UNITED WAY HOPES TO RAISE $500,000 THIS FALL

The Area Wide United Way hopes to "Paint A Brighter Tomorrow" by raising half a million dollars in its annual campaign this fall.

The Brighter Tomorrow theme fits well with a campaign that is geared to helping community agencies, said Donna Hanschen, manager of Ameritech and general chairman of the campaign. "It is a reflection of the spirit of the area," Hanschen said.

The $500,000 goal is $20,000 less than last year's goal. In 1994, the United Way fell short of its goal.

Hanschen said this year's goal is realistic and one that could even be exceeded.

The $500,000 goal includes $269,000 in employee contributions and another $177,000 in corporate funds.

The campaign will raise money to help fund 24 service agencies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

A new agency on the United Way roster this year is CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Missouri.

The program involves volunteers, who serve as independent monitors and advocates for abused and neglected children in and out of foster care under the jurisdiction of juvenile court.

In addition to CASA, this fall's campaign will benefit the American Red Cross, Association for Retarded Citizens, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, cancer research, Cape Girardeau Senior Center, Cape Girardeau County 4-H Council, Cape Civic Center, Easter Seal Society-Early Learning Center, Family Learning Center, FISH programs including the food pantry, Gibson Recovery Center, Habitat for the Humanity, Hoover Eldercare, Radio Information Service for the blind and physically impaired, VIP Industries, Jackson Ministerial Alliance, Safe House for Women, USO, Salvation Army, Jackson R-2 Children's Fund, Jackson Senior Center and Lutheran Family Services.

As part of its campaign, the United Way will hold its first Day of Caring Sept. 20. Volunteers will meet for breakfast at the Salvation Army building and then spend the day helping the staffs of United Way agencies.

"It is a brand new thing. People can donate their time," said Hanschen. The goal is to make citizens more aware of the needs of the various service agencies.

Still, it won't take the place of financial donations to the United Way campaign, she said.

United Way funding is vital to the success of many service agencies, she said.

Hanschen said she and others with the campaign cabinet can talk all they want about the campaign. But the campaign's success depends on the general public, she said.

"It is the people here in the Cape Girardeau area that make it happen."