8.23.05
United Way of Greater Knoxville to celebrate 2005 Campaign Kickoff.
Regional television simulcast will highlight those helped by organization.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (August 23) United Way of Greater Knoxville will officially celebrate their 2005 campaign kickoff on Tuesday, August 30, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Knoxville Convention Center lecture hall.

Dee Haslam, CEO of RIVR Media and United Way chairman of the board, and Bert Bertelkamp, president of Bertelkamp Automation, Inc. and 2005 campaign chairman, will kick off the organization's fall fund-raising campaign, a tradition since United Way first began in Knoxville in 1922. For the next 12 weeks, the organization will work to raise $11.7 million to fund critical health and human service programs for thousands of people in need in the Knoxville area.

The event, sponsored by Bertelkamp Automation, Inc., Goody's, Pilot Travel Centers, LLC, and Shafer Insurance Agency, Inc., will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m. in the park concourse outside the convention center lecture hall. At 7 p.m., companies that have already completed their campaigns, as well as volunteers and partner agencies, will be recognized, and United Way will announce current campaign results. From 7:30-8 p.m., the audience will watch United Way's regional simulcast. Dr. Bill Barron, senior pastor of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, will serve as the guest speaker, and Bob Kesling, Voice of the Vol Network, will serve as master of ceremonies.

The simulcast, a collaborative effort made possible by the generosity of the local production community and media, will highlighting the stories of individuals and families helped by United Way as it is viewed by thousands in surrounding counties on WATE 6, WBIR Television, WVLT Volunteer TV, WTNZ Fox 43, Seven WMAK, WBXX East Tennessee's WB, and on Charter Cable.

"Knoxville is a great place to live and raise a family for most of us," Bertelkamp said. "For others who are struggling with issues from health care to housing to even having enough food for their children, things are not so great. I believe the people of Knoxville care about those people and will step up like they have so many times before. We, as a team, will raise the funds necessary to make a real impact on these people's lives."

WHO: United Way of Greater Knoxville
WHAT: 2005 Campaign Kickoff and Regional Television Simulcast
WHEN: Tuesday, August 30, 2005
6:30-7:00 p.m. Reception
7:00-7:30 p.m. Kickoff meeting
7:30-8:00 p.m. Regional Simulcast
WHERE: Knoxville Convention Center lecture hall
CONTACT: Emilie Gresham
United Way of Greater Knoxville
523-9131

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