Former NBA Star to Chair 2006 United Way Community Campaign

BRIDGEPORT, CT - (August 31, 2006) United Way of Eastern Fairfield County is pleased to announce that Bridgeport-born professional athlete and entrepreneur Charles D. Smith will serve as the 2006-2007 Community Campaign Chair. In this capacity, the former NBA star will assist United Way in continuing its Community Impact mission to create substantial and lasting changes in people’s lives and in the community.

According to United Way president and CEO Merle Berke-Schlessel, Esq., Smith is a perfect choice for the position of 2006 Campaign Chair. “Charles’s roots to our community and his ongoing commitment to and work for its betterment are apparent to all who know him. In his years as a local resident, and to this day, he continues his calling to promote self-sufficiency and to improve the quality of life for the children and families in our area.”

A 1988 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and a member of that year’s U.S. Olympic team, Smith is most well known for his ten-year NBA career. In addition to his prowess on the basketball court, Smith has long exhibited expertise as a marketing strategist and CEO of various companies. Many organizations and media articles, including NJBiz Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40’ Entrepreneurs in New Jersey,” have recognized his work. Currently, Smith oversees his various business ventures and serves in several consultancy positions. He is a sought-after keynote speaker, who has presented at several national and global conferences including the Forbes CEO Forum, the Milken Institute for Emerging Global Markets and the GE Executive Leadership Forum.

Smith’s passion, though, resides in helping others. In 1989, he founded the Charles D. Smith, Jr., Foundation, Inc. that provides after-school programs focused on academic skills, character building, motivation, personal responsibility and self-esteem. The Foundation has implemented prevention programs for “at-risk” individuals and classes for adults on parenting skills, health education and financial planning. Summer computer camps, health, exercise and wellness programs, and youth drug-free mentoring programs round out the Foundation’s work.
Commenting on his campaign chairmanship, Smith noted, “United Way of Eastern Fairfield County’s goals and programs parallel my own philanthropic endeavors. I am delighted to be in a position where I can help forward United Way’s mission by raising charitable dollars to invest in initiatives that are improving lives and building stronger communities.”

People’s Bank executive vice president of the Consumer Financial Services division Bryan J. Huebner will serve as co-chair of the Community Campaign Cabinet. Eight other volunteers round out the team:

Thayer Barkley (Bridgeport) Charles D. Smith, Jr., Foundation
Jayne Bolton (Trumbull) People’s Bank
Mark Fries (Newtown) Beardsley Brown and Bassett
Tim Hampford (Trumbull) Hampford Research
Rexanne Kudravy-Wargo (Trumbull) RBS
Ronald Nolting (Stratford) People’s Bank, People’s Securities
Eugene Richter (Fairfield) Richter Real Estate Century 21
Doug Zimmerman (Stratford) Cadbury Beverages Inc.

United Way of Eastern Fairfield County is in the business of building a stronger, more caring community across Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. Our focus is on what matters. Research and experience tell us that the best way to help the most people is to focus on the root causes of the most serious problems. It takes the whole community -- working together -- to make that happen. So we bring people together from all across the community -- people from government, business, faith groups, nonprofits, and ordinary citizens -- to tackle the issues that matter most. United Way is committed to the bottom line results: the lives we change and the communities we shape. Find out more at www.thewaytocare.org