UNITED WAY UPS GOAL TO $525,000; UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN GOAL WAS INCREASED TO FILL THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITY

Steve Vogelsang knows how important the Area Wide United Way is to his life. Vogelsang, who was born with polio and spinal meningitis, has benefited from the organization's support to VIP Industries.

Agencies like VIP Industries have "painted a brighter tomorrow" by helping serve community needs and provide quality health and human service programs. Many of them receive funding through the annual fund-raising campaign at the United Way.

The 1996 Campaign, "Paint a Brighter Tomorrow," began Sept. 4 with a luncheon at Drury Lodge. About 225 people attended the meal, complete with foods commonly found at a baseball game. Former St. Louis Cardinals manager, Whitey Herzog, was the guest speaker.

Teamwork is essential to getting the job done, whether it's on the baseball field or volunteer efforts for the Area Wide United Way. Baseball has become such a money game and not a team effort, but the United Way needs teamwork to get the job done, said Herzog.

Herzog, who managed the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team for 10 years, also addressed a group of local business leaders at a breakfast meeting earlier in the day..

Herzog said he likes going to United Way fund-raisers. "I know that all my money is given to the United Way," he said. "Whether it's $1 or $5, I know where it goes."

Campaign organizers hope to raise $525,000 during the annual campaign. "The outstanding thing about baseball and United Way is that every year is a new year and a new goal," Herzog said.

All the money will be used to benefit 19 area agencies and cancer research at St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital. The Area Wide United Way served agencies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

The United Way is probably one of the only places that knows where all its money goes, Herzog said. "I'm not even sure where my taxes go."

All the money raised during the campaign is divided between the agencies that request funding through the United Way. However, the United Way does not completely fund any of the agencies.

During its 42-year history in the Cape Girardeau area, the Area Wide United Way has raised $8 million to help with community needs.

"It reaches everyone in the community," said Narvol Randol Jr., campaign chairman. "The United Way is a story about hope, help and working together."

When board members started talking about the campaign, teamwork seemed to be a common theme. It then developed into choosing Herzog, a sports personality as the keynote speaker, said Pete Poe, chairman of the board. "Whiteyball is a game where everybody does a little bit," Poe said before introducing Herzog.

More than 100 people are trained and ready to help the United Way reach its goal. The organization is emphasizing employee and employer contributions this year because of the potential for giving, Randol said.

And with plans to raise $525,000, United Way volunteers have a lot of work ahead. The United Way Campaign ends in October.

"The ability to give is key," Randol said. The 1996 goal increased by $25,000 over last year's goal.

Some of the increase was attributed to increasing needs and more contributions last year. The 1995 campaign exceeded its $500,000 goal by $737.

For the last five years, the campaign goal has hovered near the $500,000 mark. "There's not a magic number, but we wanted to break to the next plateau," Poe said. Each year, the United Way adds more agencies to its list of recipients.

The agencies being funded include the American Red Cross, Association for Retarded Citizens, Boy Scouts of America, Cape County 4-H Council, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Cape Girardeau and Jackson Senior Centers, FISH Volunteers of Cape Girardeau, Gibson Recovery Center, Girl Scout Otahki Council, Habitat for Humanity, Hoover ElderCare Center, Jackson Ministerial Alliance, Lutheran Family and Children's Services, Radio Information Services, Safe House for Women and the Salvation Army.