★ ★ SECTION E BeaumontEnterprise.com Sunday, February26, 2012 The SoutheastTexas doesn’tlenditself to ashortage spirit of generosity. By AmyMoore he methods some charities usetoraisemoneymight of Thave changed, butthose who givethe mosthave not. Blue-collar,amazing, working- class,generous—that’s howTerry Bourdier describes the Southeast giving Texas donorswho givetothe United WayofBeaumont. “Wethoughtthe last three years that fundraisingwould be down,but ourcontributorshavebeensoloyal and people have been generous,” said Bourdier,CEO of the United Way of Beaumontand NorthJefferson County. “We’ve lostsome contributions be- causepeople have lostjobs or they’re scared (ofthe economy), butwe’ve consistently raised about$2.3 million each year.” Behind the charity scene: 4E Area philanthropists: 8E Find afundraiser: 12E GIVING, page6E Designed and copyedited by MikeTobias, [email protected] 2E Sunday, February26, 2012 BeaumontEnterprise.com H H In 2011, the company beans and apiece of apple Sudela,who alsoisthe paid $56,000 in wages to pie. incomingpresidentfor the participatingstudents, Harvey Zernial, general the UnitedWay,said the Large, small all of whom areselected managerfor H-E-B Plus! companyinthe lastyear through acompetitive on DowlenRoad,orga- raised about$17,000 for search,application pro- nizedthe firstlocal Feast cessand interview at their in 1991. the MarchofDimes. schools. “Wealreadyhad din- Its most recent United corporate Thecompanyalsosup- ners through the com- Waycampaign —with both portseducation programs panyand Ifiguredthat companyand employee and the UnitedWay, the Golden Triangle is so donations —raised about Jacksonsaid. givingand full of really $37,000, Sudela said. ■ kind people,soIpitched ValeroEnergy the idea and it’s been very [email protected] donors digdeep Corp. raises asig- successful,”Zernial said in Twitter.com/dwallach nificantamount aDecember2011 inter- of moneythrough view. its ValeroTexas Thebusiest years have giving souls ■ SETX’s biggest Open and compan- been in 2000 and after ion Benefit for Children donors help to Hurricanes Rita and Ikein We know Southeast Golf TournamentinSan 2005 and 2008, according Antonio,which toppedout Texans are generous, create jobs and to Zernial. but we were curious at morethan$9million H-E-B alsodonated feed themasses. companywide in 2011. to see whycertain $8,000 to the Southeast charities are close to To distribute its share, Texas Food Bank lastyear beaumont Valero’sPortArthur your hearts. So we through atear-pad cam- hit the streets and By Dan Wallach refinerybroke down paign that ranMay 12 to $550,000 amongavariety asked those we met June 28, 2011. along the way: Which In the past20years, of children’scharities Tear-off coupons in the charities do you give ExxonMobil and its pre- selectedbyits employees, amounts of $1, $3 and $5 to? And what’syour decessorcompany, Mobil said companyspokesman were locatedatcheckout reason? Oil Corp., hasgiven an Volunteersformanassembly line to dish out plates Bill Day. stands in area H-E-B gro- estimated $1 million in a of food on Dec. 9during the H-E-B Golden Triangle Valeroand its Port cerystores, wherecustom- program originally called Feast of Sharing at Ford Arena in Beaumont. Arthur employees also ers could add the desired “Green Team”and now TammyMcKinley/The Enterprise pledged $500,000 to the donation amounttotheir called“Future Leaders” UnitedWay of Midand final grocerybill. that helps employabout South Jefferson County, Thedonation provided 50 high school students for department. That’s fairly them through aday of ori- Daysaid. morethan24,000 meals aboutsix weeks during the hard work for not very entation at Lamar and the ■ for hungry families in our summer. much moneyinthe heatof nextday,theyreportfor While some bigindus- area. Theidea wastoselect summer. work for six weeks.Eachis tries givebackincash, ■ risingseniors —students As with mostthings, able to earn