UNITED WAY AT HALFWAY MARK OF CAMPAIGN

This year's Area Wide United Way campaign drive is ahead of schedule. Already fund-raising and contributions have reached almost $275,000, half of the campaign's $550,000 goal.

A big part of its success at the halfway point has been significant increases in giving by employee groups in the early going of the campaign. Among groups that have help boost contributions early on are: the city of Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Drury companies, JCPenney, Schnucks, Southwestern Bell, Union Electric, DANA and Procter and Gamble.

Not to be overlooked, of course, are the dozens of other employers and employees who have given to the cause and will continue to do so as the campaign wears on.

People of the area always have come forward when United Way calls to make sure adequate funding will be available for the many organizations United Way supports in Cape Girardeau County.

With that spirit of giving, there is little doubt that as the campaign moves past the halfway point, it rapidly will approach or exceed this year's goal once again.

That's something to be proud of.