Representatives of the 15 agencies funded by Selma and Dallas County United Way gathered last Thursday morning with United Way officials to kick off this year’s fund raising campaign.

The kickoff event for the campaign – running through December – was held at the West Central Alabama Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center on Citizens Parkway.

United Way Executive Director Jeff Cothran announced that this year’s goal will be $475,000, $5,000 less than last year’s goal of $480,000.

Cothran noted that last year’s collections fell $30,000 short of the $480,000 goal and agencies had to take a 12 percent cut.

“It was really hard on them,” he said.

“This year we hope to make up last year’s shortfall,” he said.

Chair of this year’s event is Tim Troha, owner of Campbell and Pearson on Highway 22, and Carver Boynton, manager of the Selma Mall.

Cothran said that the number of agencies receiving funding is the same as last year and the number of businesses participating is the same. Some, said Cothran have added jobs, which could increase the number of workers who participate.

Also, Cothran noted that several new businesses are in the start-up phase and though their participation may be minimal this year, they probably will be contributing much more strongly in next year’s campaign.

Cothran emphasized that no gift is too small.

“I want people to know how little the individual participant has to give to make a big difference. If workers only had 50 cents or $1 taken out of each paycheck the collective result would be enormous,” he said.

Cothran also spoke about HealthLink, a new partnership between the United Way and Vaughan Community Health Services.

The first project is the Senior Prescription Assistance Program which began in April and will soon have helped its 200th client apply for free or lower-priced drugs through distribution programs run by the major drug companies, according to Cothran. Clients are referred to the program by their doctors and have an interview with a HealthLink intake worker at the United Way office. Forms are then filled out and submitted by HealthLink and prescriptions are many times able to be filled, at least in part, through available programs.

“We are proud of the program and expect it to continue to grow because the need is so great,” Cothran said. “We need the full support of the community this year. All the money raised through United Way stays in the community, helping our community agencies.”