The Duncan Banner

Local News

September 8, 2010

Things are looking up

United Way prepares to kick off campaign

Derrick Miller The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — When the 2009-10 campaign ended for the United Way of Stephens County, the organization fell short of its goal of $423,000 by $30,000.

But Elizabeth Pitts, director of the county organization, said she’s ready to get this year’s campaign rolling. The kick off for the 2010-11 campaign will be from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Duncan High School in the parking lot next to the tennis courts. The rain location is set for the DHS gym.

For this campaign, the goal has been set at $400,000.

“All we need is $7,000 more than we made last year, and we’re there,” Pitts said. “The economy’s looking up. People are becoming more comfortable.”

Pitts said a lot of work has gone into preparing for the campaign kick off and to get ready for the campaign itself. This year’s campaign chair is Cindy Reynolds, and the campaign co-chair is Kevin Hook. This year’s campaign slogan is “Live United.”

“We pretty much work on the campaign year round,” Pitts said. “It takes a lot of work to get the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed.”

She said the agencies had to take a 5 percent funding cut last year because the campaign goal wasn’t reached. The rest was offset by the county organization’s funding reserves.

“We really want to build those reserves back up,” Pitts said. “Whatever we make over $400,000 is icing on the cake.”

Pitts said this year’s campaign kick off is different than any other campaign kick off the organization has ever done. She said this is the first time the United Way of Stephens County has worked hand in hand with Duncan Public Schools.

She said the pep rally will involve many of the school’s youths, from football players to cheerleaders to Drama Club members to various other student leaders.

“I’m really excited about it,” Pitts said.

Pitts said a short campaign video would show during the pep rally. She said the video would inform people about what the United Way is and what it does.

She said the organization helps people through its 15 agencies, including the Duncan Senior Citizens Center, Power Shop and Christians Concerned.

“The United Way gets behind the community, and the community gets behind the United Way,” Pitts said.



— Derrick Miller is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 160, or via e-mail at derrick.miller@duncanbanner.com.

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