ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 13, 1996 TAG: 9612130096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE
The Christian Coalition has had a record fund-raising year, reporting more than $24.9 million in contributions in 1996.
The amount represents a 17 percent increase from the coalition's prior record of $21.2 million in 1994. The group's collections were up 33 percent from 1995.
The Chesapeake-based public interest group, founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, intensified its fund raising this year in hopes of influencing the presidential and congressional races.
The coalition said it expects to end the year with a $500,000 surplus.
The conservative group also said in a news release Tuesday that it distributed a record 46 million voter guides despite a suit by the federal government alleging that the tax-exempt coalition illegally coordinates its political activities with the Republican National Committee.
The coalition says it is a nonpartisan group and is fighting the federal government's suit.
LENGTH: Short : 28 linesby CNB