January 31, 2019 | Source: Lubbock Avalance-Journal
By Ray Westbrook
During Lubbock Area United Way’s Annual Meeting Thursday, Norval Pollard was presented the Rita Harmon Volunteer Service Award, and 2018 Campaign Chair Doug Hensley announced that contributions have now reached $5,824,983.
In accepting the award for which he received sustained applause before an appreciative audience of some 450 people at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Pollard said, “I am truly humbled and honored because there are so many giving and caring, dedicated people in this community.”
He said, “First, I want to thank my God for his love and grace in blessing me throughout my life — all my family sitting right over there, all you friends of mine. I’m so rich. He also has blessed me with a servant’s heart. God wants us to serve, and a lot of people in this room understand that.”
Hensley, who has long served United Way in leadership positions such as chairman of the Loaned Executive program, expressed appreciation to the audience for having been chosen to serve as the 2018 campaign chairman:
“What an honor it was to serve as the annual campaign chair.”
He told the audience, “We are here to celebrate the work that doesn’t end here. The fact is, it is only a beginning. Good things, hopeful things, life-achieving things, are going to continue across the Lubbock area.
“The movement of hope will continue to spread, because that is what we do — we are in the hope business.”
Kelsey Tubb, 2018 Loaned Executive chair who led 60 volunteers in raising $3.2 million of the campaign total in 2018, was named Campaign Volunteer of the Year during United Way’s meeting. Overall, the organization’s 2018 campaign came in just shy of its goal of about $5.9 million.
Greg Freeman received the Agency Volunteer of the Year Award for his support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lubbock.
Freeman has volunteered with the Boys & Girls Clubs for more than 30 years, and has served as the president of its board of directors.
United Way’s new board members include A-J Media Group Publisher Robert Granfeldt, businessman Mark Griffin, current FOX-34 news director/anchor Jeff Klotzman, Lubbock Christian University President Tim Perrin, and Lubbock ISD Superintendent Kathy Rollo.
Pollard shared with the audience passages of the Bible that relate to helping others:
“Hebrews 13;16 says, ‘Do not not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.’ And one of my favorite passages is this one: Proverbs 3:27. ‘Do not withhold good from those who are due, when it is within your power to act.’
“If it’s in your power to act, you can do good,” he said.