© 2024 WFSU Public Media
WFSU News · Tallahassee · Panama City · Thomasville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

United Way Kicks Off 2012 Campaign

The United Way of the Big Bend has launched this year’s campaign. The organization hopes to raise about as much as it collected last year.

The arena of the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center resembled a political convention scene. The 2012 United Way of the Big Bend campaign kicked off with a mock debate between an actor called “ignorance and apathy” and local United Way Campaign Chair Ron Sachs.

“We hope to make goal and break through the goal because the need is so great in this eight-county region of people who have a tougher time than many of us who may be pinched a little bit," Sachs said.

This year's fundraising goal is $5.9 million; just a little less than the amount raised last year.  United Way Executive Director Heather Mitchell says she knows the area’s economy remains stressed.  Still she believes donors will step up.

“So those who count themselves as lucky and who can count their blessings, we hope they are going to show an outpouring like we’ve never seen before to help those in need.”

Along with forty-one partner agencies,  the United Way of the Big Bend supports programs such as “Read to a Child”, the “BEST” project that gives free financial counseling and Whole Child Leon.

 

Follow @flanigan_tom

Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories. here.