Bradford, Pennsylvania, United Way Raises 40 Percent of Goal

Only 60 percent to go for the Bradford Area United Way. Assistant Director Mandi Davis said in a press release issued Thursday that the organization is ahead of schedule in its fundraising as they work on making a difference in the Bradford area.

Davis said that every year is different in the fundraising process, and this year is no exception. "Some campaigns took off more slowly in the beginning, then at the end, we are just bombarded."

That's not the case this year, though, as larger corporations are leading the pack in donations earlier on in the campaign.
"The larger donors are putting us ahead earlier. Because of the way we did our campaign this year, making the corporate and leadership divisions our pacesetters, it kept the thermometers ahead very, very quickly," Davis told local media outlets.

This year's goal for the Bradford Area United Way is 375 thousand dollars, and they hope to raise that by December 15.

The chairs for the 2007 campaign are Mr. and Mrs. Bob and Mary Galey, and Davis said they have been grateful to have the Galey's support.

The United Way is getting ready for it's upcoming soup lunch fundraiser, which is something new this year. The lunch will be on Friday at the Main Street office in Bradford, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-orders are no longer being accepted, because the response has been overwhelming.

Davis says, "We've had an outstanding response for this being our first year. We've already had 250 orders placed."

Wilton says that walk-in's are welcome.

This year's campaign will continue to solicit donations from employees at local businesses right up until December, by planning visits to local workplaces. This is the schedule of Campaign Visits, according to the Bradford Area United Way Website:

Monday, October 22 -- Zippo Manufacturing Co. **3rd Shift Employees**

Tuesday, October 23 -- Zippo Manufacturing Co. **1st and 2nd Shift Employee***

Wednesday, October 24 -- Zippo Manufacturing Co. **Barbour Street Employees**

Wednesday, October 24 -- Northwest Savings Bank

Thursday, October 25 -- CNB Bank

Thursday, October 25 -- W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co.