LABELLE – United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades kicked off its annual campaign for Hendry and Glades counties on Nov. 5 in LaBelle. Leaders of local businesses and nonprofits came together to generate awareness and excitement as they launched this year’s United Way campaign.

Held at the LaBelle Civic Center, the kickoff event was led by campaign co-chairs Dena Pittman, Hendry County Property Appraiser and Ron Zimmerly, Three Z Enterprises.

Attendees learned about the campaign’s tremendous impact on local charitable organizations and their funding priorities for the coming year. The overall fundraising goal for this year’s “United is the Way” campaign is $11,512,716, which will provide funding to support nearly 100 United Way partner agencies across the three counties. This year’s goal for Hendry and Glades is $370,200.

Last year, Hendry and Glades counties’ portion of the campaign raised $367,200.

All money raised through Hendry and Glades United Way campaign stays in the local community to help support the local human service network of partner agencies, which include organizations such as RCMA, Agape Home, The Salvation Army, Children's Advocacy Center, Healthy Families, Healthy Start Coalition of SWFL, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Trailways Camps and other Hendry and Glades County nonprofits.