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United Way campaign receives $107,000 boost

August 28, 2008 @ 12:18 PM

CURTIS JOHNSON

Herald-Dispatch.com

HUNTINGTON — This year’s local United Way campaign received an early $107,388 boost Thursday.

Three companies — Alcon, Wells Fargo Insurance Services and the Steptoe & Johnson law firm —  participated in the agency’s pacesetter campaign. Organizers hope the companies’ early effort inspires others to donate.

This year, the United Way of the River Cities hopes to raise $1.5 million. The goal would be just under last year’s $1.58 million tally. Executive director Laura Gilliam said organizers believed $1.5 million would be an attainable goal in difficult financial times.

“People are strapped,” she said. “It’s even harder for those people who are receiving assistance from those charities. So now is a key time for people to give back.”

The local United Way provides funds to 31 groups in Cabell, Lincoln, Mason and Wayne counties, along with Lawrence County, Ohio. They include the Tri-State Literacy Clinic and the Well Child Clinic of Lawrence County, along with Boy and Girl Scouts groups in the area.

“When people support the United Way, they support a network of services. They allow us to address critical needs and to focus on the underlying causes problems faced in the community,” Gilliam said.

Organizers used pizza boxes to deliver supplies to start this year’s campaign. Volunteers were scheduled to take the boxes to businesses throughout the Tri-State.