Looking across a landscape where human difficulties abound, campaign managers for United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties didn’t blink.
They didn’t try to avoid the hard truth before them: While most folk are having trouble with the sustained increases in gas, energy and food, other folks are facing even more troubling difficulties due to rising unemployment, medical crises and the other unpleasant surprises life throws at us.
United Way’s campaign leaders knew needs in the area they served had therefore increased significantly.
They stepped up to the challenge and now ask us to join the effort.
Led by campaign chairman Brian Hercules, the fundraising agency drive board set a record $3 million goal for the new effort that officially kicks off Sept. 14 with a Taste of Stones River at Stones River Mall.
It may well be that obvious need for services will help the agency which until last year couldn’t find a way past the $2.5 million mark. A drive led by area banker Chuck Lewis broke that ceiling last year, hitting $2.67 million.
Hopefully, that upward movement will continue this year and even gain speed, as will be necessary to reach the ambitious goal.
Without question, the 47 public assistance agencies funded by the area United Way will need every penny of the $3 million sought.
And Hercules, who last year relocated back to Middle Tennessee, brings many great new ideas for making the annual giving campaign more broad based and aggressive in reaching out to new potential donors.
Attaining the $3 million goal will not be easy.
In fact, it will require a Herculean effort. Luckily, we have a Hercules on the task, but he will need a lot of help.
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