United Way open house is today

The Clovis/Curry County United Way has completed the 2003 campaign drive and will hold an open house today to celebrate the results.

The event, to be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the organization’s offices on 105 E. Grand, will include cookies and light refreshments.

Executive Director Erinn Burch said in a news release the agency has raised $356,952 to support 16 local charities.

Burch said in a telephone interview, as of Wednesday, the United Way had raised $347,000 — a 12 percent increase over last year’s total of $315,000, though not what the group hoped to achieve this year.

She said she hopes by the end of today’s event she will be able to announce an even higher total.

“The goal was very aggressive, a 20 percent increase which was huge, but I’m pretty sure we will be in the neighborhood of $355,000 (by Friday),” Burch said. “Even though we are not making our goal, it will still be an impressive increase.”

In the news release Thursday, she said the total raised was $356,952 — an increase of 13 percent or $40,000 over last year’s total.

The goal was $375,000

Contributions are still being accepted.

“We accept money at any time,” Burch said.

The donations support the work of 16 agencies that provide vital services to families, children and individuals in the community, she said in the news release. Services include providing healthy, hot meals to homebound residents; giving food, clothing and a place to stay to a family whose home has burned; and encourage a teenager to refocus his life and stay in school and out of trouble.

“Thanks to the thousands of donors who value the quality of life here in Curry County and know that when the problems and needs of area families go unmet all citizens are affected. By giving to Curry County United Way they are part of the solution and change the lives of those most vulnerable in this community,” she said.