There are just 23 days left in the Rowan County United Way campaign and organizers hope the community can help push the fundraising efforts beyond its $1.8 million goal.
The United Way has received enough pledges to take the campaign to $1.18 million or 65 percent of the goal.
“We should be at 75 percent of our goal today to be on track to meet our campaign goal,” said Campaign Chair Dr. Jim Duncan.
Duncan said the amount that’s been raised is wonderful and he’s pleased with those supporters who’ve shared the vision and partnership in the local United Way.
“You can make the difference this year,” Duncan told supporters at Wednesday’s report meeting.
The money raised through the campaign supports 15 agencies, many of whom have representatives who attended the meeting. This week’s meeting was held at Team Chevrolet. Every two weeks a report meeting is held at a different location where individuals report on the goals up to that point and discuss their campaigns.
Some of the agencies that are supported by the campaign also fundraise for the campaign including the Salvation Army of Rowan County. Each staff member at the Salvation Army participated in the agency’s individual fundraising efforts, said Lt. Josh Morse.
“Our team realizes the impact the United Way has far surpassed anything that any one agency can do by themselves,” he said.
Morse said his staff has witnessed first hand the impact through the clients it serves.
“One of every two people who live in Rowan County was served by a United Way agency,” Morse said.
“Don’t give up because the best is yet to come,” he said.
Catherine Hinson, assistant principal at Carson High, said the school has gotten participation from its students, staff and community.
She’s spearheaded the school’s individual campaign for the last four years and says they’ve gotten excellent participation.
“The staff are very generous givers,” she said.
Hinson said she’s also very proud of the students who may not be able to give much, but have been generous as well.
“I’m glad the United Way can count on Carson High School to contribute to meet our goal,” she said.
Hinson was accompanied by Carson senior Kylie Kluttz, 17, who performed the song “9 to 5” made popular by Dolly Parton.
Kluttz appeared in the Carson musical earlier this year playing Parton’s character Doralee Rhodes. Some United Way staff members saw the performance and asked Kluttz to perform on Wednesday.
She was happy to be apart of the meeting saying the United Way is “such a great program that reaches so many people.”
At the end of each meeting three names will be chosen from anyone who donates at least $52 to the campaign. The names are placed in a drawing of 12 finalists who will be in the running to win a car from one of four automotive dealers — Ben Mynatt Nissan, Gerry Wood Auto Group, Cloninger Ford, Toyota, Scion and Team Chevrolet.
The three names chosen were Melanie Clark of Freightliner, Elizabeth Lancaster of Landis Elementary School and Lisa Markham of Healthcare Management.
The 2013-2014 campaign totals thus far are:
• Presidents — $157,434.91 or 40.1 percent
• Chairmans — $235,296.73 or 79.2 percent
• Industrial 1 — $33,010.33 or 59.4 percent
• Industrial 2 — $51,101.20 or 83.8 percent
• Commercial 1 — $34,610.59 or 47.4 percent
• Commercial 2 — $93,863.82 or 101.5 percent
• Commercial 3 — $42,136.70 or 58.9 percent
• Public Employees — $125,597.03 or 91.9 percent
• Education — $161,845.99 or 87.1 percent
• Community Business — $5,167 or 64.6 percent
• Special Gifts — $110,902 or 71.5 percent
• UW Agencies — $30,866.68 or 106.2 percent
• Professionals — $47,053 or 57.8 percent
• Miscellaneous — $58,310.30 or 31.4 percent
• SWAT — $1,203
The next report meeting will be held at noon Nov. 6 at Cloninger Ford.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253. Twitter: www.twitter.com/salpostpotts Facebook: www.facebook.com/Shavonne.SalisburyPost.