AT&T Mobility of Bothell received the Spirit of Snohomish County — Community Partner award at the United Way of Snohomish County’s Sept. 10 breakfast. The event is United Way’s annual report to the community and a kick-off for the annual fund-raising campaign.

The Community Partner Spirit Award recognizes an organization or corporation that exemplifies the most comprehensive, measurable commitment to building strong and caring communities.

AT&T Mobility has a year-round commitment to the community through its interaction with United Way. Monthly fund-raising events keep philanthropy uppermost at AT&T, whose total employee and corporate giving is over $97,000. Employees also serve on United Way’s board of directors, committees and all three vision councils. In addition to the Volunteer Expo and Days of Caring, frequent volunteer projects also benefit both the community and the company, notes AT&T’s Jim Lovvorn, director of business data support.

“Our involvement with United Way is very important to us,” says Lovvorn. “The more engaged that an employee is, the more likely they are to stay with us and be happier.”

Nationally, the culture of community involvement is evident in AT&T’s national “Spirit of Giving” award that focuses on unifying employees and energizing giving. Locally, AT&T’s leadership also relies on United Way’s careful stewardship of dollars and the agency’s diligence in identifying exemplary programs, Lovvorn noted.

United Way Campaign Chair Matt Reinhard, Rhino Ventures, LLC, announced that $770,000 has already been raised for the 2009 campaign by seven “Pacesetter” companies who ran fund-raising campaigns in the spring, donating on average 15 percent more than last year. “We all know that when times are tough, the needs increase,” Reinhard said. “Strong communities respond well in challenging times and Snohomish County is a strong community.”