The United Way of the Miss-Lou concluded a &uot;very successful campaign&uot; Tuesday night with its annual awards presentation.

&uot;We were very excited about our campaign results this year,&uot; said Cliff Merritt, campaign chairman.

Despite concerns about the economy, the United Way exceeded its goal and raised more than $368,000 for local charities.

&uot;We had some folks step up to the table bigger than they have in the past,&uot; Merritt said.

And some new folks stepped up to the table for the first time, he said.

&uot;I can’t think of a better feeling to have than to give to your fellow man and help them out in their time of need,&uot; Merritt said.

During Tuesday’s award presentation, local companies were recognized for the amount they raised in employee pledges to the 2001 campaign, &uot;United We Stand for a Greater Miss-Lou.&uot;

International Paper’s Natchez Mill was recognized for being the top contributor raising $79,749.52.

Isle of Capri was recognized with the Charles H. Adams Memorial Award – an award given in memory of a United Way board member who served more than 25 years often as treasurer and advisor to the executive director.

&uot;I graciously accept this award,&uot; said Wendy Grandin, general manager of Isle of Capri.

In what was the Natchez casino’s first United Way campaign, the company raised $39,032.32 through employee campaign, corporate match and a community auction.

&uot;I feel very honored,&uot; Grandin said. &uot;We were very happy to participate and hold the first auction that’s going to be an annual event.&uot;

The United Way is the charity of choice for Isle of Capri Casinos raising more than $1 million this year company-wide, Grandin said.

&uot;The Isle of Capri Casinos feel very strongly about giving back to the communities that we do business in,&uot; Grandin said.

The United Way of the Miss-Lou raised almost $50,000 extra this year by extending its campaign past Thanksgiving.

Twenty-five agencies in Adams County and Concordia parish benefit from the campaign.

An allocations committee determines how much money an agency receives bases on need and the amount requested by the agency.

Gold Award ($15,000+)

International Paper $79,749.52

Isle of Capri $39,032.32

Zachary Construction $26,250.00

The Natchez Democrat $21,620.00

Supermarket Operations $17,553.20

Silver Award ($10,000+)

Natchez-Adams School District

$13,405.00

Ethyl Petroleum Additives $12,250.56

Johns Manville $12,160.50

Britton & Koontz $11,880.02

Titan Tire $11,403.20

Natchez Regional Medical Center

$10,883.45

Bronze Award ($5,000+)

Callon Petroleum $8,931.00

Natchez Community Hospital

$6,949.88

Concordia Bank & Trust $6,688.00

AmSouth Bank $6,346.00

Alcoa $5,846.00

McRae’s $5,639.00

Top Percent Participation

Zachary Construction Company

(95/95 – 100 percent)

Honorable Mention

Mississippi Valley Gas

(17/17 – 100 percent)

Jordan Auto

(16/16 – 100 percent)

Kimbrell Office Supply

(14/14 – 100 percent)

The Natchez Democrat

(49/51 – 96 percent)

United Parcel Service

(31/33 – 94 percent)

Ethyl Petroleum Additives

(38/42 – 90 percent)

Top Per Capita Giving

The Natchez Democrat $423.92

Ethyl Petroleum Additives $291.68

Zachary Construction Corporation $276.32

AmSouth Bank $218.83

Top Contributor

International Paper – Natchez Mill $79,749.52

Top Percent Increase

Zachary Construction 111 percent increase

Concordia Bank & Trust Company 107 percent increase

Callon Petroleum 100 percent increase

Challenge of the Mayors.

A challenge between Natchez Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith, Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland and Ferriday Mayor Glen McGlothin to raise the most per capita among municipal employees. The first years’ award goes to the City of Natchez.

Charles H. Adams Memorial Award

Isle of Capri