FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration

(239) 335-2777

LEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT INCREASES UNITED WAY GIVING BY 29 PERCENT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 22, 2004) - Lee County Government Employees raised $93,582 for United Way during its recent annual fundraising campaign - a 29 percent increase over last year's giving of $72,430.

In all, the county has raised more than $324,000 for United Way over the past five years:

• 2004 - $93,582
• 2003 - 72,430
• 2002 - 70,000
• 2001 - 61,676
• 2000 - 26,518

Employees raised the money through pledges and payroll deductions, food sales, raffles and other contests.

Lee County Government has 2,400 employees, operates 25 departments and divisions, and spends about $1 billion annually on an array of projects, programs and services, including Parks & Recreation, Libraries, Roads, Public Safety, Public Transit, Animal Control, Utilities, Community Development, Human Services, Natural Resources Management, Economic Development and the Visitor & Convention Bureau.