UNITED WAY TOP FUND 42 PROGRAMS

Forty-two programs sponsored by 25 different agencies will be funded by the Area Wide United Way during the year 2000.

The funding choices were announced Wednesday. The amounts to be awarded each program will be determined after the fall campaign drive.

The Association for Retarded Citizens and the Cape Girardeau Civic Center will receive funding for four programs apiece. The ARC programs are Latch Key, Case Management, Recreation and Emergency Food. The Civic Center programs are After School/Tutoring, Saving Our Little Sisters Network, Evening/Weekend Recreational Club and Summer Fun Day Camp.

The Girl Scout Council and the Salvation Army were allocated funding for three programs each. The Girl Scout programs are Alternative Membership Services, Diversity Program and Training, and Contemporary Issues. The Salvation Army programs are Emergency Assistance, Youth Programming, and Disaster Service.

Agencies receiving funding for two programs are the Boy Scouts (Traditional Scout, Classroom Scouting), Court Appointed Special Advocates (Child Advocacy -- 32nd Judicial District, Child Advocacy -- Child Protection Orders), the Easter Seal Society (Special Education & Therapy Services, Inclusive Childcare), the Gibson Recovery Center (Outpatient Treatment Program -- Drugs & Alcohol, Inpatient Treatment Program -- Drugs & Alcohol), the Jackson Ministerial Alliance (Food Pantry Program, Voucher Assistance Program -- Emergency Needs) and the Jackson Senior Center (Senior Nutrition Program, Food Pantry Program).

Other agencies to receive United Way funding are the American Red Cross (Emergency Services), Apple (Paperwork Assistance for Seniors), Cancer Research (Research Programs), the Cape County 4-H Council (Project Support), the Cape Public School Children's Fund (Special Needs of School Children), the Cape Senior Center (Nutrition Program for Seniors) and First Call for Help (Information and Referral Services).

Also awarded funding were Habitat for Humanity (Construction of Single Family Homes), Hoover Eldercare (Eldercare/Senior Alive Adult Day Care Program), Jackson R-2 Children's Fund (Special Needs of Children), Lutheran Family & Children's Services (Counseling), the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (Volunteer Program), the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence (Assistance to Disabled to Enable Independent Living), the Safe House For Women (Emergency Housing for Abused Women & Children) and the Scott City Nutrition Center (Nutrition Program for Seniors).

All the programs funded by the United Way are in the health and human services field. The agency also will allocate part of its funds for one-time or venture grants designed to start up a program or finance a special project.

The United Way has shifted its focus from funding agencies to funding programs. In line with that it is under taking an assessment of community needs and resources.

The United Way has raised more than $9 million in the community since its beginning in 1954. A record $692,000 was raised last year. The increase over the previous campaign was the fifth largest in the nation in communities of similar size.

The 1999 campaign theme will be "Make Someone Happy." The campaign will kick off on Aug. 26, with the goal to be announced that day.