A room full of Cape Girardeau's hometown heroes watched as a trio of "superheroes" unveiled the Area Wide United Way's campaign goal for 1998.

The goal is $625,000, up $75,000 from last year's $550,000 goal.

"We know this is an ambitious goal," said Edythe Davis, who chairs the fund-raising campaign. "But we know we can do it. We'll get together in December and celebrate this wonderful goal."

The theme for this year's fund-raising campaign is Hometown Heroes, and Davis said everyone in the room and everyone who contributes to the United Way are a heroes.

Wednesday's "superheroes" included Ben Rushin, a shy 4-year-old who loves preschool and looks forward to kindergarten. Two years ago, Ben suddenly stopped talking, and his parents weren't sure where to go for help. They found the Easter Seal Society's Early Learning Center.

Easter Seal receives money from the United Way.

With help from the Easter Seal educators, Ben is back on track.

Standing across the banner from Ben was superhero Bertha King celebrating her new home, built through Habitat for Humanity, another United Way agency.

"I just thank the Lord that I'm living in something that's mine," King said.

The third superhero was KFVS-12 meteorologist Charlie Neese, honorary chairman of this year's campaign. Neese donned his superhero attire, complete with a red cape and black mask, to help launch the campaign.

The superhero theme plays out in a promotional video starring Neese and is available for companies to use in United Way fund-raising campaigns.

The United Way raises money to help fund 25 agencies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

This marks the 45th consecutive year the United Way has conducted a local campaign, and during that time more than $9 million has been raised.

The campaign remains a local effort as 85 cents of every $1 raised is allocated to a local agency.

According to statistics generated through the local United Way office, 5,000 people last year signed a card and donated to the United Way. Research shows that for each of those people, an average of four people in a household gave up a portion of their income to make that donation.

"A third of all the people in the county care enough to give to the United Way," Davis said.

She explained that doing something good for someone else is good for you. Research proves it.

In a study of volunteers, 95 percent said they felt better when they volunteered, and the more they volunteered, the better they felt.

Athletes experience a "runner's high" when exercising. Volunteers experience the same kind of good feeling. "We call it the `helper's high,'" Davis said. Making a donation to the United Way is one way to start on the road toward a "helper's high."

The Noon Lion's Club presented $500 for the campaign's first contribution. That leaves $624,500 to more to raise.

Watch the campaign progress online at

rosecity.net/unitedway/