AREA WIDE UNITED WAY HITS 70 PERCENT OF GOAL

The Area Wide United Way has reached 70 percent of the 1997 campaign goal of $550,000, with employee campaigns conducted at Southwestern Bell Telephone, Sears, Venture, and Famous-Barr.

The United Way has collected $385,099.

Campaigns at Cape Girardeau public schools, Drury companies, St Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital have experienced significant increases in their efforts. New companies to the Cape Girardeau area like Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield and Sam's Club have also helped raise additional money for the campaign.

United Way allocates funds raised during an annual fund-raising campaign to 24 health- and human-service agencies. An estimated one in three individuals in the community benefits from services provided by the agencies.