P&G DONATION BOOSTS CAMPAIGN

The Procter & Gamble Co. and its employees presented United Way officials with checks worth more than $143,000 at a ceremony Monday at the Cape Girardeau plant.

P&G's contribution was slightly more than a quarter of the campaign goal of $520,000. The contribution pushed collections to $354,695 or 68 percent of the goal.

Cape Girardeau Area Wide United Way Board President John Mehner received an $89,056 check from P&G employee representative Roger Johns of Jackson.

P&G technician Dwight Kiefer of Perryville presented a $54,400 check to United Way Campaign Chairman Ron Hopkins from the company's Corporate Fund.

The $143,456 contribution represents about $10 a month for each of the company's 1,200 employees.

P&G Plant Manager Joe Doner called the United Way donations "a positive" way to support groups that help the community.

Some 140 people contributed at least $250 each at P&G and qualified for membership in the Lorimier Society.

"The generosity of our employees is remarkable," Doner said, adding that the results speak for themselves in that the company provided 27.6 percent of the campaign goal.

As part of the check presentation, Johns was recognized for his special efforts to help United Way this fall, combining his fondness for motorcycle riding with a good cause.

He solicited pledges from his family and friends of 76 cents for every mile he rode his motorcycle within a 24-hour period.

In a little more than 18 hours, Johns made round trips from his hometown of Jackson to St. James, Memphis, Tenn., Cairo, Ill., and St. Louis.

He traveled 1,010 miles and collected $760 from his pledges for the United Way.

"Knowing that I was getting 76 cents a mile helped keep me going," Johns said.

Another special event for the United Way was Garfield's first anniversary celebration in the West Park Mall.

About $1,600 was raised in two hours on Oct. 25 as patrons contributed $10 for drinks and snacks.

The United Way provides money for 26 service agencies throughout the year. More than 90 percent of the money contributed is distributed to the agencies.

The 1994 campaign will continue this month, Hopkins said. Several large contributions are still expected.