Shannon Barger, UAW Local 440 community services chairwoman, is the campaign co-chair with Tom Bishop and Brent Dalton. Bishop is a United Way board member.

"When we started off setting a goal of $165,000, and maybe stretching to $170,000, with the economy and everything, I was worried about getting the $165,000," Barger said. "Now I'm happy to say, we have reached $180,000."

"We did that with 60 less people than last year," said Mark Coressel, United Way industry chairman.

The United Way of Lawrence County goal for this year's campaign is $400,000.

"This is really great," said Patty Boone, executive director of the United Way of Lawrence County. "This will go a long way in helping us reach our goal. Those folk deserve a lot of credit for their generosity. Management over there gave some time and effort through the UAW to film all of our member agencies and they played that video every day of their campaign. Maybe that helped."

Barger and the others agreed the video was helpful in letting people know the member agencies that benefit from United Way.

The consensus among all involved was that the main reason for going over the goal was the large number of people who increased their pledges.

The increase in pledges came from both management and union employees.

Here are some of the reasons:

Tom Rankin, IBEW, "It's just a small amount of money a week, but it provides an opportunity to give to people who are in need. I was a beneficiary myself while growing up. I would just like to encourage everyone to give so people can be helped."

Coressel said, "The needs of United Way continue to grow every year; we all need to look to increase. Secondly and more importantly, from a leadership givers standpoint, if I expect to talk to people about giving or increasing to United Way, unless I increase, how can I expect others to."

Donald Griffin, management, said, "General Motors gives me a raise every year, a generous raise, that's why I increased. It's the best way to affect a great amount of people, whatever their needs, with the least amount of money. When you see what is done with the little amount of money you give, it definitely makes a difference."

Carol Howard, UAW, said, "I started out a fair share giver because United Way had helped me a great deal in the past. Two years ago I realized I had more money than I had ever had before, so it was time for me to give more. I jumped right in to leadership giving. United Way needs all the help it can get, it's a good organization."

Brent Dalton, IBEW, campaign co-chairman, said, "I know they help a lot of people in Lawrence County. I have kids and relatives that go to the Boys and Girls Clubs, and money goes to both of those places. If I can help a little, it's just all for the better."

Bishop, management, campaign co-chair, said, "I thought about it for a long time, I was already at Columbia Leadership level, I decided I wanted to be the first individual to go to the Pentagon level. I guess the reason I did it was to show others an individual can be at that level. I had no idea how others would react. As soon as I said I was going to do it, another person in the room said they were going to Pentagon. No one before had gone to Pentagon, it was usually reserved for corporations."

Darrell Thimling, UAW President, "If ever there was a time to do it, increase, with so many people in need, this is the time. It's something that should have been done a long time ago, but it's better late than never."

Times-Mail Staff Writer Leonard Thornton can be reached for comments at 277-7263 or by e-mail at leonard@tmnews.com.