United Way Sets $305,000 Campaign Goal

United Way of Effingham County has set a campaign goal of $305,000 for 2016.

The 2015 campaign raised $330,000, but organizers typically keep the goal around the same amount each year.

(2016 UNITED WAY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY CAMPAIGN CHAIR KELSEY GOECKNER)

Ross Richardson of HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital will again serve as United Way of Effingham County Board President, while Kelsey Goeckner of Dieterich Bank will be this year's campaign chair.

United Way of Effingham County Chief Professional Officer Linda Hemmen said Patterson Company is the Lead Pacesetter for the campaign. Hemmen noted that 85% of the campaign funds raised each year comes from the employee campaigns at United Way pacesetter and other companies.

23 people-helping agencies will receive funds from the 2016 campaign. They are Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Blessings in a Backpack, Boy Scouts of America-Lincoln Trails Council, CASA of Effingham County, Catholic Charities, CEFS Golden Circle Nutrition Program, CEFS Literacy Program, CEFS Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Child Advocacy of East Central Illinois, Effingham Child Development Center, Effingham County FISH Human Services, Effingham County Search and Rescue, Effingham County Youth Commission, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, Heartland Human Services, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), One Hope United, Oneighty, Senior Services of Effingham County, SAFE, STAR, SWAN, and Unit 40 Mentoring Program.

In addition to the general employee fund drive, several special events are scheduled throughout the campaign. One that will take place after the official campaign end is "Hollywood's Greatest Game Shows", an event that will take place on February 10 at the Effingham Performance Center and will star Bob Eubanks, best known for his many years as host of "The Newlywed Game".