LEBECKI FINISHES YEAR AT UNITED WAY.

Byline: Daily News

SANTA CLARITA - Mike Lebecki just completed a year as chairman of the CEO Advisory Cabinet for United Way Santa Clarita, leading volunteers in raising more than $605,000 from local corporations, employees and individual donors.

The year, marked by terrorism on the East Coast, was a challenging one for the organization that raises money for hundreds of charities, said Lebecki, a local real estate agent.

``The tragedies of Sept. 11th caused a severe downturn in the economy, which only made us more determined to raise as much money as we could to help those in need in the Santa Clarita area,'' Lebecki said.

Lebecki is succeeded by new cabinet Chairwoman Denise Henderson, project manager for Southern California Edison Company. Henderson's chief responsibilities will be to lead the activities of United Way volunteers in the Santa Clarita Valley for the 2002-03 campaigns.

``Our challenge this year is to continue recovery, both emotionally and financially, from the shock of Sept. 11th,'' Henderson said. ``Through educating businesses and employees on the value of United Way, the importance of giving and how contributions help our community remain healthy in every aspect, we can ensure a strong recovery.''

Growth in Santa Clarita has provided new opportunities for United Way to partner with businesses to bolster contribution campaigns. Money raised through United Way campaigns comes from corporate gifts and from individual employees.

``What we're looking for is more companies to open their doors to United Way, to allow their employees an opportunity to give,'' Henderson said.

Other cabinet members are Robert Briggs, vice president and general manager of ITT Aerospace Controls; Preston Chiaro, president of US Borax Inc.; Tom Dierckman, senior vice president of The Newhall Land & Farming Company; Dale Donohoe, president of Intertex General Contractors; Judy Fish, superintendent of the Saugus Union School District; Don Fleming, vice president/general manager of Valencia Acura; Louis Garasi, chief executive officer of Gruber Systems; Del Holland, vice president/general manager of Six Flags California; John Hoskinson, president/COO of Gruber Systems; Tom Lee, retired CEO of Newhall Land; Craig Peters, senior vice president, CB Richard Ellis; Ken Pulskamp, Santa Clarita's acting city manager; John Reardon, president of Valencia Bank & Trust; Dianne Van Hook, president/superintendent of College of the Canyons; Roberta Veloz, CEO of Aquafine Corp.; and Tom Veloz, president of UVDI.

United Way recently announced its new Community Agenda. By examining trends with community leaders and donors, United Way has shaped a vision for the future around three of the most pressing issues affecting the quality of life in Los Angeles County: education, economic empowerment and health and safety.