COMMUNITY BUILDERS' NOMINATIONS DUE

BRIDGEPORT, CT - (December 10, 2003) United Way of Eastern Fairfield County is committed to recognizing volunteerism in the greater Bridgeport area, especially when volunteers go well above and beyond the call performing their duties below the radar of public awareness. For the third consecutive year, United Way is reaching out to every volunteer organization in its six-town service area, seeking nominations for its Celebration of Community Builders.

Those special volunteers will be honored at the third annual Celebration of Community Builders, Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at the Arena at Harbor Yard. According to Merle Berke-Schlessel, Esq. United Way's President / CPO, the awards are given in recognition of volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding service to health and human service agencies in the greater Bridgeport area during 2003. More than two-dozen volunteers are expected to be selected from among nominees.

"Community Builders are typically volunteers whose contributions to nonprofit organizations help make our communities stronger, healthier and better places in which to live," said Berke-Schlessel. "They give their time so that critical health and human care services can be delivered to citizens of the six towns served by United Way of Eastern Fairfield County - Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. And nominees don't have to reside in this six-town area to receive the award."

Volunteers from any area organization are eligible. (Paid employees are not eligible for this award.) Nomination forms may be downloaded from United Way's website at www.thewaytocare.org - deadline for nominations is December 31, 2003. A paper copy can be picked up at the United Way offices, 75 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.

Tickets to the Celebration of Community Builders event are free to anyone in the community who wishes to attend. In lieu of admission, a donation in any amount to the charity of the attendee's choice is requested. Over the first two years of the event, nearly $20,000 was raised for community organizations through attendees' donations.

For further information, please contact: Andrea Kovacs, Sr. VP, Marketing and Community Relations at United Way, 334-5106, ext. 309 or via email (preferred) at akovacs@thewaytocare.org.