THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 18, 1997 TAG: 9701180532
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KENNAN NEWBOLD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 33 lines
This season's Joy Fund campaign is officially over. And though the campaign didn't quite reach its $300,000 goal, its director considers this a good year - especially because more children were served.
``There were more individuals giving this year,'' Joy Fund director Bert Cake said Friday. ``But we still need the help of South Hampton Roads.''
Cake is public relations manager for The Virginian-Pilot, which operates the Joy Fund campaign.
On Friday, the total was $289,664.10, and the Joy Fund still needed just over $10,000 to reach its goal.
Last year at this time the Joy Fund was lagging behind its $300,000 goal, but ended up meeting it, so Cake said she isn't worried.
Donations trickle in all year, so it's possible to reach the goal some time after the campaign is over, she said.
``We usually receive more money after the holidays when people realize they've had a good Christmas. We're hoping the figures will climb and we'll get more as businesses end their fiscal year.''
This year, the Joy Fund helped 27,982 needy children have a good Christmas - about 200 more than last year. Vouchers were given to parents and guardians of children referred to the Joy Fund by social service agencies, churches and schools.
``We never turn any children away,'' said Cake, who had a ceiling of 28,000 children this year.
The Joy Fund has been helping needy children since 1934. All operational costs are paid for by The Virginian-Pilot.