By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – While it is most usually on the giving side of giant check presentations, the United Way of Graham & Greenlee Counties were on the receiving side Monday night, as representatives were the benefactors of a $10,003 giant check from the city of Safford.
The funds were raised by Safford’s employee United Way fundraising campaign. Prior to the presentation, Safford Mayor Jason Kouts lauded the city’s employees for their performance during the crisis this holiday season, which included having to fix a water main leak Christmas Eve and an electrical outage New Year’s Eve.
“That’s when you know you live in a great city, and that’s when you know your workers come together,” Kouts said. “I just want to take the time to let you know that I appreciate (the) staff for diligently working hard . . .”
Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: Royce Hunt takes her trademark “selfie” during the check presentation as Safford City Councilor Michael Andazola photobombs in the back.
The check presentation was done during the regularly scheduled Safford City Council meeting and was introduced by Safford Finance Director Alma Flores.
“I do want to thank all the employees of the city of Safford,” Flores said. “We have a committee of about seven or eight employees from all of the departments. They all come together (and) do different activities. The United Way golf tournament has done really well the last couple of years.”
According to its website, the United Way of Graham & Greenlee Counties is a volunteer-driven organization that provides grant support to nonprofit organizations in Southeastern Arizona, serving Graham and Greenlee counties. The organization has provided a large variety of funding to support education, health, and local law enforcement with the funding to purchase body cameras for each officer. Its mantra is “advancing the common good by focusing on quality of life, health, and education – the building blocks of a good life.”
