By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Doughnuts and 15-minute massages seemed to be the secret to a successful United Way campaign for Carson High School.
Principal Kelly Withers told a crowded room at Wednesday’s report meeting those incentives helped the school raise more than $10,000 in its individual campaign for the Rowan County United Way.
Students who raised the most were rewarded with a doughnut party and teachers received massages during their planning periods.
Wednesday’s report meeting was held at Cloninger Ford/Toyota.
The total reported this week was $1.3 million, or 87 percent of the United Way’s fundraising goal. The campaign is short of its goal by a little more than $200,000.
This year’s campaign for Rowan Regional Medical Center was a goal breaker for the hospital, said Don Sedgely, who discussed it at the report meeting.
The hospital’s goal was $75,000 — a number that coincided with its 75th anniversary. The highest goal previously was $86,000 and they surpassed it by raising $92,000 this year.
The hospital campaign ended with a 5K race/walk.
Fisher talked about an envelope left at his desk by a woman who he knew didn’t have much money, but who made a sacrificial donation of $100 to the campaign. He told others that if she could give, so could they.
“Find it, beg for it, crawl for it,” he said of contributions.
Campaign totals so far are:
• Presidents — $330,183, or 105 percent of its goal
• Chairmans — $176,123, or 63 percent
• Industrial 1 — $42,175, or 88 percent
• Industrial 2 — $44,106, or 81 percent
• Commercial 1 — $51,470, or 60 percent
• Commercial 2 — $87,664, or 111 percent
• Commercial 3 — $49,458, or 67 percent
• Public employees — $126,218, or 80 percent
• Education — $188,093, or 98 percent
• Community business — $3,973, or 111 percent
• Special gifts — $ 144,327, or 96 percent
• Professionals — $91,971, or 91 percent
• Miscellaneous — $62,586, or 87 percent
Many contributions come from businesses and organizations, but individuals can submit contributions to the United Way at P.O. Box 5065, Salisbury, NC 28147-0088.
The grand finale celebration will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Norvell Theater, 135 E. Fisher St., Salisbury.
This week, three names were drawn for the car giveaway. They are Tammy Surratt of Rowan Regional Medical Center, Sandra Long of the Rowan County Health Department and Gerald Norman of Parkdale Mills.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.