AREA WIDE UNITED WAY SETS CAMPAIGN GOAL OF $550,000

Following a successful 1993 campaign, the Area Wide United Way set a goal of $550,000 for 1994.

The new campaign goal was announced Wednesday at the Area Wide United Way annual meeting by 1994 President John Mehner.

The 1993 campaign beat its $500,000 goal by more than $6,000.

Outgoing President O.J. Miller said: "When we announced our goal, it was before the floods hit. After the floods, when so many additional appeals for funds went out, I began to wonder if we had been a little aggressive."

He said Campaign Chairman Dennis Marchi was undaunted.

"This is the first year in some time we have had the victory celebration in the same year as the campaign," Miller said.

Mehner said the 1994 goal too is aggressive.

"We have a tremendously solid base for the United Way," said Mehner. "To be able to reach the $550,000 goal we will have to continue to build on that base. We need to increase the payroll deduction plan and increase the participation from agencies."

Miller said the United Way in 1970 first hit $100,000. In 1981 the campaign reached $200,000, in 1984 it reached $300,000, in 1987 it reached $400,000, and this past year it topped $500,000.

"That shows a lot of progress," he said. "But we still have a long way to go to get seven figures up there."

In addition to announcing the 1994 goal, plaques and awards were presented to a number of individuals, businesses and agencies.

Agencies and their 1994 allocations are:

American Heart Association, $23,205; American Lung Association, $11,000; American Red Cross, $60,000; Association for Retarded Citizens, $35,000; Boy Scouts, $34,000; cancer research, $4,039; Cape Senior Center, $10,000; Cape County 4-H Council, $2,000; Civil Air Patrol, $700; Cape Civic Center, $39,000; Easter Seal Society, $20,000; Family Learning Center, $30,000; Gibson Recovery Center, $31,000; Habitat for Humanity, $4,500; Hoover Eldercare Center, $4,000; Jackson Ministerial Alliance, $2,250; Jackson R-2 schools, $2,500; Jackson Senior Center, $8,550; Lutheran Family Services, $14,000; Otahki Girl Scouts, $34,000; Radio Information Service, $2,000; Safe House for Women, $15,000; Salvation Army, $44,900; VIP Industries, $5,000; and USO, $499.