THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 14, 1995 TAG: 9509120122
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
As a credit manager for WTKR, Marty Joyner usually spends her day billing customers. But on Sept. 7 she was plying a shovel in Suffolk, digging a sewer-line ditch for a Habitat For Humanity home.
``This is the fourth year I've volunteered for this,'' Joyner said. ``It's a good feeling to help out, and we'll be back, but it was hard work.''
Joyner is among several hundred Norfolk residents who labored for charity in the United Way's ``Day of Caring'' program, the kick-off for the group's annual fund-raising drive.
An estimated 56 companies from around the city let employees off - with pay - to perform various tasks for United Way charities. The jobs demanded a little more work than just stroking a check.
``My arms and wrists are still sore,'' said Denise Howard, a Crestar Bank commercial account manager who put in eight hours painting the offices of the Urban League on Church Street.
Eleanor Rathbun, vice president for Henderson and Phillips Insurance in Norfolk, had three employees sign up to pull weeds at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.
``I volunteered last year,'' Rathbun said. ``Everyone comes back from the day feeling tired but very good about themselves.''
The Day of Caring was started four years ago. The program's purpose is to get volunteers more involved with the 69 area charities the United Way supports. Big Brothers, Response Sexual Assault Support Services, St. Mary's Infant Home, and the American Heart Association are among the diverse roster of agencies.
This year'e event brought out about 2,000 volunteer workers from around the southside, at least 100 more than in 1994. There was a 10 percent increase in the number of companies participating.
The kick-off culminated with an afternoon celebration at Mount Trashmore. Dinner and live entertainment were provided for about 1,000 people, a lower-than-expected turnout due to rain. But enthusiasm still ran high.
``They were tired, but the smiles were genuine,'' said Katherine Overkamp, communications associate for the United Way. ``You could tell they felt really good about what they did.''
The United Way of South Hampton Roads has set its 1995-96 fund-raising goal at $15.6 million. The agency hopes to receive that amount before the Nov. 30 deadline. Each city calculates a figure that goes toward the total. Norfolk has it set its mark at $3.6 million.
``I have no doubt we will reach our goal,'' said Robert Keogh, Norfolk's United Way fund-raising chairman and CEO and president of Heritage Bank. ``We surveyed businesses and individuals before setting any figure. I think this a very reasonable goal.'' by CNB