The Pike County United Way’s 2015 Kickoff event was a great success and 17 local agencies will benefit from the generosity of the many who attended the annual Chili Cook-off fundraiser.

“The Chili Cook-off is a fundraising event, but it’s also an opportunity for people to learn more about the 17 agencies that Pike County United Way serves,” said Cathy Sheffield, president of the local United Way Agency. “We now have all the numbers in from the Chili Cook-off that included a silent auction and the 50-50 drawing and, again, the people of Pike County showed strong support of the United Way.”

Sheffield said all 17 agencies that are served by the Pike County United Way participated in the kick-off event.

“Some of the agencies competed in the chili cook-off and Donna McLaney and the Pike County Salvation Army won the Judges’ Award, which is the grand prize of the annual Chili Cook-off,” Sheffield said. “The People’s Choice award was voted on by the public and Camille Downing and the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center received that honor. We congratulate the winners and all of the agencies that made all the great tasting chili.”

Sheffield said other United Way agencies set up informational booths and a few made monetary donations.

“We greatly appreciate the participation of these agencies, because it’s good to put a face on the agencies that serve our community,” she said.

The agencies that receive funding from the Pike County United Way are Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Colley Senior Complex, Easter Seals of Alabama, East Central Mental Health, 4-H Clubs, Girl Scouts, House of Ruth, Humane Society of Pike County, OCAP, Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center, Pioneer Museum of Alabama, Red Cross, RSVP, Sav-A-Life, Salvation Army and the Troy Charity League.

Sheffield said the United Way of Pike County has supported this list of agencies for several years.

“The funding these agencies receive is based on need and the funding is allocated quarterly,” she said. “All of these agencies provide valuable services to the people of Pike County and the Pike County United Way is proud to be able to assist them with monetary support so they may better serve the community.”

Sheffield said the primary funding source for the Pike County United Way is through payroll deductions.

“We also have a large number of individuals and companies that make monthly, quarterly and annual donations,” she said.

Donations to the Pike County United Way may be mailed to P.O. Box 204, Troy, AL 36081.