Columbus, GA (October 21, 2011) – It was reported at today’s United Way meeting that the campaign is at 36.4% percent of the goal, for a total raised to date of $2,404,631. The report meeting was held at Lieutenant’s in the Hollywood Connection/Ritz 13 to discuss the progress of the campaign.
“It is still early in the campaign and we must continue to push forward with all we have to ensure success,” said David Passman, CEO of Carmike Cinemas, and 2011 Campaign Chair.
Passman singled out some early successes, Kellogg’s has completed their campaign with a 38% increase in giving raising the most ever, over $130,000; Greystone Properties raised over $18,000 for an increase of 30%, under the leadership of Sherriff Heath Taylor, also Chair of the East Alabama Division of the campaign, participation increased to 93% and giving nearly doubled to over $12,000. Lifeline Ambulance Company ran their first ever campaign and raised $3,400.
Passman continued, “the key to the success of these and many other campaigns is that the support begins at the top of the organization, there are in house campaign coordinators that help to conduct employee educational meetings, when you can view the video of real local people being helped and then hear an agency speak, you get such a better understanding of the importance of your gift to our community.”
It was reported that many employee campaigns and events have taken place or will shortly, including Columbus Regional Healthcare System’s cowboy themed campaign, the 7th annual Pratt & Whitney Golf Tournament that raised the most ever and Columbus Water Works and Carmike campaigns.
“It is no secret that the economy continues to be soft and which means that demand for services continues to increase, however we continue to feel positive about the early results, but there is still a long way to go,” Scott Ferguson, president and CEO of the United Way, said. “We cannot be complacent. If you haven’t given or in some cases even asked someone to give, I ask you to do so or to contact the United Way office.”
“The residents of the Chattahoochee Valley have always given in good and bad times, and we don’t expect it to be any different this year,” said Ferguson.
Statistics recently released show that total giving to the United Way from the residents of the Chattahoochee Valley is some of the best in the nation. Combined giving last year during the annual campaign and giving through the CFC, Combined Federal Campaign, mostly at Ft. Benning total nearly $7.8 million which places the area as the 93rd biggest United Way in the nation and that is out of 1,250 United Ways.
“We have to continue to work to educate people- when you make your gift to the United Way you are changing lives by helping people keep a roof over their heads with food in their stomach and helping children stay in school”, said Ferguson.
The United Way is Tweeting and updating Facebook about campaign successes and invites all to become a follower and a fan.
About United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley
United Way improves lives and builds a stronger community by bringing people and resources together from across the Chattahoochee Valley region. United Way serves 53 programs and 26 agencies in Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Russell, Stewart, Talbot and Taylor counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama.
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