By Jessica Coates

jessica.coates@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The theme for the Rowan County United Way fall campaign is “Better Together – Giving. Working. Growing.”

According to Michelle Patterson, chairwoman of the United Way public relations committee, the theme “reflects our campaign cabinet, community, the spirit of the United Way and its agencies.”

“We are better together,” Patterson said in a news release sent out last week. ”We can accomplish so much when we work together.”

Along with the new theme, a new campaign logo was released. The logo features four figures — one blue, one gray, one red and one yellow — forming a circle and joining their hands together.

In the same news release, board of directors President Henry Diggs said that the use of multicultural people working together in the logo shows the cooperation that already exists among the campaign staff.

“The logo conveys the message we would like to see for United Way and our community,” said Diggs. “We are better together in achieving identified goals and expectations that will lead to a much healthier community, as we all work together for the overall good.”

The campaign will begin in September and run through mid-November.

Rowan County United Way has run a fundraising campaign every year since the organization was chartered in 1956.

“Our campaign is important to the health and human service needs for the citizens of Rowan County,” said Jackie Harris, resource development and marketing director for United Way. “Our 16 agencies provide much-needed services from the young to the old.”

The 16 agencies that will benefit from this year’s campaign are Rowan County Literacy Council; The Arc/Rowan; Rowan Vocational Opportunities; Boy Scouts, Central N.C. Council; Communities in Schools of Rowan County; Rowan County YMCA; Rowan County Youth Services Bureau; American Red Cross; Rowan County Rescue Squad; Salvation Army; Trinity Living Center; Rufty-Holmes Senior Center; Meals on Wheels; Families First Inc.; Family Crisis Council; and Smart Start Rowan.

Harris said the campaign depends on companies and individuals to raise the necessary money.

She said that any company that has not participated and wants to do so should call the Rowan County United Way office at 704-633-1802.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.