United Way in Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties recently held its fourth annual campaign kickoff at a breakfast meeting at the Walker County Civic Center.

“A huge, enormous challenge has been presented to United Way in Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties,” said Mary Carpenter, 2012 North Georgia campaign chair for United Way and vice president /assistant market leader for First Volunteer Bank in north Georgia Ms. Carpenter. “It has been great meeting with different groups and spreading the word about United Way. Giving is important; I want people to give and to be passionate about that giving. But not only that, we want them to know that volunteering is important, too. When you ‘Live United’ by working to make life in this region better and communities stronger, it really makes you feel good at the end of the day to know you’ve made a difference.”

Last year, businesses, local governments and individuals donated $650,551 to United Way in Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties, a $70,000 increase over the 2011 goal of $580,000.

But Carpenter’s enthusiasm for this year’s campaign have her and the rest of the north Georgia campaign advisory committee convinced that Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties can make the 2012 goal of $650,000.

To date, $279,436 has been raised in north Georgia towards the campaign goal.

Because of an endowment that assists with overhead and administrative expenses, all funds raised from contributions to United Way in Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties’ annual campaign will stay in north Georgia to ensure that residents directly benefit from local dollars.

According to a media release from United Way, Sharon Turner, a retired teacher and north Georgia resident, shares with audiences her experience as Tanya’s mom, an Orange Grove Center client. With tears in her eyes, she told audiences what it means to her knowing the joy, purpose and improved quality of life the Orange Grove adult employment program provides to her daughter.

Becky Page, Dade First Family Connection coordinator and Project Ready for School advocate, told potential donors how vital Project Ready for School – which funds free books in Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties from the Imagination Library – is to the future of north Georgia’s children and their development, noting the link between early educational development and a community's economic development.

Both Orange Grove Center’s Adult Employment Services in north Georgia and free Imagination Library books through Project Ready for School are United Way-funded programs that serve Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties.

Call United Way at 423-752-0300 or go to LiveUnitedWCD.org for more information or to get involved by hosting a campaign.