Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 20, 1995                   TAG: 9501200071
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

UNITED WAY SAYS CONTRIBUTIONS AT 99 PERCENT - AND IT'S HOPING

The organization has raised $4.74million, $110,000 shy of its $4.85million goal, Robert Lawson, campaign chairman and president of Crestar Bank, announced at United Way's annual meeting.

More contributions are expected. Even without them, the organization already has exceeded the $4.65million raised during the 1993 campaign.

``While we certainly would have rather made goal, we raised 4 percent over last year,'' Lawson said. ``It was a really good effort.''

United Way of Roanoke Valley has not met its goal since 1988. Campaigns in the valley and elsewhere across the country suffered after a 1992 scandal in which the national United Way president resigned amid questions about his spending and management practices.

That, coupled with sagging economic conditions, further hampered money-raising efforts.

Yet last year, employee and corporate giving to the United Way of Roanoke Valley was up at a number of organizations. Nearly 500 Roanoke Valley employers conducted campaigns, many of them for the first time.

``They've given us something to build on toward the future,'' Lawson said.

Contributions to the 1994 campaign will help fund new high-priority programs, including one that provides therapy for families at risk for child abuse and neglect and one that holds structured after-school activities.

Contributions also will fund more than 70 other programs at United Way's 36 member agencies.

Linda Holsinger, United Way's vice president of marketing and communications, said agencies are just beginning to submit their funding requests. The process of deciding how much each will receive will begin in the next few months, she said.