Well done, United Way of Norman.

Friday's United Way Appreciation Luncheon was marked by the personal, oftentimes powerful testimony of Norman notables Clarke Stroud, Dr. Joe Siano, Steve Boyer, David Rambo and Kristin Collins.

"You are Norman, and it's your support that helps so many people here in Norman," Stroud told several hundred people gathered at Journey Church, in opening remarks.

Stroud, University of Oklahoma vice president for student affairs and dean of students, talked about fly fishing in Colorado with "Tom," an old high school friend who'd been stricken with a debilitating form of muscular dystrophy. Stroud described holding up Tom in the rapids of White River while the two landed the "fish of a lifetime," a 25- to 27-inch rainbow trout.

"The United Way is about us participating with members of the community to hold them up when they need it," he said. "We're all in this together as we share together, cry together, win together and love together. We're all in the middle of White River, all landing that big slab," Stroud said.

Siano, superintendent of Norman Public Schools, spoke about the diversity of students in the school district and called education "the great equalizer."

"If you're looking to kill the ogre, education is the way to do it," he said.

The United Way of Norman assisted 850 students with school supplies this past year. Forty-six percent of students qualify for free and reduced-price lunches. During the summer, 26,000 meals were provided to students, he said.

"The work we do provides a safety net and reduces the causes of crises. I challenge you to continue that work," Siano said.

Norman resident Steve Boyer described his battle with depression, alcoholism and mental illness.

"I went into rehab and got my head together," Boyer said. But having burned his bridges, Boyer said he had "nowhere to go" when discharged.

Boyer said he was accepted into Transition House, a United Way agency that provides community-based mental health services to clients in transition to community living.

Boyer described the help he's received over the past six months at Transition House, attending groups staffed by Norman Addiction Information and Counseling Inc. and receiving assistance with medical needs from Health For Friends -- all United Way member agencies.

"Because of you, all this is happening. I want to thank you," he said.

Former judge and longtime Norman attorney J. David Rambo spoke about the work he's doing as a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels.

Rambo described some of the people he sees, while he and other drivers deliver 1,200 meals daily: Andy, who requests dog food for his puppy and close companion, Edna, "a special lady," Kevin, who's in a wheelchair and Veril, who's "so appreciative and makes my day."

"Those are the kind of people you support day in and day out," he said.

Collins, president of the United Way of Norman, said "change seems to be the topic of the season" in recent political debates.

"If someone wants to see positive change, come to Norman, Oklahoma," she said. "For 51 years, the United Way of Norman has been doing amazing work to improve the quality of life for thousands."

Commenting on Money Magazine's annual ranking of the best places to live in America, Collins said: "You can't tell me Norman is the sixth best place to live based solely on economic indicators."

There's still lots of work to be done, Collins said.

"The great news is you're here and we're standing in the gap. Together we're working hard, have worked hard and will continue working hard ..."

Before closing, Collins quoted Leo Rosten: "I cannot believe that the purpose of life is simply to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that we lived at all."

For more information on agency services, or to make a donation to the United Way of Norman, call 329-2025.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com