United Way of Aiken surpasses fundraising goal

Every Friday night this fall, the Midland Valley High School cheerleaders have urged the football team to victory and yelled their support when the Mustangs emerge with a win.

The cheerleaders celebrated with a different kind of team during a luncheon Friday - a team with deep roots in the community.

At the United Way of Aiken County victory observance for its annual campaign, the cheerleaders unveiled the traditional placards, getting enthusiastic applause as the cards revealed a fundraising total of just more than $2.7 million - about $250,000 more than the goal set last summer.

Contributed in a difficult economic climate, the funds will assist in the social service efforts of more than 30 partner agencies and 60 programs, including the Community Health Clinic of Aiken County.

"Without the support of United Way, we wouldn't be able to give our patients the care they need," said Shirley Brown, the clinic director. "I've worked with United Way for many years and love them. I'm very proud that they more than reached their goal and will think of all the people that are going to be helped."

Jeff Wallace, the campaign chairman for the fall campaign, praised the efforts of many volunteers over the past 10 weeks.

"The community came through in an extraordinary way, as it always does," he said. "The funds that have been raised will go a long way toward meeting the needs of the United Way's partnering agencies."

Four loaned professionals who worked directly for United Way during the campaign - Cathy Patterson of WSI/SRS, Rebekah Floyd of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Wesley Hightower of Savannah River Remediation and Branden Gary of Security Federal Bank - described their experiences. All thanked their companies for paying their regular salaries while they worked on the campaign.

"It's been such a blessing working with such compassionate people," said Floyd, who quoted John Andrew Holmes: "There can be no better exercise for strengthening the heart than reaching down and lifting people up."

Barbara Smoak, the campaign vice chair, will move into the chairman position in 2010. She acknowledged that staff members and volunteers were prepared to give themselves a break this year because of the economic situation.

"All we could do was try our best and depend on the citizens of Aiken County," Smoak said. "They really came through."

United Way President Sharon Rodgers cited the additional fundraisers this year, such as the new Shaw Areva MOX Services golf tournament, as well as matching funds for the Savannah River Site campaign from Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.

"We have a very generous community," she said. "It's not the total that matters, but the number of people we can help. These dollars represent the many folks that are going to get the services they need in this horrible economy. We're thrilled with the community for its support."

Other campaign cabinet members included Liz Steard, Teresa Haas, Dan Lambert, Ellen Luton, LaMesha Pressley, Ronnie Maxwell, Lynnda Bassham and Mary Calabro. Support division volunteers were Pressley, George Boatwright, Sharon Cormier, Richard Pearce, Menda MeMine, Todd Glover, Heidi DiFranco and Dawn Butts.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.