United Way campaign reaches 47.6 percent of goal at first report meeting

Published 12:44 am Thursday, October 12, 2017

SALISBURY — Just over a month into its fall fundraising campaign, Rowan County United Way has raised 47.6 percent of its $1.47 million goal.

At the campaign’s first report meeting — held at noon Tuesday at Ben Mynatt Nissan on Jake Alexander Boulevard — members of the United Way hosted a fake game show, gave away a free year of Cheerwine and drew names for the winner of a new car.

Speakers included Miriam Ramirez, volunteer executive director of Capstone Recovery Center, Capstone graduate Wendy Barbee and Deputy Chief Shon Barnes of the Salisbury Police Department.

The three talked about how the funding that United Way provides helps to combat the city’s opioid crisis.

“We need your help,” Barnes said. “United Way is part of that, having great organizations like Capstone (and) others. Coming together as a community is the only way to solve these problems.”

The special gifts division raised the highest percentage of its goal — 87.8 percent. The division raised $118,473 of its $135,000 goal.

The Commercial 2 division raised the next highest percentage, 84 percent. The division raised $58,806.05 of its $70,000 goal.

The agencies division was next, with 74.5 percent of its goal raised. The division raised $23,100 of its $31,000 goal.

The Industrial 2 division raised 59.7 percent of its $84,000 goal — $50,168.02.

The presidents division raised 58.5 percent of its $245,000 goal — $143,325.92.

The professionals division raised 52.4 percent of its $86,000 goal — $45,094.

The chairman’s division raised 44.6 percent of its $175,000 goal — $78,046.

The public employees division raised 43.5 percent of its $128,000 goal — $55,700.78.

The miscellaneous division raised 40.3 percent of its $168,540 goal — $68,000.

The Commercial 3 division raised 31.6 percent of its $71,204 goal — $22,491.38.

The Industrial 1 division raised 10.7 percent of its $65,000 goal — $6,980.

The education division raised 9.4 percent of its $153,256 goal — $14,400.85.

In total, the 13 divisions raised $703,215.47, or 47.6 percent of this year’s $1,476,000 goal.

Campaign co-chairman and Salisbury City Manager Lane Bailey finished the meeting by asking that the volunteers “keep working hard.”

“The agencies are too important for us not to,” Bailey said.

The next report meeting will be Oct. 25 at Team Chevrolet.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.