September 18, 2006

The Woodlands Development Company Sets The Pace With Donation to United Way

Employees from The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC), including The Clubs of The Woodlands and The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center, recently showed their support to the Montgomery County United Way by presenting a donation of $62,539 to the organization’s campaign drive. Pictured from left to right are: Tenley Wood, TWDC campaign volunteer; Diane Rogers, TWDC campaign volunteer; Julie Martineau, president of the Montgomery County United Way; Pat Millspaugh, TWDC campaign coordinator; Jaha Williams, director of fund development for the Montgomery County United Way; Tory Enriquez, TWDC campaign volunteer; and Heather McMichael, TWDC campaign volunteer.

Employees from The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC), including The Clubs of The Woodlands and The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center, raised $62,539 for the Montgomery County United Way, according to Debra Staley, director of public affairs for TWDC.

TWDC employees raised $42,539 with an additional $20,000 contributed by the company. Pat Millspaugh, Human Resources coordinator for TWDC, headed up the 2006 United Way campaign for the company. “We are very pleased with the generosity of our employees,” Millspaugh said. “Without the dedication and enthusiasm of employees at The Woodlands Development Company, the amount raised for the United Way would not have been possible.”

Along with financial donations, TWDC staff members volunteer numerous hours with non-profit agencies like The Friendship Center’s Meals on Wheels program, Montgomery County Women’s Shelter, Montgomery County Food Bank and Interfaith of The Woodlands, Staley said.

TWDC was chosen as a “Pacesetter Company” for the 2006 United Way campaign. A pacesetter company is defined by United Way as a leading employer that sets a positive and successful example for other businesses in Montgomery County to follow with their respective campaigns.

“The Woodlands Development Company was chosen as a pacesetter company because of its successful history of support and volunteerism through its Good Neighbors Community Partnership program,” Staley said. “We hope that through example we can encourage other companies and individuals to contribute to such a worthy cause as the United Way.”

The Montgomery County United Way has over 20 local agencies that extend social services to residents in crisis situations. Some of the major agencies include the Depelchin Children’s Center that provides counseling and education to children and families; the mentoring organization of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Children’s Safe Harbor that protects and enhances the lives of children who are sexually and/or physically abused; and Montgomery County Youth Services that benefits county youth through transitional living arrangements, educational support and job placements.

The Woodlands is a 28,400-acre master-planned community located 27 miles north of downtown Houston. It is a project of The Woodlands Development Company, a limited partnership of Morgan Stanley and General Growth Properties, Inc.