DATE: Thursday, September 25, 1997          TAG: 9709240149

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  123 lines

GOING FOR GOAL

THE UNITED WAY is counting on ``The Power of U,'' its theme this year, as volunteers start making a pitch for donations from co-workers. It'a all a part of the annual campaign for the goal.

To get the message out that it's campaign season, United Way yard signs started competing with election yard signs and Peanut Fest signs. They carried a familiar message: ``Working in the Community.''

It's a reminder that United Way disperses almost all of its funds to local agencies who deliver services to local residents.

One example of how United Way works in the community is at The Children's Center where staff members don't just walk by, but stop to talk to the grinning 14-month-old Cody Evett.

The boy adored the attention he was receiving. His mother, Vivian, noted, ``He's a little flirt.

``You know,'' she said, ``besides family, this is the only place I can drop him off and feel comfortable.''

Cody suffers from spina bifida and he spends his weekdays at The Children's Center on Executive Court where he is helped with bowel and urinary problems, and with learning to stand and walk.

Cody needs constant attention. He gets it at home, of course, and at his second home, The Children's Center which, last year, served about 300 boys and girls.

``As far as progress is concerned, we don't put a ceiling on it,'' Evett said, ``We were told he probably won't be able to walk, but I anticipate he will be a computer whiz.

``If we didn't have this place, there'd be nowhere for him,'' Evett said. ``No other place can handle his special needs.''

The Center, which has a $2 million budget, needs the money it gets from United Way of South Hampton Roads to supplement the federal funds, community donations, and fees.

``We get $17,000 from Suffolk United Way and $5,000 from Isle of Wight,'' said Anne Williams, Human Resources/Marketing coordinator for the Center, and chairman of solicitation for non-profit agencies for United Way.

The Center works with children who have special needs, and is a day care center for others.

Many people designate their United Way contributions for The Children's Center. If they wish, United Way donors can request that their money go to any one of the 68 agencies served by the organization.

Every one, whether located in Suffolk or not, serves the people of the city. Every one, needs those United Way contributions.

``Last year, we raised $397,000. This year's goal is $385,000,'' said Twyna German, director. ``It's lower because we lost $26,000 which had been a corporate gift from one company in the past.''

Yet, Suffolk is ahead of the other Hampton Roads cities in raising funds this year.

``You're leading the pack,'' said Mike Hughes, president of United Way of South Hampton Roads. ``You're 42.3 percent toward your goal.''

After the city reaches the goal, ``it receives a real good return on what is given,'' said Leroy Edwards, Residential Unit chairman, ``usually more in distribution of funds than it generates.''

After reaching its $385,000 goal, Suffolk is expected to receive about $450,000 in services.

About 100 volunteers are working to help reach the goal, many of them working in Suffolk's public schools.

``Last year, we raised $38,000. Our goal this year is $39,000,'' said Bethanne Bradshaw, public information/community relations officer for the school system, and coordinator of the school campaign. ``A lot of the local agencies serve the youth of our community.

``The school division,'' she said, ``believes strongly in United Way because they believe in the same things we do.''

Another strong supporter is Obici Hospital which, this year, blasted a hole in its goal.

``They raised $39,000,'' Hughes said, ``$7,000 more than last year.

Bill Giermak, Obici president, credits that to ``particularly effective leadership and stressing, more than ever, payroll deductions.

``People are finally realizing they don't have to - say - contribute $100 all at once,'' he said. ``That idea really caught on this year.''

Some other Obici ideas were a couple of free vacation days, and eight door prizes, winners names drawn from donor pools.

City employees are also riding the United Way bandwagon.

Last year they raised $27,800, 26 percent more than was gathered in 1995. This year, they are going for still more, with a goal of $30,000.

Officially, city employees kicked off the campaign Wednesday with a lunch, yard sale, and auction.

Unofficially, and deliciously, they got underway last month selling doughnuts, watermelons, peaches and ice cream. They also had fishing and softball tournaments, and have scheduled more a golf tournament at the Suffolk Golf Course for Oct. 2. Friday is the last registration day. October 14 is the final registration day for the volleyball tournaments to be held Oct. 15, 21 and 23 at the Northern Shores Recreation Center.

Meetings with Planters employees were obviously convincing as employees went a little over their $42,000 goal.

German is in constant contact with the chairpersons who head the drives in the workplace - volunteers who talk to groups and individuals, pass out pledge cards and recruit the approximately 100 volunteer cpledge oordinators.

Mike Umscheid, this year's chairman, said, ``this isn't the only thing I give money to - but it is the biggest.''

Chris Hall, a loaned executive from Virginia Natural Gas, has a big job, talking up the virtues of United Way during 15-minute presentations to workers. He shows a video produced, free, by The Family Channel that shows the impact of United Way in the community.

Hall has been involved with United Way six years.

``You do that when you see how it helps. For one thing, it helps children with disabilities,'' he said, speaking from experience. His baby was born with Down Syndrome.

Other people have other reasons for involvement.

``I enjoy doing community volunteer work. The money raised by United Way is put to good use in the community,'' Edwards said.

``I think United Way offers the best way to help the most people,'' said City Treasurer Ron Williams, Leadership Campaign chairman. ``Payroll deductions make it easier to give.'' MEMO: For information about United Way, call 539-1498.

A meeting, to update campaign progress, will be held at 5 p.m., Oct. 23,

at Nestle Beverage. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos including color cover by MICHAEL KESTNER

Mike Umscheid, chairman of the 1997-98 United Way campaign in

Suffolk, ponders a point during a recent meeting in the United Way

office at the YMCA.

The well-known United Way logo welcomes visitors and volunteers to

the Suffolk office at the YMCA on Godwin Boulevard.

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