DATE: Friday, August 8, 1997                TAG: 9708070208

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   33 lines

COMMUNITY SERVICES GETS EARLY START ON UNITED WAY

Although the annual United Way campaign doesn't get under way officially for several weeks yet, the staff of the Virginia Beach Community Services Board was out in force for a kickoff on Wednesday.

``We're a pace-setter department for city employees,'' said Dennis Wool, the board's executive director, ``so we start early.'' His department is one of three that will be passing the hat ahead of the regular campaign in an effort to generate interest among other city employees. The Fire Department and Department of Libraries will also have early kickoffs.

Last year the 400 employees of the board, which includes the Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse programs, raised $13,500 for United Way. Their goal for this year is $19,410.

Wool figures they'll meet that if each employee donates an extra 15 minutes of pay each month. ``We're asking our staff to give a little bit so everybody gets a lot,'' he said. City employees as a group raised $211,725 during last year's campaign. A goal for the current campaign has yet to be set.

The kickoff event, complete with balloons, hot dogs and door prizes, was held in the parking garage at the former Day's Inn on Bonney Road. The city recently acquired the property, which will eventually house most of the board's services. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY

Edna Hanopol, left, and Carolyn Williams, center, both on the staff

of the Virginia Beach Community Services Board, enjoy the United Way

party.

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