In what might be the fastest amount of time they've ever earned, the Callaway County United Way has reached just more than 96 percent of its fall campaign goal as of this month.
Executive Director Kathy Richey Liddle said that the organization had raised $250,941.60 of their $261,000 goal, or 96.15 percent, since kicking off the campaign Sept. 28 with their annual Radiothon.
"Typically we would not be this close to goal at this time of the year," she said. "The community has really come through this year to help reach our goal."
Callaway United Way Board President Glenn Harris said that in his memory of being involved with the group, they had never been so close to their goal by the end of the year. He also said that the Radiothon kickoff was the most successful in their history, bringing in more than $100,000 alone.
United Way officials voiced some concern when they raised the campaign goal by $1,000 from previous years. Donations trickled in at a much slower rate this year.
"You know, I kind of figured it'd be pushed back a little bit; it's definitely a surprise to be at 96 percent this early in the campaign," said Harris. "On the same token, we can't write it off quite yet. Even though we're at 96 percent, that extra 4 percent is about $10,000, but I think it will work out well."