UNITED WAY TOPS GOAL OF $625,000

The Area Wide United Way has exceeded the 1998 fund-raising campaign goal of $625,000.

The goal was the highest ever attempted by the local United Way, which serves Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

The exact amount raised will be announced at a victory party from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at Dempster Hall on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. Volunteers and contributors may attend.

The campaign kicked off in September. More than 100 employee campaigns have been conducted and hundreds of individual and corporate contributions received. Some fund drives are still wrapping up.

While the goal has been met, additional funds are needed. The funding requested by member agencies continues to exceed the amount raised in the campaign, said Nancy Jernigan, executive director.

The United Way provides funding to 25 service agencies in the community.

Edythe Davis, chairman of the campaign, gives credit to hundreds of volunteers and employee campaign coordinators in helping achieve this year's aggressive goal.

"Our theme this year is `The Power of U,' and the message we relayed was that we do each have the power to make a difference in our community," said Davis. "We asked people to give until it felt good."

The campaign contribution that pushed this year's effort over the top came from Procter & Gamble Co., which ran its most successful campaign ever, Jernigan said.

P&G employees raised $137,000 added to a corporate contribution of $77,000 for a total donation of $214,000.

United Way contributions have topped $9 million since the drive began in 1954.

Jernigan said the United Way stands out from other solicitations because all funds are invested in services and programs available in the community where the money is collected.

"We have a tremendous service to offer the community, and have had the opportunity to make more people aware of this service each year," Jernigan said.

The top 10 donors to this year's campaign:

Procter & Gamble, St. Francis Medical Center, Dana Corp., Southeast Missouri Hospital, AmerenUE, M&W Packaging Inc., JCPenney, Schnucks, Lee Rowan and Southwestern Bell.