United Way of Marion County recently recognized four volunteers at their annual meeting of the membership event. Dirk Leeward of Ocala4Sale, was awarded the Bonnie Heath Award of Excellence, which honors a volunteer each year whose leadership and commitment to the United Way of Marion County has stood out above others over a period of at least ten years. Leeward first participated as a member of the United Way Ambassadors, a group of young leaders, in the late 1980s. He is serving his 10th year on the United Way Board of Directors. He has served on the allocations committee, assisted in the technological development of the organization, and he was instrumental in starting the Young Leaders Society and the Marion Volunteer Network.

United Way also recognized Dave Fechtman of Root Theory Advisors with the Frances Thigpin Volunteer of the Year Award. This award is given to a volunteer that is not in a high profile role in the community and goes above and beyond what he or she may have been asked or recruited to do. Fechtman has served in a variety of roles such as campaign cabinet member, founding volunteer of the Marion County Prosperity Campaign, served on the committee that is analyzing our community's needs for a volunteer center in Marion County, sits on the United Way Board of Directors and most recently served as campaign chairman.

Two first time awards were also given out to a Youth Member of the Year and Young Leader Member of the Year. Virginia Liddell, a senior at Vanguard High School was presented with the Youth United Way Youth Member of the Year award and Lisa Rice from the Marion County Sheriff's Office was recognized as United Way's Young Leader of the Year.

New board members were also elected to the United Way Board of Directors including Barbara Burrows, CFCC; Jackie Lenz, Publix Super Markets; Justin Turner, CPA, Turner & Lazada, PA; Lori Boring, Wachovia/Wells Fargo Bank; Peter Gray, Ocala Star-Banner; Greg Ostberg, Dillards and Don Umpleby, Publix Super Markets.