ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 14, 1996 TAG: 9609160087
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
This year's fund-raising campaign - which kicked off Friday with the annual Day of Caring - represents something of a tight-rope act for those supported by the area's primary human services safety net, the United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd.
Locally, 36 human service agencies and thousands of people depend on United Way donations for their well-being. To serve their diverse needs, the campaign has set a goal of $900,000.
That's the same target that last year's campaign was unable to attain, even though the $858,000 it raised represented a record amount.
In 1995 economic trends such as downsizing, restructuring and corporate buyouts significantly reduced United Way donations. That was particularly true of workers who retired last year from Virginia Tech and Radford University. As a group, state employees contribute the most sizeable chunk of local campaign dollars.
United Way officials can't predict how state employee donations will run this year. But they say they've learned from last year's experience and have adjusted the 1996 campaign to emphasize other strengths.
New businesses have joined United Way's list of corporate donors or launched employee campaigns. And volunteer participation in this year's fund drive is strong, said Kymn Davidson-Hamley, executive director.
Campaign chairman Dan Specht said early indications of support make him confident the 1996 goal will be reached.
The United Way's partner agencies hope so. Many of them count on United Way donations for their annual operating expenses.
Demand for their services isn't decreasing but public funds for their agencies are, Davidson-Hamley said.
People who need food, clothing and shelter, or suffer from maladies such as drug abuse or domestic violence, draw on community resources in ways most citizens often don't realize, she said.
"We're trying to communicate the need, that it becomes your problem, too."
The 1996 campaign is emphasizing that point with an up-beat tone. This year's theme, "Paint A Better Tomorrow," is pitched to encourage donors and make them feel good about participating in the United Way.
Specht said he wants the community to get a clearer picture about the services United Way agencies render year-round.
"It will be a challenge. But the support is out there," he said.
On Friday about 150 volunteers from 23 local businesses and organizations began the campaign's two-day program to see how United Way agencies work.
At about 40 project sites workers took a day off from their regular jobs to perform a variety of tasks, from painting, carpentry, cleanup, inventory and kitchen work to washing emergency vehicles.
Davidson-Hamley said the United Way will place a strong emphasis on wrapping up the 1996 campaign by Nov. 15, so it won't compete with other worthy causes for donations during the year-end holidays. Last year's campaign ran until the end of January.
The United Way says 84 cents of every dollar donated to the campaign goes directly to support local member agencies. The other 16 cents covers administrative, fund raising and fund distribution costs.
Officials said anyone interested in donating to the campaign who isn't contacted at work or by mail can call the local office at 381-2066.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. Volunteers (from left) Fran Scartelli,by CNBCarolyn Stewart and Karen Lucas prepare one of the examining rooms
for painting at the Free Clinic of the New River Valley. Scartelli
and Stewart are employees at Carilion Radford Community Hospital,
and Lucas is with Federal Mogul Corp. color.