United Way Working to Meet Goal, extends campaign deadline

It wasn't necessarily the figure Jeff Kole wanted to see. As chairman of the 2009 United Way of the Coastal Empire campaign, he had hoped to see the campaign's goal in big letters. That would have been $8.2 million dollars.

On Friday afternoon at the "victory celebration" there was indeed much to celebrate. Despite a tough economic year for many local companies as well as families, they had record giving in some quarters. And they had a high figure to announce - $7,815,716. However, that's still more than $384,000 from the 2009 goal. That's why Kole told the crowed they're extending the campaign to December first.

"When we came up the $8.2 million, it wasn't just some random figure," Kole told me. "It was what we knew we needed to support the many in need this year. And there are a lot more people."

Kole says calls to the United Way's helpline have increased 25 percent this year. "To those that have made a contribution, we are deeply grateful," he says. "And if you can give a little more, we're asking you to consider another donation. If you can't, please ask your friends and neighbors if they can donate to United Way.

United Way of the Coastal Empire hopes that by extending the current giving campaign it will be able to meet basic needs for individuals and families throughout Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty County.

Kole says in the past few days the campaign built new momentum after receiving a surprise announcement of an anonymous $100,000 challenge. "So this donor will indeed match any new donations we can get up to that $100,000 which would be so important," Kole tells us.

He says in the next few days, volunteers an staff will conduct a "last appeal campaign" by making personal phone calls to individuals and companies.

"It was a tough decision (to extend the deadline) but one we felt we had to make," Kole says. "There are people in our community who don't have electricity or food. That's our motivation to keep going."