Lake Community Action Agency

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LCAA: "Working for Economic Security in Our Community" Grant us a common faith that man shall know bread and peace - that he shall know justice and righteousness, freedom and security, an equal opportunity and an equal chance to do his best." It is my pleasure to bring you greetings on the Forty-Fifth Year Anniversary of the Lake Community Action Agency, Inc. We are honored to have you here tonight to help us commemorate 45 years of rendering serivces to the children and families of Lake County. On February 3, 1966, Lake Community Action Agency, then known as Lake County Economic Opportunity, Inc. (LCEO), became one of the one thousand community action agencies created to carry out the mission, helping people help themselves to become self-sufficient. Tonight, I personally salute those warriors who served as officers and original subscribers to the articles that incorporated this great organization for the low-income and less fortunate. I also salute those persons who were chosen as staff in those early years to serve as advocates and organizers of this great movement. Today, 45 years later, we are still fighting the war. In the midst of plenty and a country that is rich in resources, poverty today is even higher than when the war on poverty began in the 60's. Unemployment in the State of Florida has reached the highest in history and the number of people in poverty is now at 14.6% of the total population of the country. In the past two years more people have joined the ranks of being poor than ever before. The people that are in need and requesting the assistance of our services and other human services agencies are people who have never had a need for such services. They are the new faces of poverty, and as the request and need for assistance have increased, the financial resources have dwindled or being threatened of being cut and some case being zeroed out in many of the states and federal budgets. LCAA has played an important role in the lives of thousands of families during the past 45 years and a greater role during the past two years and presently. LCAA has not taken a backseat to any worthy agency assisting the disadvantaged. We are in the fore front when it comes to building partnerships and providing services to help people become self-sufficient. One reason we have been so successful is our ability to build partnerships. They are the life of Lake Community Action. When people who share the same mission come together and pool their resources more can be accomplished for a greater number of people. We are so grateful for our partners and we salute all of them. The real response to bringing about some degree of family self-sufficiency and changing the condition of this economy will lie in our commitment and investment into the areas of education, training and economic development that creates gainful employment and re-employment of people in the county, state and country. We here at LCAA are committed to developing partnerships at the local, state and federal levels to make sure that each and every opportunity exist for the children and families here in Lake County and the surrounding Work Force region. We will continue to develop an economic development plan and initiatives to not only help make the families self-sufficient through gainful employment, but will assist the agency to becoming self-sufficient and sustainable. This will result in a better economy for the entire community. It is vital that Lake Community Action Agency continue its legacy of "Helping people, Changing lives." This is a challenge, but we remain steadfast in our resolve. The commitment of the board, policy council, staff, volunteers, and community partners and yes, the involvement to the community has brought LCAA to this point in history. I would like to pause to commend the many individuals who have volunteered as board members over these 45 year, the tousands of volunteers, former and present staff and those from the public and private sectors and target areas who have toiled in the trenches furing this period: 1966 - 2011. We believe that all Americans deserve an opportunity to reach their maximum potential and we know that Lake County along with America has the capacity to offer each of its citizens this opportunity. The tools needed to continue this true partnership toward equity for all has been developed 47 years ago and 45 years ago called, "Community Action Partnership with Government." Yes, over the past 45 years we have built a proud record of achievements and with your continued support and commitment to the mission of Helping People to Help Themselves to achieve self-sufficiency this great legacy will continue. Thanks for allowing me to serve you for 42 years with the vision to make LCAA the "Premier Agency" in building partnerships that provide professinal services to children and families. I salute and applaud each of you on this 45th Anniversary of Lake Community Action Agency, Inc. God's blessings upon LCAA and each of you, James H. Lowe, CCAP, Executive Director

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Lake Community Action Agency
501 North Bay Street
Eustis, Florida 32726
Phone: 352-357-5550 ~ Fax: 352-483-2298

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