LORIMIER SOCIETY RAISES OVER 40 PERCENT OF UNITED WAY'S GOAL

A professional group organized two years ago to help increase corporate and individual giving to the Area Wide United Way of Cape Girardeau and Jackson was responsible for over 40 percent of the total contributions made to the United Way in 1990, a United Way official said Thursday.

The Lorimier Society was established in 1989.

Craig Felzien, United Way president, said: "The society has two purposes. To increase the overall level of annual support by the community's top individual leaders and local businesses, and to provide the momentum for increased communitywide support of the United Way by setting a positive example for those who give at other levels and encouraging them to upgrade their gifts."

The society is named for Don Louis Lorimier, a French Canadian who settled along the edge of the Mississippi River and established a trading post settlement in 1793. He later become the Spanish commandant of this area. As commandant and businessman, Lorimier is regarded as the founder of Cape Girardeau.

"We started in 1989 with 134 individual members and 25 corporate members for a total pledged amount of $156,350," said Felzien.

"Through 1990, the Lorimier Society has grown to 232 individual donors and 29 corporate donors, and pledged up to $200,971. This represents a 29 percent increase in the amount of dollars pledged in the past two years, and a 65 percent increase in donors."

Felzien said members of the Lorimier Society contributed over 40 percent of the $440,000 donated to the Area Wide United Way last year.

On Wednesday, over 100 members of the society attended the second annual Lorimier Society recognition awards dinner at the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

Felzien said the event pays recognition to the individuals and corporations who made a significant contribution to the Area Wide United Way the previous year.

He noted there are four levels of membership in the Lorimier Society, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.

Bronze membership is extended to individuals who make an annual United Way commitment of $250 to $499. The corporate membership commitment is $1,000 to $2,499.

Silver membership for individuals is a $500 to $749 commitment to the United Way, and $2,500 to $4,999 for corporations.

Gold membership is for those who donate $750 to $999 at the individual level, and $5,000 to $9,999 at the corporate level.

The highest level, platinum, is for individuals who commit over $1,000, and corporations who contribute over $10,000.

A highlight of the recognition dinner was the presentation of the only platinum award to the employees and management of the Cape Girardeau Procter and Gamble plant. Their combined contribution last year to the Area Wide United Way amounted to $145,725.

"The members of the Lorimier Society have exhibited their concern for our community as well as inspired others to do the same," said Felzien. "They have clearly distinguished themselves as leaders to the community and United Way."

Felzien said he wants to see the Lorimier Society continue to grow. "I would like to see every professional in the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area become a member of the Lorimier Society," he said. "It's a smart contribution to make on a local level since one contribution is spread out to more than 24 different agencies."