual donations

Tyler Vazquez, Florida Today
·3 min read

United Way of Brevard celebrated its donors in a big year for the charity organization at their awards banquet Tuesday night with L3 Harris and Publix being the biggest givers.

Held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cocoa Beach, the event recognized the generosity of supporters who contributed to the organization's fundraising efforts. Together, companies and organizations on the Space Coast raised $5.13 million, which goes directly toward improving the lives of individuals and families in need throughout the county.

Alexis Haber, campaign chair for L3HARRIS and Dennis Broughton, campaign chair for Publix, pose with their mini billboards. L3HARRIS and Publix were the two largest donors, contributing $2.4 million. The United Way Award Celebration for 2022 was held Tuesday night at the Hilton Garden Inn Oceanfront in Cocoa Beach. United Way of Brevard raised $5,130,000.

L3Harris and its employees were the largest contributors, raising $1.4 million. Other notable contributors were companies like Space Coast Credit Union, whose employees raised $272,756, and Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex with $171,235 raised this past year. Other companies like Coastal Health Systems, an emergency transport service, were recognized not just for their monetary contribution but for the work they do day in, day out. Coastal received Chairman's Award for efforts such as "teddy bear clinics" to educate Girl Scouts, offering clinical ride-alongs to EMT and paramedic students, and offering scholarships to EMT and paramedic programs.

Recipients of the Campaign Awards of Distinction for consistent top performers included: MH Williams Construction Group, Inc.; Carr, Riggs & Ingram; Raymond James & Associates, Inc.; Community Credit Union of Florida; Space Florida; Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast; FirstWave Financial; and Lotane & Associates, P.A.

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Jackie Barker, CEO and president of SKY Advertising CEO and United Way 2022 campaign chair, described the money raised this year for charities, as well as the work put in by local companies, as a "huge win."

"As I reflect on this last year, as challenging as it’s been, we’ve really come through it. To be able to bring this money into the community, I’m grateful for our staff and our partner agencies and most of all the generosity of people in our community who donate. They step up every time," Barker said "This money goes to create financial stability, health services, safety net services. It goes across the board. We seek out the needs in our local communities to make sure the dollars stay here," she added. "This is a cause that I’ve been part of for 25 years and we believe in. I’m so grateful for the community for stepping up."

Tim Antonition, president of Space Coast Credit Union who will take over for Barker this coming year, said organizations like United Way are especially necessary now with so many economic uncertainties on the horizon.

He has served on United Way's allocation panel, choosing which local organizations will receive needed funds.

'We drive by our partner agencies and people are lining up to get food or come in and get a shower," he said. "It opens your eyes to what's going on right in front of us but we don't always see it."

"I don't know what will happen with the economy," Antonition said. "But we're going to prepare for everything."

Tyler Vazquez is the Brevard County and North Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-917-7491 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @tyler_vazquez

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: United Way of Brevard celebrations donations, honors L3 Harris, Publix