Businesses set pace for annual United Way campaign

More than 30 local businesses and organizations are getting this year's United Way campaign off to a good start through the Pacesetter portion of the 2007 combined fund drive.

Pacesetter companies are organizations that start solicitations for the United Way ahead of the public campaign, which runs through Dec. 31.

The Pacesetter Campaign ends Sept. 30.

Businesses interested in becoming Pacesetters are asked to call the United Way at 752-7266.

According to a press release from United Way, the theme of this year's fundraising campaign is "Reaching New Heights: Together We Matter." The goal is to exceed the record $920,000 raised last year.

The public portion of the campaign officially begins on Monday, Oct. 1.

Last year, Pacesetter companies and their employees pledged nearly $200,000 to benefit United Way agencies.

In addition to collecting pledges, Pacesetter companies and their campaign coordinators have planned creative efforts and activities to benefit the United Way.

Last year, United Way member agencies helped nearly 52,000 people in need. Ninety-nine percent of all funds raised stay in local communities.

Donations benefit the United Way and its 26 member agencies and services in Flathead County.

Current member agencies are the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, Eagle Transit, First Call for Help-Net, Flathead Attention Home, Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Literacy Volunteers, Mental Health Crisis Line, Nurturing Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Samaritan House, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center, and the Violence Free Crisis Line/Abbie Shelter.

Services of the United Way include CASA for Kids, Disaster Care Services, Leaders of Tomorrow, Teens in Crisis, Teen Night and the United Way Volunteer Center.

The United Way also supports emergency food and shelter programs in Northwest Montana: Bread Basket, Community Kitchen, Community Harvest Food Bank, DOVES, Helping Hands, Hot Springs Food Pantry, Lake County Mental Health Center, Libby Food Pantry, Lincoln County Crisis Solutions, Mission Valley Food Pantry, Neighbors in Need, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Salvation Army Feeding Program, Thompson Falls Food Pantry and Troy Food Pantry.

Donors may choose how to donate, including cash, payroll deductions, charging to a credit card, direct billing or through automatic bank transfers. Donors also may designate which member agencies or nonaffiliated partner agencies or the Montana Shares Federation they want to receive their gifts.

Local volunteers determine where the donations are spent. Last year, more than 100 community members participated in the local Citizens Review Panel process to allocate funding and set the monetary goal.

For more information, call 752-7266.