This year, 29 Pacesetter companies committed to raising money for the United Way of Norman through employee drives, payroll deductions, fundraising events, gifts and other avenues.

In establishing the overall fundraising goal, community volunteers visited the United Way of Norman’s 29 partner agencies, interviewing board members and staff and reviewing funding requests.

The $2.125 million goal is the minimum level of funding United Way of Norman community agencies require in order to meet changing human needs, Collins said. “It’s an investment in lives, in our community and in our quality of life.”

The money is used to help meet Norman residents’ health and human-care needs. Additionally, the United Way of Norman assists the social agencies in planning and providing services to those in the community.

The United Way of Norman will conclude its fundraising campaign Nov. 9.

“There’s been a lot of great work done, but we’re not finished yet,” Collins said.

Pilkington reminded the 30 to 40 percent of Cleveland County’s workforce employed outside the county to designate 7100 on their pledge cards to ensure their contributions are going to help children, friends and neighbors in their home town.

The Pacesetter companies include all United Way agencies, Arvest, Astellas Pharma Technology, AT&T, BancFirst, Bob Usry Plumbing, City of Norman, First American Bank, First Bank and Trust, First Fidelity Bank, Hitachi, Ideal Homes, Johnson Controls, McKinney Partnership, Moore Norman Technology Center, Murrell Hall McIntosh, Nextep, Norman Cellular, Norman Regional Hospital, The Norman Transcript, OG&E, ONG, Outland Group of Companies, Republic Bank and Trust, Reynolds Ford, Service Experts, Target, Wal-Mart East and Wal-Mart West.

For more information about the United Way of Norman or any of its agencies, call the United Way Helpline at 364-3800.

Tom Blakey

366-3540

tblakey@normantranscript.com