United way kicks off its 85th Community Campaign

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.The United Way of Greater Chattanooga kicked off its 85^th annual Community Campaign Aug. 22 with an early morning Kickoff Rally at Northgate Mall and a Community Luncheon at the Chattanooga Convention & Trade Center. Campaign Chair Nick Decosimo, of Decosimo and Company, announced that the goal of the 2006 campaign is $11.6 million.

??????????? ?We are going to need a 7% increase from everyone in order to achieve this goal,? said Mr. Decosimo. ?That's because one-time gifts designated to help Hurricane Katrina survivors, which were included in the totals last year, will not be there for the campaign this year. Therefore, the gap to make up in dollars this year is quite significant.

??????????? Even so, Mr. Decosimo is confident that the community can rally to help meet our most critical social service needs. ?We?ve looked at the picture from every angle, and I am confident we can make this goal. It will take all of us pulling together to do it. But then, that's what United Way is all about.?

At noon, more than 800 community leaders and representatives from area companies and agencies, including a joint meeting of the Downtown Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, joined United Way for a campaign kickoff luncheon featuring keynote speaker Jim Haslam, founder and chairman of Pilot Oil Company. Corporate sponsors for the event included: First Tennessee, Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough, Tennessee American Water Company, Hazlett, Lewis & Bieter, See Rock City, UnumProvident, AmSouth Bank, Olan Mills, Coca Cola, Joseph Decosimo & Co., Komatsu America Corporation and W.R. Grace.

During his remarks at the Kickoff Luncheon, Mr. Decosimo noted that United Way of Greater Chattanooga already has raised $1,017,218 ?toward the goal, thanks to early campaign efforts over the spring and summer. Mr. Decosimo noted that most United Way partner agencies have completed their employee campaigns already and many realized an overall increase in giving over last year.

?We hope that this is an indication of things to come this fall,? said Mr. Decosimo.

United Way of Greater Chattanooga funds local programs that impact early learning and encourage strong, self-sufficient individuals and families, and give dignity and hope to the most vulnerable in our society. Thanks to an endowment fund that covers all overhead and administrative expenses, one-hundred percent of contributions go directly to these services that help individuals and families in greater Chattanooga, northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. 

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