Campaign Update October 18
CHATTANOOGA AREA REACHES 23 PERCENT OF GOAL

Contact: Kelley Nave, APR, at 423-752-0322, 423-304-3579 or kelleynave@uwchatt.org
For Immediate Release Upon Receipt

UNITED WAY REACHES MORE THAN 23 PERCENT OF GOAL AS CAMPAIGN PROGRESSES

??????? United Way of Greater Chattanooga announces that more than 23 percent of the organization's $11.7 million target goal is satisfied, with a total of $2,746,310 pledged to the community campaign as of October 17, 2007.

??????? ?We are about 3 percent behind last year's pace, relative to our ultimate fundraising goal? said Mike Butler, 2007 campaign chair. ?We?d like to be further ahead with such an ambitious target, but part of the lag can be attributed to many companies running their employee campaigns on a later schedule this year. We hope everyone will consider reaching deeper into their pockets to help us achieve our stretch goal of $11.9 million by December.

??????? Despite the slower pace, United Way is optimistic that the campaign will pick up and meet its 2007 goal, thanks to increased campaign participation. United Way development staff, volunteers and loaned executives recruited 35 new companies to this year's campaign. Nineteen are holding employee giving campaigns and 16 will make corporate gifts to United Way. Some of the new campaign participants are Pitney Bowes, Chattanooga Group, Brewer Broadcasting, St. Barnabas Nursing Home, The Gap stores, Wrigley's, J-103 FM and the Life Care centers in Collegedale, Red Bank and Missionary Ridge. A few area companies making corporate gifts for the first time are Little Caesar's Pizza, Mountain City Realtors, Chattanooga Traffic and the Halsten Group.

??????? ?With our first big campaign milestone coming up in a few weeks, we want businesses and individuals in our community to understand that it's not too late to run a corporate giving campaign or to make a difference in our community through a contribution,? said Mr. Butler.

??????? Companies wishing to run an employee campaign or make a corporate gift for the 2007 campaign still can. Individuals who haven?t had the opportunity to give at work but would like to make a donation can contact United Way at (423) 752-0300 or www.uwchatt.org. Send mail-in donations to United Way of Greater Chattanooga at P.O. Box 4027, Chattanooga, TN 37405.

??????? United Way of Greater Chattanooga funds local programs that create opportunities for people to care for themselves and each other, making our community the best at helping people achieve their potential. Thanks to an endowment fund that covers all overhead and administrative expenses, all contributions (100 percent) go directly to services that help individuals and families in greater Chattanooga, north Georgia and northeast Alabama.??????

??????? Call the United Way at 423-752-0300 for more information.

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