United Way starts fund-raising campaign today

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- The United Way kicks off its annual fund-raising

campaign today in hopes of raising a record $23.8 million for the more

than 100 social agencies it supports in Orange County.

Hundreds of employers, employees and community volunteers will gather

for a pancake breakfast in the parking lot of South Coast Plaza. The

Caribbean-inspired event will feature steel drums, limbo contests and a

conga line.

Volunteers also will participate in a “Day of Caring” today by helping

out at dozens of Orange County health and human service agencies. Local

volunteers will spend the day performing general repairs and painting at

the Boy Scouts Sea Base and packing and delivering meals at Friends in

Service to Humanity, both in Newport Beach.

The United Way hopes to focus its efforts in the coming year in four

areas: developing children and youth, promoting health, building stronger

families and increasing independence by helping the working poor.

“Thanks to United Way donors, last year 150,000 men, women and

children received medical and dental care and more than 125,000 emergency

services, including meals, were provided to people in crisis,” said Maria

Chavez Wilcox, president of Orange County’s United Way.

Chavez Wilcox and other United Way leaders hope to demonstrate the

need for giving through the event. The $23.8-million goal comes on the

heels of an 18% increase in fund-raising during the past 10 years. The

goal also is to increase by 10% last year’s fund-raising record of $21.5

million. Orange County’s United Way is celebrating 75 years in the county

and has raised $915 million in the last 10 years alone.