After a three-year hiatus, business leaders, government and nonprofit agencies gathered at the Quail Valley River Club to recognize a continued legacy of volunteerism and philanthropy at the annual United Way of Indian River County’s Community Leaders Breakfast and Spirit of Indian River County Awards Program, sponsored by Florida Power & Light.
“Gathering like this is just such a great way to start our day and also start our season,” said Meredith Egan, UWIRC CEO. “It’s difficult to fathom how far we’ve come since 2019. These moments have challenged us and changed us in ways that we never could have imagined. Despite the challenges, we have demonstrated at United Way that the power of our work has never been stronger.”
Egan said that all during the pandemic, their work never ceased.
“Our doors never closed because those we serve needed us most. The fabric that makes up the network of our community partners held tight as the waves of the pandemic, economic insecurity, natural disasters and political polarization all rocked and continue to affect our everyday reality.”
The United Way, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2021, continues to support the community by raising funds, championing causes, and searching for solutions to challenges.
“Last year, United Way invested a record-breaking $5.2 million into Indian River County through partnerships and initiatives. Because of you, United Way was able to fund 45 vital programs at 36 partner agencies that focus on the education, financial stability, and the health of our community,” noted Egan.
Organizers chose the lack of affordable housing to be the focus of this year’s event, with Egan citing the disparity between low-income wages and rising housing costs. Currently, she said 60 percent of Indian River County residents are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), before showing a moving video that gave attendees a better picture of the ALICE population.
“Our Community Leaders breakfast is designed to amplify work around profit markers, connect varied stakeholders, and bring the community closer to the work of the United Way. We know that this is a difficult and complex issue, and today is not the day that we are going to solve affordable housing, but we all need to get on the same page and know that we are working toward the solution together,” said Egan.
This year’s guest speaker was David Hall, a Florida Housing Finance Corporation board member, who spoke about the programs and actions they are taking to increase affordable housing at the county and state levels.
“We live in one of the richest counties in one of the richest nations in all of human history,” said Jeff Petersen, UWIRC board chair elect. “Yet we still have neighbors that live in cars, under bridges and in tent cities.”
Before announcing the award recipients, Petersen said, “I am supremely proud that we live in an overly generous county. I am very proud, for the second year in a row, to thank those who have done an outstanding job of representing our community and what it means to live United.”
- Richardson Spirit of Indian River County Award for Funded Partners: The Children’s Home Society.
- Richardson Spirit Award for Champion of the Community: Nick LoPresti, LoPresti Productions.
- Richardson Spirit Award for Workplace Partner: Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital.
- Ralph T. King Award: Margo Lind was honored with their most prestigious recognition, for her unwavering support of the United Way over the years, including serving as board treasurer, on the Citizen’s Review Panel, at the United Way’s Day of Caring and myriad other volunteer tasks.
“These honorees today capture the legacy of these two gentlemen in a way that makes them true game changers and hand raisers,” said Petersen, referencing the late Dan K. Richardson and Ralph T. King.
For more information, visit unitedwayirc.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
