Despite an uncooperative economy, employee layoffs and some plant closures, United Way in Walker, Catoosa and Dade Counties has reached 52 percent, slightly over the halfway mark, towards its 2009 Community Campaign goal of $500,000 by raising $261,422.

United Way has reached this point in the 2009 campaign through the hard work of its volunteers in Walker County and by current donors stepping up to increase the size of their gifts when possible. The new companies in North Georgia that will give a new corporate gift this year; hold a special event for United Way or run an employee campaign are the Family Resource Agency of North Georgia and the North Georgia Health Care Center.

North Georgia volunteer and chairman of the United Way campaign in Walker, Catoosa and Dade Counties, Leonard Fant urges anyone who hasn’t been given an opportunity to contribute to the campaign to please consider making a donation this year. He also asks area businesses to turn-in their corporate campaign pledge cards if they haven’t done so yet.

If you want to make a personal gift to the United Way, you can go online at www.LiveUnitedWCD.org and donate electronically. If you’ve never donated to the United Way before, please consider making a gift. When you give to United Way, you know 100 percent of your contribution goes directly to fund local community services, thanks to an endowment that covers all of United Way’s administrative expenses.

United Way’s Community Campaign will continue on through Dec. 31.