FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
              (239) 335-2777

LEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT TOPS LAST YEAR'S UNITED WAY GIVING

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 12, 2003) - Lee County Government Employees raised $72,375 for United Way during its recent annual fundraising campaign - topping last year's giving of $70,000 and the $61,000 that was raised in 2001.

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

Lee County Government has 2,300 employees, operates 25 departments and divisions, and spends more than $800 million 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.