By Tom Blakey

Transcript Staff Writer

More than 130 representatives of local companies, organizations and social service agencies attended Friday’s luncheon for the United Way of Norman at the J.D. McCarty Conference Center.

“We’re calling it the Community Campaign Kickoff and Pacesetter Celebration,” said Kristin Collins, United Way executive director.

The luncheon marked the grand finale of the Pacesetter companies’ campaign, which began Aug. 1 and often sets the tone for the rest of the fundraising drive, Collins said.

The community campaign runs now through Nov. 9, with a total fundraising goal of $2.125 million, Collins said.

The 29 Pacesetter companies committed to raising money for the United Way of Norman through employee drives, payroll deductions, fundraising events, gifts and other avenues.

Pacesetter chairs Diana Hartley, Suzanne McAuley and Kevin Hopper announced $1,049,529 had been raised to date — almost half of the overall $2.125 million goal.

With the amount just shy of $1,050,000, Campaign Chairman Jeff Pilkington, pulled a $100 bill out of his wallet and instigated an on-the-spot collection. Within a few minutes, participants had ponied up more than $500, bringing the Pacesetter companies’ total amount raised to $1,050,029.

Collins said Pacesetter companies had never raised more than $1 million. “They didn’t just raise it, they flew by it,” she said.

Collins credited the generosity of company employees and “fantastic corporate gifts.”

“Our Pacesetter companies set the pace. They are caring, committed, enthusiastic, hard-working, generous people and companies who are greatly invested in this community and quality of life for everyone,” Collins said.

Chilton Marshall, vice president of resource development at the United Way, said Pacesetter companies hope to raise about half of the overall fundraising goal, and also set goals within the individual Pacesetter companies.

“We’re ecstatic. The Pacesetters raised almost half of the overall goal and they exceeded the individual Pacesetter company goals by 112 percent. We’re blown away by their efforts and innovative fundraising ideas.

“We’re looking forward to the rest of the campaign and meeting the needs of the Norman community,” Marshall said.

This year, 29 Pacesetter companies committed to raising money for the United Way of Norman through employee drives, payroll deductions, fundraising events, gifts and other avenues.

In establishing the overall fundraising goal, community volunteers visited the United Way of Norman’s 29 partner agencies, interviewing board members and staff and reviewing funding requests.

The $2.125 million goal is the minimum level of funding United Way of Norman community agencies require in order to meet changing human needs, Collins said. “It’s an investment in lives, in our community and in our quality of life.”

The money is used to help meet Norman residents’ health and human-care needs. Additionally, the United Way of Norman assists the social agencies in planning and providing services to those in the community.

The United Way of Norman will conclude its fundraising campaign Nov. 9.

“There’s been a lot of great work done, but we’re not finished yet,” Collins said.

Pilkington reminded the 30 to 40 percent of Cleveland County’s workforce employed outside the county to designate 7100 on their pledge cards to ensure their contributions are going to help children, friends and neighbors in their home town.

The Pacesetter companies include all United Way agencies, Arvest, Astellas Pharma Technology, AT&T;, BancFirst, Bob Usry Plumbing, City of Norman, First American Bank, First Bank and Trust, First Fidelity Bank, Hitachi, Ideal Homes, Johnson Controls, McKinney Partnership, Moore Norman Technology Center, Murrell Hall McIntosh, Nextep, Norman Cellular, Norman Regional Hospital, The Norman Transcript, OG&E;, ONG, Outland Group of Companies, Republic Bank and Trust, Reynolds Ford, Service Experts, Target, Wal-Mart East and Wal-Mart West.

For more information about the United Way of Norman or any of its agencies, call the United Way Helpline at 364-3800.

Tom Blakey

366-3540

tblakey@normantranscript.com