Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 10267
Tallahassee, FL 32302
Email:
Executive Director
Telephone:
(850) 942-2569
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The United Way of the Big Bend is dreaming big
By TaMaryn Waters
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Susie Bush-Transou said she had goose bumps all over her body.
She was excited about the United Way of the Big Bend's ability to touch lives, but she was
especially thrilled by the possibilities to help others through this year's campaign goal.
It's all about making dreams come true, according to Bush-Transou, campaign chairperson
for the United Way of the Big Bend.
More than 480 supporters and agency staffers at the Civic Center applauded when Bush-Transou
sliced through the suspense and announced this year's campaign goal.
It's a whopping $7.4 million - up from last year's goal of $6.4 million. This year's goal
is an 11 percent increase ($733,000) from the total amount raised in 2005, which was $6,666,942.
The largest previous increase in a campaign goal was $665,000, which was in 1998.
"Dreams are a part of everyone's life," Bush-Transou said. "In this community, we can help
people's dreams come true through the United Way."
Last year's efforts surpassed the goal when the agency reached $6.67 million. Bush-Transou
said more can be done.
Barbara Kiger said F.I.R.E., which stands for Florida Institute of Rehabilitation Education,
helped when her world grew increasingly darker after she became blind.
"My first dream was to survive," said the 71-year-old Kiger, who has been blind for nearly
20 years. She said the agency helped her put down the vodka bottle she turned to for "companionship"
and embrace new technology that could help her.
Now, she can say she's an author of a murder-mystery novel called "Payback."
"It's a tremendous feeling," Kiger said of her accomplishment. "You start feeling like nothing
is beyond your reach."
Bush-Transou said there's one story among the ones heard Thursday afternoon that sticks out in her mind.
She was referring to a petite woman, Daphne Nelson, who admitted drugs and alcohol had taken over her life.
Nelson's pursuit down a self-destructive path didn't stop when she became pregnant.
Her baby girl, Tamadalayahia, was born healthy, but Nelson said she was crushed when she
couldn't be the mother she needed to be.
Nelson, who graduated from parenting classes at Mothers In Crisis, joyfully said she's been
drug-free for nine months with the help of the agency. Her now-9-month-old daughter is doing fine, too.
"Just to be clear on dreams, dreams do come true, and my dream was to bring my baby home,"
Nelson said before leaving the platform.
For more information on the United Way, call (850) 414-0862 or visit: www.uwbb.org
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