Callaway County United Way officials were thrilled Monday to learn the organization has ranked in the top 10 nationwide in a contest to win $5,000.
Kathy Harris, president of the Callaway County United Way, is asking area residents to make a special push to help the organization win. The contest ends at the end of February.
"All we are asking is for people to take a few moments of their time to write a brief review about their experience with or how they feel about the Callaway County United Way," Harris said.
Harris said the United Way is trying to wrap up its 2010 fund-raising effort.
"If we could win this national prize of $5,000 it would go a long way toward completing our 2010 goal of $260,000," Harris said.
She said about 100 reviews have been turned in on behalf of the United Way so far. She urged Callaway County residents to use Facebook postings, Twitter and e-mails to encourage friends to write a brief review on behalf of the organization.
The $5,000 prize is offered by GuideStar USA, Inc., a source of nonprofit information, and KIMBA, a group that empowers nonprofit organizations to increase giving.
The event is the Winter 2011 GuideSar-KIMBIA Nonprofit Giveaway.
Kathy Richey-Liddle, director of the Callaway County United Way, said, "Anyone with firsthand knowledge about us - donors, volunteers, board members, recipients of our services - can write a review about the Callaway County United Way on Guide-Star."
Richey-Liddle said there is no charge for writing a review. Only one posting is permitted from an organization, but there is no limit on individual contributions.
The deadline for submitting a review is 10:59 p.m. on Feb. 28. The review can be posted at http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/43-0725794/callaway-county-united-way.aspx on the Internet.
Richey-Liddle said the organization that receives the most number of reviews will win the grand prize of $5,000.