United Way campaign stands at 73 percent of goal

The Sedalia Pettis County United Way pledge drive stands at 73 percent of its goal of $435,000, according to the most recent report by campaign chairman George Thomlinson.

People have pledged or donated $317,180 for the 2008-2009 campaign year.

Campaign leaders have been trying to find new sources of money to make up for lost pledges from the closing of Best Brands Multifoods and layoffs such as the recently announced 40 jobs cut from Hayes Lemmerz International plant here.

ProEnergy Services led a United Way campaign for the first time this year, and a direct mail campaign aimed at Pettis County retirees has been successful, said executive director Elle Wasson.

Recent pledges were:

 In the industrial division, Pepsi Americas Inc. employees’ and corporate gift came in at $5,931 – an increase of 62 percent over last year. Ditzfeld Transfer had its first employee campaign and matched the employee gifts for a total of $2,388.

In the business division, J.C. Penney’s employees led the way with pledges of $6,000. Adco had  $2,289 and Excel Bank came in with $1,536. Dugan Paint contributed $750, Town & Country Motors and Lowe’s employees both reported in at $650. Bryant Motors employees donated $517, Re-Max of Sedalia donated $290, and Wallace Architects and Williams-Woody Nissan Inc. each donated $250. Impact Sign employees pledged $182. Otten Small Engine Service and Sedalia Outdoor Sports each donated $100.

In the professional division, the total has reached $45,653 with pledges this reporting period from Pearl Vision Center employees $700, Dr. Robert Farkas $500, Drs. Hopkins & Knight $250, and Dr. Kevin Carl donated $200, Sedalia Internal Medicine, Dr. William Woolery and Dr. Alan Allmon each donated $100. The Children’s Therapy Center employees had their annual United Way Chili Cook-off and raised $365 for the United Way. Bothwell Regional Health Center employees had an additional $150 donation to make their total $37,965.
 
The education division stood at $13,901 with an employee donation of $100 from Green Ridge School.

Contributions from the retired residents of Pettis County were $11,515.

In the government and nonprofit division, U.S. Post Office employees have pledged $2,572, Pettis County employees have pledged $606, Chamber of Commerce employees donated $165 and the Association of Federal Employees donated $160.

Campaign leaders want to get the effort finished – and at 100 percent – by the end of November, Wasson said.