United Way campaign nears end with less than half goal met

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

The Rowan County United Way campaign is nearing the end, but with less than half its goal met.

There is still time to make a contribution before the 2009-10 campaign ends the second week in November.

So far, the United Way has raised $854,355.84, or 48.1 percent of its $1,776,000 goal.

Campaign Chairman Dr. Alan King urged volunteers to continue fundraising and reach people who may not have even been approached yet.

He told of a church that was raising money to build a new facility. The preacher told the congregation he had good and bad news, King said.

"The good news is there is money to build. The bad news is it remains in your pockets," King told volunteers.

"There's a lot more that remains in people's pockets," he said. All it takes is getting out there and asking.

To remind them why they're asking, King told the story of a young man who played on his son's high school basketball team and was helped by the United Way.

The young man really wanted to join the Rowan YMCA, but he did not have much money and couldn't afford the joining fee.

King went to Jamie Morgan, chief executive officer of the Rowan County YMCA, to see if there was any aid for the young man. The teen received a scholarship to help with costs.

The money raised through the United Way's campaign makes those scholarships possible.

"The agencies are involved in a child's life every day," King said. "We need to reach out to all citizens of Rowan County."

Always the cheerleader, Ronnie Smith, United Way board member and public relations committee member, said following the meeting this campaign affects many in the community.

"Of all the many causes we are asked to serve, this is one of the most important because of the number of people it impacts," he said.

Smith, who has been volunteering and working with the campaign since 1973, asked that people contribute to make the campaign a success.

"This is a tough year. We are at less than half. Please, if you are not already, become a part of the campaign," he said. "It does make a difference for people."

The amount of money raised so far by each group in the campaign:

- President's — $127,954.72, or 45.7 percent of its goal.

- Special Gifts — $106,865.60, or 78 percent.

- Professionals — $65,073.03, or 62.6 percent.

- Chairman's — $115,980.40, or 25.9 percent.

- Public Employees — $118,930.64, or 91.5 percent.

- Community Business — $2,990, or 59.8 percent.

- Industrial I — $17,309, or 20.9 percent.

- Industrial II — $49,914.97, or 58.7 percent.

- Commercial I — $37,381.35, or 57.5 percent.

- Commercial II — $77,298.04, or 90.9 percent.

- Commercial III — $40,914.89, or 53.2 percent.

- Education — $43,493.36, or 19.8 percent.

- Miscellaneous — $50,249.84, or 86.5 percent.

At the end of each meeting, two names are picked to be in the running for a car at the close of the campaign.

Four local car dealerships team up to provide a car to the winner. Those dealership are Ben Mynatt Nissan, Cloninger Ford-Toyota, Gerry Wood Automotive and Team Chevrolet.

The two names drawn for the car giveaway at this week's meeting were Jim Knutson, with the Maxson Furniture, and Catherine Sharpe, from Food Lion.