The United Way of Iberia’s annual fundraising campaign kicked off last week with a goal of getting $550,000 in pledges from local companies and local individuals to try to “... create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.”

To raise more than half a million dollars is an ambitious goal, but this community has showed itself generous and caring on many occasions, and United Way organizers are confident the community will step forward once again and help support its efforts.

I’ve been involved with United Way for many years, serving on its board or in other capacities. The past several years I’ve been chairman of the Pacesetter’s Campaign, which seeks to give United Way a head start on its overall goal, by conducting a mini-campaign in August.

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Thanks to the volunteers who worked hard during the Pacesetter’s effort, and the generosity of a number of local businesses and individuals, the Pacesetter’s saw more than $250,000 pledged for United Way for next year.

That means the main campaign was almost halfway to its goal when it kicked off last week.

The second half of the goal is the most significant, especially when many will say the economy is slow and money is tight.

But it’s in that sort of economy when the need for assistance from programs like those United Way supports is needed the most, when more people will be looking for various types of assistance, when more people will need a hand to help lift them up, not just a handout.

United Way supports educational programs that can help low-skilled workers prepare for better paying jobs. It supports efforts that help children do better in school, getting on a path to prosperity, not poverty.

United Way supports programs that provide safety nets for people whose lives are in crisis.

United Way even offers a 2-1-1 telephone information hotline that can help connect people who need help to services they need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

United Way is doing a lot of good in this community and others around the state and across the nation.

When your company conducts its United Way campaign, please participate and please be generous. The payroll deduction program at the heart of most companies’ United Way efforts allows employees to give a bit out of each paycheck, not hurting too much any week but adding up to a significant contribution at year’s end.

And of course corporate donations are needed and encouraged.

If your company is not participating with the United Way drive, please get it involved. Call the United Way office at 364-0424 to find out how easy it is to get involved and help the many good causes United Way supports.

Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Please support the United Way fundraising campaign.

WILL CHAPMAN

PUBLISHER