United Way of Greater Chattanooga is nearing its $11.2 million target goal with $11,161,460 pledged so far during the 2004 community campaign.

“We need the whole community to lend their support to bring us over the top,” said Frank Schriner, campaign chair. “Even a dollar a week can make a substantial impact, when you consider the fact that $52 a year can provide three children with a free book mailed monthly to their homes for a year.”

United Way’s Project Ready for School initiative provides free resources to parents and their children, including a hardback book from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mailed directly to their home each month to help children under the age of five prepare for success in school and life. During this year’s campaign, $340,000 in matching funds was raised thanks to companies and individuals who gave to United Way for the first time or increased their contribution from last year.

“Through generous contributions from our community, United Way will be able to fund programs like Project Ready for School that ensure future success for our young ones while still providing support to ‘safety net’ services to those that need human service assistance right now,” said Mr. Schriner. “Obviously, the more money we raise—the more lives we can improve.”

United Way of Greater Chattanooga funds local programs that improve community health, strengthen families, and assure readiness for school and work. Thanks to an endowment fund that covers all overhead and administrative expenses, one hundred percent of contributions go directly to these services that help individuals and families in greater Chattanooga, northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama.

Additionally, all undesignated funds raised in North Georgia and Marion County through United Way’s annual campaign will stay in their particular areas, ensuring that residents will directly benefit from local dollars contributed to the campaign. Of the more than

$11.1 million pledged to United Way of Greater Chattanooga this year, Marion County, Tenn. has raised nearly $19,000 and Walker, Catoosa, and Dade counties in North Georgia have raised more than $444,500.

United Way of Greater Chattanooga will announce its final campaign total on Jan. 26 at the organization’s Annual Meeting. The fundraising campaign will continue until the end of this year.