EDUCATION COMMUNITY LENDS HAND TO UNITED WAY

The Area Wide United Way's public service division, led by Jo Peukert and Robert Foster, will target the local education community to support this year's fundraising drive.

The annual United Way campaign kicks off Sept. 4. Organizers hope raise a total of $470,000.

Robert W. Foster is no stranger to the United Way. He's been involved in the agency for the past 20 years. He serves as the campaign chairman last year.

"I'm a big believer in the United Way," Foster said. "This is an opportunity for us to give back to the community.

"When looking at the list of agencies to receive United Way funds this year, there isn't any way I would write separate checks to each of them. Yet I really believe in all of the agencies.

"I feel good that with one check to the United Way, I can support all these agencies."

Foster, along with Peter Bergerson, chairman of the political science department at the university, will be soliciting funds from university staff.

"I think this is a chance for us at the university to demonstrate that we are part of the community," Foster said.

At the public school level, Peukert will lead the way. This year's campaign marks Peukert's first involvement with the United Way.

She is a sixth grade teacher at May Greene Elementary School in Cape Girardeau and is president of the local Community Teachers Association.

"Harry Rediger asked the schools to become a part of the campaign from more of a teacher and staff level," Peukert said.

She said many of the 25 agencies United Way funds provide services to teachers, their students and their students' families.

"The Family Learning Center is a good example," she said. "Children use the center before they come to kindergarten and they are better prepared to begin learning. Those children probably would not succeed as well with out the Learning Center."

She said the Black Men's youth program is another example of community support for youth as are the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

"The Salvation Army provides school supplies for many of our students, and the new Safe House provides a haven for children and moms who are being abused," Peukert said.