Area Wide United Way announces distribution of money raised

In announcing the Area Wide United Way allocations for the coming year on Friday, director Nancy Jernigan praised the work of employee coordinators who helped overcome the challenge of a recession to help bring in the organization's most successful campaign.

Donations surpassed the goal of $895,000 and currently total more than $920,000, with some still to be reported.

During the 2002 campaign, the United Way challenged the employee coordinators at the 100 companies with giving programs to increase the number of people who give and to boost the amount of the gifts. As incentive they informed the coordinators that the 32 agencies that receive United Way funding had sustained more than $500,000 in government cutbacks.

The Lorimier Society also was created to recognize donors of $250 or more.

Volunteers' commitment

"It was just a commitment from our volunteers and CEOs that they will do everything they can to rally their employees," said Jernigan. "We haven't gone back to see how many accomplished that, but we can only assume that they did."

Another boon to the campaign was the arrival of the Best Buy store during 2002. The employees donated $5,000, and the company added another $10,000.

The Perryville Community Task Force became the newest United Way agency this year. The organization provides mentoring programs and other services for youths. It will receive $5,000 for the mentor programs.

Four years ago, the Area Wide United Way began asking agencies to apply for funding for specific programs instead of the United Way providing money to the general agency. The goal was to have a better understanding of where the dollars were going, Jernigan said.

Retired Scott City businessman Larry Dunger was the chairman of the last campaign. He attributed the success to the community's economic stability and to "the giving nature of the people in our communities. When they see a need they rise to the occasion to help meet it."

The agency and program allocations are as follows:

A.P.P.L.E., paperwork assistance, $17,000

American Red Cross, emergency assistance, $80,000

Association for Retarded Citizens, case management, $30,000

Big Brothers/Big Sisters, youth mentoring, $15,000

Boy Scouts,$40,000

Boys & Girls Club, afterschool programs, $20,500; summer programs, $12,500

Cape Children's Fund, emergency services, $3,818

Cape County 4-H, camp programs, $4,000

Cape Senior Center, nutrition program, $15,600

CASA, juvenile child advocacy, $8,000; child protection orders, $9,000

Family Resource Center, Neighborhood Families, $5,250

First Call For Help, information and referral network, $23,100

Gibson Recovery Center, outpatient and residential, $37,000

Girl Scouts, alternative membership, $25,000; contemporary issues, $22,000

Habitat For Humanity, single-family homes, $20,000

Hoover Eldercare Center, Eldercare/Senior Alive Program, $10,000

Jackson Ministerial Alliance, emergency services, $4,000

Jackson R-2 Children's Fund, emergency services, $5,000

Jackson Senior Center, senior food program and pantry, $12,500

Lutheran Family/Childrens Services, child welfare, $17,500

Perry County Task Force, mentoring programs, $5,000

RSVP, volunteer program, $10,000

RSVP/VIC, volunteer program, $15,000

SADI , transportation services, $7,500; consumer assistance, $7,000

Safe House, education/child advocacy, $10,000; counseling, $10,000; hot line/client services/advocacy, $8,000

St. Francis Medical Center, cancer patient care, $3,300

Salvation Army, general assistance to indivisuals, $65,000

Scott City Children's Fund, children's fund, $2,000

Scott City Nutrition Center, education program, $1,000; nutrition program, $2,000

SEMO Network/Sexual Violence, counseling, $17,500

Southeast Missouri Hospital, cancer patient care, $3,300

Success By 6, parent education, $4,000; child care assistance, $13,000; direct assistance, $3,000

Teen Challenge, outreach services, $10,000