United Way of Greater Chattanooga raises record $12.7 million

Ed Ryan with AT&T, left, speaks after being presented the Impact Volunteer of the Year award by U.K. Whaley at the United Way of Greater Chattanooga's annual meeting and campaign celebration Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at the Read House Hotel in Chattanooga, Tenn. United Way present its annual impact report and awarded its volunteers and donors.
Ed Ryan with AT&T, left, speaks after being presented the Impact Volunteer of the Year award by U.K. Whaley at the United Way of Greater Chattanooga's annual meeting and campaign celebration Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at the Read House Hotel in Chattanooga, Tenn. United Way present its annual impact report and awarded its volunteers and donors.

Spirit of Giving Awards

* Companies of the Year: Large: Chattem Medium: Kenco Small: W.R. Grace Regional: Walker County Schools * Chairman's Award: Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough * Leadership Award: FSG Bank * Outstanding First-Time Campaign: Scottsboro Coca-Cola Spirit of Service Awards * Outstanding Company Coordinator: Gary Behler * CFC Service Award: Lyndsay Sneckenberger, TVA * Impact Volunteer of the Year: Ed Ryan, AT&T * Impact Program of the Year: Southeast Tennessee Veterans Coalition * Tocqueville Society Courage Award: John Coniglio

photo Russ Blakely, right, shakes the hand of former Times Free Press photographer John Coniglio before presenting him with the Tocqueville Society Courage Award at the United Way of Greater Chattanooga's annual meeting and campaign celebration Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at the Read House Hotel in Chattanooga, Tenn. United Way present its annual impact report and awarded its volunteers and donors.

For years, $12 million seemed to be the upper limit of what the United Way of Greater Chattanooga could earn in donations, said Tom Glenn, chairman of the charitable organization's board.

So this year's fundraising amount of $12.7 million was announced with great fanfare at United Way's annual meeting and campaign celebration luncheon in the Silver Ballroom of the historic Sheraton Read House downtown.

"That is a record," Glenn said.

He credited it to Eva Dillard, who is retiring after 12 years as the first female chief executive and president of United Way of Chattanooga.

That was one highlight of the roughly 90-minute luncheon event at which United Way officials recounted the group's accomplishments and contributions and honored companies, volunteers and others for their support.

Former newspaper photographer John Coniglio was given the Tocqueville Society Courage Award for carrying on despite having chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, a neurological disorder that leads to progressive weakness and impaired feeling in the legs and arms.

He works at Signal Centers, a nonprofit organization on Germantown Road that helps people with disabilities become independent.

Coniglio began working there full time after receiving help, so that helps him connect with the people who come for assistance, award presenter Russ Blakelysaid.

"He lived through that himself," Blakely said. "John is able to connect to individuals in a much deeper way than you or I could. John is an inspiration to his family, to Signal Centers, to our community."

Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/tim.omarzu or twitter.com/TimOmarzu or 423-757-6651.

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