Howard Greninger
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Friday will mark the seventh annual United Day for United Way of the Wabash Valley as a final blitz to meet its goal of raising $1.86 million.
So far, $1,710,909 has been raised — that represents 92 percent of the goal.
“The goal on Friday is to raise $20,000. It will go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” said Troy Fears, executive director of the United Way.
“The main part of the day is celebrity gas pumpers and celebrity baggers at Baesler’s Market, something we are calling ‘bagging for bucks,’” Fears said. “Each celebrity will seek a donation.”
Some celebrities include Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett, who will bag groceries from noon to 1 p.m.; Indiana State University Provost Jack Maynard, who will work from 4 to 5 p.m.; and Lynn Hughes, director of the Terre Haute Children’s Museum, who will work from 10 to 11 a.m.
People can also purchase gasoline at Baesler’s with a 6-cent per gallon discount on Friday, as celebrities pump fuel and wash windows.
Some celebrity gas pumpers include Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing, Vigo County Superintendent Dan Tanoos and Dottie King, president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. A complete list of celebrities and time slots can be found at the United Way’s website at www.uwwv.org.
“The United Day for the United Way has really been a big component to our campaign and is our last event as we wrap up the campaign this month toward our $1.86 million goal,” Fears said.
In addition, several industries, such as Sony DADC, are completing employee campaigns, which will help the United Way raise needed funds for 33 agencies in Vigo, Clay, Parke, Sullivan and Vermillion counties in Indiana and Clark County in Illinois.
Claudia Tanoos, chair of the 2012 United Way campaign, said she is optimistic about the United Way reaching its goal. “We feel good in the direction we are going, but the last push [of United Day for United Way] does help us tremendously as far as awareness and reaching out to all our communities,” she said.
Several restaurants will also donate a percentage of sales on Friday to the campaign. Some restaurants require a flier for donation. The flier can also be found and printed from the United Way’s website.
Tanoos said the United Way is making more of an effort to focus collections at retail areas throughout the Wabash Valley. The campaign will have tables set up asking for donations throughout the day. The United Way still needs volunteers to help to give at least one hour of their time to help with the collection of donations.
Help is needed at Walmart south in Terre Haute from 7 a.m.- 2 p.m., 3 to 4 p.m., 5 to 6 p.m.; at Walmart in Clinton from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m; and at Walmart in Brazil from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Contact Dylan Riggen via email at dylan.riggen@local.unitedway.org or call (812) 235-6287 to secure a time and location.
The United Way of the Wabash Valley will announce how much it raised during the campaign at its annual meeting on Feb. 4.
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at 812-231-4204 or howard.
greninger@tribstar.com.
