United Way Hopes to Raise Over $1 Million for Eastern Panhandle

by Pamela Holstein-Wallace

(Eastern Panhandle, West Virginia, September 13, 2005)--Community leaders have announced the combined goal for the United Ways of the Eastern Panhandle’s 2005-2006 Investing in What Matters campaign is to raise $1.275 million dollars. In a breakdown by county, that’s $675,000 for the United Way of Berkeley & Morgan Counties and $600,000 to be raised in Jefferson County.

"We know that we have established an aggressive goal”, said Teresa McCabe, vice president for the United Way of Berkeley/Morgan and campaign chairperson for Berkeley County. “But are confident that our campaign division leaders and volunteers will work diligently to rally community support”, she said. The United Way provides resources to agencies that make a difference in the lives of many, every day.

This is the first year that the three counties in the eastern panhandle, though remain independently governed, have worked together in unity to combine their goals. “No matter what goal we’ve set, it’s never enough”, adds Dr. Steven Nichols, chairman of the United Way of Jefferson County. “Our area is growing rapidly and with that growth, the need for human services increases”, Nichols said.

"The United Ways of the Eastern Panhandle have found ways to collaborate in order to be more effective and efficient with our donor dollars. Our joint campaign effort, which we established last year, is one more step in increasing the community impact of our local United Ways," adds Tom Rokisky, campaign chairman for Morgan County.

For more information on how you can contribute to the United Way office in your area, check out the United Way of Berkeley/Morgan website at www.uwbmc.org, or contact Jan Callen, executive director at (304)263-0603 or visit the United Way of Jefferson County at www.jeffuway.org, contact Sue Pellish, executive director at (304) 725-4483.

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