FOLEY, Ala. — The United Way of Baldwin County received a check for $331,395 on Wednesday, the largest single donation in the agency’s history.

Rebecca Byrne, executive director of UWBC, called it an “extraordinary gift,” one that couldn’t come at a better time.

Byrne accepted the check from attoney Buddy Brackin of the law firm Brackin McGriff and Johnson PC and attorney Britton Bonner of the law firm Armbrecht Jackson LLP at a noon press conference held at UWBC’s Foley office. Alan Schott of Daphne, chairman of UWBC’s Board, was on hand for the check presentation.

The money is part of a court-approved settlement of a class action lawsuit brought by Wright Drugs of Foley in 2002 concerning what Brackin said were abuses that occurred in connection with a nationally issued discount pharmacy card.

According to Brackin, Wright Drugs initiated the nationally certified class action suit against the issuer of the alleged discount cards and Wright became a part of the class action suit. The firms with which Brackin and Bonner are associated represented Wright Drugs in the case.

“Seeking to right a wrong,” is the way Brackin described Wright Drug’s legal action that was filed in the Circuit Court of Baldwin County.

Circuit Court Judge Robert Wilters approved the settlement and disbursement of what Bonner said was over $1.3 million.

Besides the check to UWBC, Bonner said Mercy Medical received $110,000, while four agencies in Mobile would receive $110,000 apiece.

Bonner did not name those agencies since he said they might not yet have received their monies.

The remaining $300,000 to $400,000 would go to the United Way of San Diego, Calif., and one other charity that Bonner said had a “companion suit” where the discount cards were concerned. Bonner described the discount cards as being sold to the general public under the guise that pharmacies would accept them.

Asked about the process whereby agencies like UWBC were chosen to be recipients of the settlement money, Bonner said a criteria was developed that included, for one, charitable agencies that provide prescription medication to the uninsured.

Byrne noted that UWBC has several agencies with which it partners who provide prescription drugs to uninsured residents.

She also noted the historic gift is “above and beyond” UWBC’s annual campaign goal that will be announced on Sept. 1. She called the $331,395 “momentum for our campaign.”

Shott, who works for Baldwin County EMC, said not only is UWBC seeing an increase in clients — many of them turning to the agency for help for the first time — but pressure is being put on contributors as well due to the current economy.

“This money comes at a great time for United Way and Baldwin County and should help us,” Shott said.

Concerning announcement of UWBC’s Annual Campaign Goal in a few weeks, Shott said, “Suffice it to say, Baldwin County United Way Board of Directors feels that we want to draw a line and say the people of Baldwin County will rise to the occasion and make sure we do all we can to assist people.”