United Way of Etowah County reaches record fundraising goal

The verdict is in.

The United Way held its legal-themed, annual celebration Thursday at Gadsden Convention Hall.

"It's always interesting the ways our community can come together and achieve a record-breaking year," said campaign chairwoman Christie Knowles. "Best year ever."

Money raised by United Way helps support 26 programs and agencies throughout the county that focus on education, financial stability, health and safety.

United Way of Etowah County Executive Director Joanne Hightower said they had worried about the economy and about whether they could achieve the goal.

Leaders from different divisions gave reports Thursday about their fundraising efforts, most achieving or exceeding their goals.

Leadership giving saw a 13 percent increase from last year, raising $313,450, or 23 percent of the campaign total.

Other totals are as follows:

• Commercial division, $84,006

• Education division, $120,400

• Financial division, $167,565

• Government division, $92,757

• Health institutions division, $143,305

• Health professional division, $61,407

• Industrial division, $519,321

• Nonprofit division, $28,185

• Professionals division, $42,542

• Residential division, $42,605

• Retail division, $45,747

Campaign Cabinet members in August announced United Way had already raised $643,235 — almost half of this year's fundraising goal through its Pacesetter campaign, which begins two months before the full fundraising campaign starts.

United Way of Etowah County raised $1,353,047.71 last year.