Published: September 09, 2008 11:44 pm         

One-third of the $730,000 United Way campaign goal has been raised

The 2008 United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma campaign is well on its way to success following some early fundraising that’s already netted about 34 percent of the total goal.

The public portion of the campaign kicked off Tuesday when organizers announced more than $251,000 of the $730,000 goal already has been raised.

The preliminary campaign has raised about $122,000 from the Pillars, contributors who lead the way for other contributors; more than $11,000 from a golf tournament; and around $74,000 from Paceset-ter companies.

Continental Resources raised $60,318 this year as a Pacesetter company, which is 15 percent more than last year. Other Pacesetter firms raising money, and their goals, were Dillingham Insurance, $8,391, and NBC Bank, $5,353.

Jeff Funk, chairman of the United Way board, thanked volunteers for their continued support in raising money for the United Way. He said the challenge this year will be to meet and exceed the campaign goal for the fifth time in a row.

“We have four consecutive years of successful campaigns,” he said.

The 2008 campaign is led this year by Todd and Cindy Earl. Other division chairs are Brian Hayden, J. Curtis Huckleberry, Allan McCobb and Cheryl Evans.

Loaned executives this year are Kay Farrell, Brooke Potter of NBC Bank, Ashley Ew-banks of Rural Health Projects and Casey Felix of Central National Bank.

The annual chili cookoff will be Oct. 10.