The United Way of Story County exceeded its campaign goal for 1999 with the help of ISU faculty, staff and students.

Frankee Oleson, executive director of United Way of Story County, said this is the fourth consecutive year that campaign goals have been exceeded.

Warren Madden, campaign chairman and ISU vice president for Business and Finance said United Way exceeded its original goal.

“We are very pleased to have made the campaign goal; originally, it was set at $800,000, and we are in excess of $870,000,” he said.

Oleson said Iowa State brings in a large percentage of United Way’s donations.

“ISU plays a really important part and is a main giver each year,” she said. “They raise more and more money each year, and there is a lot of involvement by students, faculty and staff.”

Vice President for External Affairs Murray Blackwelder led Iowa State’s campaign. Besides raising money for the United Way, the 30 volunteers also participated in a special campaign to raise money for the Habitat for Humanity “Blitz Build.”

“Blitz Build” is in its third year. The program gives participants one week to build a house and donate it to a needy family.

Iowa State needed to raise $30,000 for Habitat for Humanity and $170,000 for United Way, “so we put the campaigns together and it worked very well,” Blackwelder said.

Iowa State raised a total of $208,406, exceeding both the Habitat for Humanity goal and the United Way goal. Each goal was exceeded by nearly $5,000.

Campus donations were received in a variety of ways, from can collections to offering rides to class in a golf cart.

Madden said the university campaign was one of the largest successes for United Way.

“We have raised more than ever for United Way and also for Habitat for Humanity,” he said.

Thirty-five agencies in Story County, including Social Services, health-related services such as Red Cross and homecare nursing, and programs such as Meals on Wheels will benefit from the work of the 500 volunteers and 6,300 donors from this year’s campaign.

In addition to support from Iowa State, businesses throughout the community are active in this cause, Madden said.

“Volunteers are organized in divisions,” he said. “Each division has a leader, and they then go solicit in their areas.”

Madden said many businesses distribute pledge cards provided by United Way or hold rallies to gain support and contributions.

Oleson said the number of donors increases each year. She said that of the last 11 United Way campaigns, nine have exceeded the goal and the other two nearly missed the goal.

Madden said he was happy with the outcome of the campaign.

“We feel really good where we have ended up,” he said. “As campaign chair, I am very pleased and gratified at the support received by Story County and with ISU’s growth in reaching and exceeding their goal.”