UNITED WAY: 1991 CAMPAIGN WAS A RECORD-SETTER

More than a half-million dollars was raised during the 1991 Area Wide United Way Campaign in Cape Girardeau County, the largest amount donated to the agency in its 37-year history.

Results of the campaign were announced Friday during the Area Wide United Way annual meeting and awards luncheon in Cape Girardeau.

Outgoing General Campaign Fund Chairman Harry Rediger said contributions to the 1991 Area Wide United Way totaled $545,222, or 5 percent above the goal of $470,000. In 1990, the United Way campaign fell short of its $500,000 goal, raising only $440,000.

Money donated to the United Way is distributed to 25 agencies and organizations that serve the people of Cape Girardeau County.

Rediger, who has served three times as general fund chairman, said the 1991 campaign "was a story of successes, disappointments and opportunity."

He said the successes included major increases in employee giving, while the disappointments included less than expected increases from some divisions and the late ending of the campaign.

But Rediger said there is also opportunity for continued growth of the Area Wide United Way.

He said there was an increased awareness and visibility of the Area Wide United Way in the area and local communities, and the quality of the campaign staff continued to improve last year.

Rediger called special attention to major increases last year in employee giving, particularly by employees of Lee-Rowan Manufacturing Co. of Jackson, who increased their gifts by 136 percent, and Cape Girardeau Public Schools, who increased their contributions by 183 percent.

Other employee groups cited by Rediger were:

Southeast Missouri Hospital, up 75 percent.

Biokyowa, Inc., up 73 percent.

City of Cape Girardeau, up 60 percent.

Rediger paid special tribute to the employee and corporate gifts from the Cape Girardeau Procter and Gamble paper products plant.

"What would the Area Wide United Way be without Procter and Gamble?" said Rediger. He noted 1991 P&G employee and corporate gifts to the fund drive were again over the six-figure mark. He said P&G employees donated more than $100,000, while the P&G corporate donation was over $150,000.

Other major United Way donations last year came from JC Penney and Schnuck's, with gifts of more than $10,000.

Rediger said $454,447 was donated to the general fund. Other money came from special events and promotions, including the West Park Mall "Cracker Jack" promotion, which raised $24,404, and the fourth annual United Way Golf Tournament that brought in $9,643. A new program, YELL for Newspapers, raised $11,748 for the United Way agencies.

Outgoing United Way President Craig Felzien reminded all present that this year is the 37th anniversary of the Area Wide United Way, and the eighth anniversary of the merger of the Cape Girardeau United Way and the Jackson Community Chest.

Felzien commended the people of Cape Girardeau County for their strong support of the United Way. He said most communities twice the size of those involved here raise less money than was donated to United Way here last year.

"I still believe we have the potential of being a $1 million United Way county," he added.

United Way Executive Director Dorothy Kline said 1991 was one of the busiest ever for the Area Wide United Way. She said upcoming events this year will include the Main Street Opry on Feb. 23, at the Arena Building; the fifth annual United Way Golf Tournament on Aug. 10; and YELL for Newspapers day in September.

Area Wide United Way President-Elect Bob Robins paid tribute to the work done by Felzien, noting Felzien was responsible for two very successful Area Wide United Way programs last year, The Lorimier Society and YELL for Newspapers.

Robins said The Lorimier Society is now responsible for more than half of the total contributions made to the Area Wide United Way.

As the new president of the 1992 Area Wide United Way, Robins said his goals will include continued support of United Way volunteers, reaching for new campaign goals, serving more people in the area, and expanding the geographic area of the fund campaign.

Other new officers elected at Friday's meeting were: vice president, O.J. Miller, president of Mercantile Bank; and treasurer, James Erlacker, partner in charge, Kerber, Eck and Braeckel.

Board members elected to three-year terms are Tom Anderson, Pat Donaldson, Charles Daniel, James Erlacker, Ken Hosp, Rick Lambert, John Mehner, Bob Robins, Judy Thorpe and Gera Schemel. Elected to a one-year term was Joyce Hinze. Retiring from the board of directors are James Bowman, Joe Gambill, Kent Puchbauer and Larry Dew.

Pat Allen, recently retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., will serve as the 1992 Area Wide United Way Campaign chairperson.