From the Dothan Eagle
The Wiregrass United Way is having a very, merry Christmas.
With a few weeks to spare before its final campaign deadline of Jan. 9, the organization has already reached 97 percent of its goal and surpassed last year's fundraising total by $17,000.
"It has been a very, good year," United Way CEO Walter Hill said.
So far, United Way has raised $2,134,569, which will go toward its 36 member agencies in Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties. And it's not over yet.
Hill said United Way is still waiting to receive donation totals from Movie Gallery and McLane Company as well as a number of smaller businesses in the five-county area. Last year, Hill said donations from the two larger companies alone totaled around $32,000.
If all goes well, the organization should meet goal any day now.
"We feel confident we are going to reach the goal," Hill said.
Hill attributes this year's fundraising success to a good economy and his "dream team" of volunteers including campaign manager and former Dothan mayor Alfred Saliba. He said Saliba and his volunteers have approached the campaign with business-like professionalism.
The volunteers set this year's goal at $2.2 million, the highest in the Wiregrass United Way's history. And when the campaign started Sept. 4, they set out to attain the goal by asking past donors to give more and working to recruit new businesses.
Hill said employees' payroll deductions make up the largest part of their fundraising every year. More than 500 local businesses participate now.
United Way funds are crucial to the 36 agencies the organization supports, Hill said. In many cases, the United Way support is used as matching funding to obtain grants.
"Many of our agencies, if not all, would have to cut programs and services without United Way funding," Hill said.
A committee of local volunteers determines how the funds are divided between agencies like House of Ruth, Wiregrass Boys and Girls Club, Spectracare and Wiregrass Habitat for Humanity. Hill said a volunteer committee is in the process of meeting with agency directors now to review their needs for 2004 and will make a final determination of how the funds will be distributed at a Feb. 26 meeting.
Eagle Staff Writer Faith Ford can be reached at fford@dothaneagle.com or 712-7969.
© 2003 Media General