UNITED WAY REACHES 1997 CAMPAIGN GOAL

The Area Wide United Way went over the top, surpassing the 1997 campaign goal of $550,000.

And contributions are still arriving. The exact amount raised will be announced at a Victory Party planned Jan. 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Dempster Hall Commons Area at Southeast Missouri State University. Volunteers and contributors are invited.

The Board of Directors and volunteers involved in this year's campaign have been working since January 1997. Campaign chairman Jackie Griffith said the "Mission: Possible" theme was chosen because it exemplifies characteristics of caring for others found in our community.

"When the story is told of an individual in our community and the way one of the United Way agencies has impacted their life, people want to give," said Nancy Jernigan, executive director.

Increases were experienced in the employee division, with more than $295,000 raised by more than 75 employee groups. Companies that allow employees to contribute to the United Way through payroll deduction are those that have the most successful in-house campaigns, Jernigan said.

As the campaign draws to a close, the United Way board of directors meet to determine how much money each of the 24 United Way agencies will receive.

"The process begins in February," Jernigan said. Request forms are mailed to agencies. Board members review each agency to determine who will be eligible to receive money from the upcoming campaign. Funds are raised in the fall and allocated just prior to the beginning of a new year.

Nearly $400,000 will be distributed to the 24 agencies to help them provide programs and services.

Five percent of money is set aside for emergency funding in case of a natural disaster or special need. Operating and campaign expenses account for 15 percent of the money raised.

Funds that exceed $550,000 will be offered for additional programming in the form of one-time grants. The application process for these funds will be announced next month.

Agencies receiving money from the 1997 campaign are:

American Red Cross, $65,000

APPLE Project, $2,500

Association of Retarded Citizens, $35,000

Boy Scouts, $35,000

Cancer research St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital, $7,323

Cape County 4-H Council, $2,500

Cape Girardeau Senior Center, $10,000

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), $4,000

Cape Girardeau Civic Center, $12,000

Easter Seal Society, $27,000

FISH, $3,000

Gibson Recovery Center, $35,000

Girl Scouts, $37,000

Habitat for Humanity, $9,000

Hoover Eldercare Center, $7,000

Jackson Ministerial Alliance, $2,500

Jackson R-2 Children's Fund, $4,778

Jackson Senior Center, $10,000

Lutheran Family and Children's Services, $17,500

Radio Information Services, $2,000

RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), $1,000

SADI (SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence), $2,000

Safe House for Women, $20,000

Salvation Army, $47,000