Thanks to the success of the Deal Days fundraising campaign, which is a joint effort of United Way of Selma and Dallas County and four local car dealerships, the deadline has been extended to the end of November.

This year, United Way of Selma and Dallas partnered with Moore-Stewart Honda, Moore-Stewart Ford, Turner Chevrolet and Reliable Cadillac GMC for a promotion aimed at helping the United Way reach its annual fundraising goal.

For every new car sold during the month of October — and now November — the dealerships will donate $30 to the United Way.

“The car dealerships wanted to extend it,” United Way executive director Jeff Cothran said. “They had such a positive response from the customers.”

United Way of Selma and Dallas County have not set a fundraising goal for this year, simply striving to raise more than the $330,000 it raised last year.

“Our goal is to raise more than we did last year, but our main goal is changing lives,” Cothran said.

United Way is able to do that by donating 92 cents of each dollar received back to their 15 agency partners, which are organizations throughout Selma and Dallas County area. The remaining eight cents funds administrative costs.

United Way of Selma and Dallas County’s 15 agency partners are American Red Cross, Selma and Blackbelt Regional Abuse Sanctuary, YMCA, the Salvation Army, Special Years Plus, Bosco Nutrition Center, Special Years Plus, Special Pre-School Program, Cahaba Center, Easter Seal, Selma AIDS Information and Referral, Literacy Outreach Program, Selma Area Food Bank, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center.

Moore-Stewart Ford and Moore-Stewart Honda’s John Moore said he saw no reason to turn down an opportunity to help United Way raise money for the community and experience something new.

“It was a way we could support and do something that we haven’t,” Moore said.

He said many of his customers have been motivated to buy cars, because they know their purchase can help the community.

“It’s been positive,” he said. “We have had some people play into the decision.”

Charities have had a hard year and depend on United Way heavily to be able to provide for the community, Cothran said.

“It’s been very hard on the charities this year,” Cothran said. “A lot of organizations would not be able to make it without us.”

He also said their 15 agencies work hard to help United Way’s serve the community.

Although the Deal Days fundraising campaign ends in November, people can give directly United Way well past the November deadline.

Anyone interested in donating, can call United Way of Selma and Dallas County at 874-8383 or visit selmaunitedway.org.