Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way exceeds $85,000 goal

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way has not only reached the goal for its 2010 campaign, money is still rolling in.

"It's a great day for the United Way," said Greg Colwick, chairman of the 2010 campaign. "This has been our most successful United Way campaign ever. It certainly has been a great year."

So far, $85,368.99 has been collected or pledged -- 100.41 percent of the $85,000 goal for the year. Colwick pointed out that the goal went up $5,000 this year.

Colwick and Glenna Shy, executive director of the local organization, attributed meeting the increased goal to payroll deductions.

"It's been a wonderful experience doing these payroll deductions," Shy said.

Colwick said that since payroll deductions were introduced a few years ago, the structure of how the board members handle soliciting them changed this year.

"This year, we had one person whose duties were to focus on nothing but payroll deductions," Colwick said. "And it really has paid big dividends for us. We had a big increase in payroll deductions compared to the 2009 campaign."

And the campaign isn't over yet. Some outstanding pledges are still expected. Additionally, some companies have not introduced the payroll deductions yet, said Chester Cardwell, who was in charge of the payroll deductions.

For instance, Associated Electric in New Madrid, Mo., will kick off the campaign for its 210 employees Dec. 17.

"They've had outages, which pushed it off," he said.

Any monies still collected will go toward the 2010 campaign, Shy said.

Proceeds benefit 13 area charities, including nutrition centers, the YMCA and Kenny Rogers Children's Center.

"Ninety-nine cents of ever dollar stays right here in Sikeston," Colwick said.

Shy's part-time salary is the only expense.