News Editor

Dec. 16, 1999 10 PM

The Pike County United Way has successfully met its goal of $110,000 for the 1999 campaign.

David "Doc" Kirby, chairman of the Pike County United Way, said the ’99 campaign will officially end at the end of the month.

"We are still waiting on a few pledges that have not been paid yet," Kirby said. "We are in really good shape and all agencies have already gotten their checks."

Kirby said all of the agencies – Boy Scouts of America, Girls Scouts, Red Cross, 4-H, Salvation Army, East Central Mental Health, the House of Ruth, RSVP, the Troy Charity League, the Pike County Christmas Program and Easter Seals – received the money that was allocated to them at the beginning of the campaign.

"We had a few shortfalls and it looked scary for a while, but we made it," he said. "This year we added more hours to the secretary position and bought a new computer. We had a few more expenses, but they in no way took money from any of the agencies."

While the ’99 campaign is being wrapped up, the first United Way Campaign of the 21st Century is already underway. Kirby said collections are a little slow, but once the ’99 campaign is over he expects the collections to increase.

"As of Dec. 15 we had $48,000 in pledges," Kirby said. "That’s not even half of what we want, but we expect a lot after the new year."

The goal of the allocations to agencies for the Y2K Campaign have not yet been set, Kirby said. He said the committee likes to wait until one campaign is over before they set a goal for the next year.

"We like to bump the goal up from year to year," he said. "We are planning on $125,000, but it is not set in stone. We hope to start moving up dramatically in the next year or so."

Kirby said the goal increase is planned in hopes that more agencies will be added to receive funding from the Pike County United Way. The YMCA and J.O. "Tip" Colley Senior Complex will be added for the 2000 campaign.

Kirby said one of the things that has made a difference this year are the people who have assisted on the United Way Board of Directors and the volunteers.

Jane Thrash was appointed executive secretary of the United Way when she retired after many years of service to the Pike County School System.

"Jane has hit the ground running," Kirby said. "She has done a magnificent job. She has been calling on industries and talking to industries, attorneys and engineers who have never been tapped before.

"Billy Gibson has been handling the professional people, and Missy Loving has been handling the physicians and people in the medical field. Everyone has done an excellent job."

Kirby said he also expects healthy donations from individuals and Troy State University.

"The semester system had changed this up a little with Troy State," he said. "I think once school is back in session we will see a lot of donations from the employees. We always get a lot of support from TSU."

Kirby said he hopes the 2000 Campaign is wrapped up quickly, and individuals, organizations and businesses can help by making pledges and donations early. Anyone who works at a business that does not have a payroll deduction program can call Thrash at 807-5188 to set up one.

Individuals wishing to make a donation to the Pike County United Way can mail their donation to Pike County United Way, P.O. Box 204, Troy, AL 36081.