about$1,000 other corporations liketo American Valve& who were between their jobs evolveand the pro- for their month-and-a- feed the people. Hydrant, 3350 Hollywood junior and senior years in gram wasexpandedto half.Theylearn basic job For21years, H-E-B has St., is amajor supporter TERRY high school —and give include jobs in avariety of skills likepromptnessand offered afreeholidaymeal of the MarchofDimes MAYER, 31 them professional work city departments,atLamar presentability while being to everyone in the com- BirthDefects Foundation, experience and mentor- University and at the in aposition to observe munity through their Feast helpingwith the founda- ■ Nederland ingtohelp them develop a BeaumontIndependent professionalism. of Sharing. tion’sprime fundraisers ■ Gives to: The senseoftheir potential. School District. “We’ve hadmorethan This pastDecember, likeWalk America, coming United Way At first, it waspretty Thestudents come from 1,000 Beaumont-area high morethan1,600 volun- up on April21, and agolf ■ Why: It’sacharity basic stuff. Kids worked West Brook, Central and school students partici- teers,both adults and chil- tournamentscheduledfor supported by his at minimum wage—as Ozen high schools. pate in the program,” said dren, served 5,000 meals May6. employer,Chevron theystill do —for the In its current incarna- spokeswomanKathleen consistingofham,mashed American Valve& Phillips city of Beaumont’sparks tion, the program puts Jackson. potatoes and gravy, green HydrantpresidentTim List of non-profits registered in area counties County Inc American Legion 250, Bridge City Ancient Free &Accepted Masons of Texas Animal Rescue Foundation of Beaumont Beaumont Elderly and Handicapped Hous- Jefferson, Orange&Hardin African American Cultural Society American Legion 33 126, Madison ArtMuseum of Southeast Texas ing Corp., Raintree Towers Agape Lighthouse Ministries Inc. Agape American Legion 44 Post Ancient Free &Accepted Masons of Texas Association for Retarded Citizens, Texas Beaumont Family Shelter 100 Black Men of Greater Beaumont Inc. Light Ministries American Legion 7, Rudolph Lambert 1345, Bridge City ARC of Greater Beaumont Beaumont Foundation of America 100 Plus Black Women Coalition of Al-Anon Information Service American Legion Auxiliary255, Winnie Ancient Free &Accepted Masons of Texas Association of Independent Compressor Beaumont Products and Services Inc. Beaumont Alcohol Testing Alliance Texas 1370, B.F.Quicksall Distributor Beaumont RotaryFoundation Inc. 11th Street Bingo Association All God’sCreatures American Legion Auxiliary33, Beaumont Ancient Free &Accepted Masons of Texas, Babe Didriksen Zaharias Foundation Inc. Beaumont Urban Improvement Leadership 14th Street Baptist Church Alpha TauOmega Fraternity.Zeta Theta American Legion Auxiliary7,Rudolph Lam- 642 Pine Baobob Foundation for Downtown Inc., Build Inc. 4-H Clubs &Affiliated 4-H Organizations Chapter.Lamar bert Ancient Free &Accepted Masons of Texas, Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Foun- Ben RogersLamar Univ Beaumont IHave ADream Spindletop 4-H Club Altrusa International Inc., Orange American Rose Society,Golden Triangle 914 Saratoga dation Bethel Baptist Church AChild’sHelping Hand Inc. American Association of University Women, Rose Society Ancient Free &Accepted Masons of Texas, Baptist Physician Network AVoice for Jesus Inc. Orange Ancient &Accepted Scottish Rite of Free 927 Silsbee Bayou Hoop DDoInc. Abundant Life of Beaumont Inc. American Chemical Society,Sabine Neches Masonry101 St George Angelas Outreach Community Center Beaumont Breakfast Lions Club non-profits, page4E AcademyofYouth EntrepreneursInc. Section Ancient Free &Accepted Masons of Texas Advocates for Children Inc. Casa of Orange American Legion 112, Vidor Memorial Post 1002, Sour Lake Now there’sabetter way to help our kids avoid underage drinking. Join us on Facebook. 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