I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped to make 1996’s record-breaking United Way campaign such a great success. Thank you to the 14,000 or so donors, who are willing to give something from each paycheck to help those in need. Thank you to those donors who live outside the Greater Bangor area — in Millinocket and Belfast, Calais and Lincoln, and many places in between — who recognized the services provided to their friends and neighbors through United Way of Eastern Maine agencies, and gave for the first time last year.

Thank you to the corporations and business owners, who gave their support through gifts, holding a workplace campaign, and releasing volunteers, because they know that a healthy community is a strong community.

Thank you to the more than 1,000 volunteers, who annually give so much time and effort to raise the dollars.

Thank you to the media, who help us get the story to the community.

And thank you to the United Way agencies themselves, who hold workplace campaigns, travel all over eastern Maine in support of the campaign, and spend countless hours talking to donors about their agencies and United Way. The United Way campaign works because it truly draws from every facet of our community to help those who need help the most.

Now the task becomes one of distributing the money raised where it will have the most impact. Volunteers will soon be starting this process — scrutinizing the agencies and programs, examining budgets, and making sure that donated dollars are going where the needs are greatest. Growth of 18.3 percent over two years translates into approximately $250,000 in additional money being allocated to member agencies from the Community Fund. The results will be announced in June.

Being able to announce a campaign total of $2 million was very exciting — but what is even more exciting is what these dollars will mean to the people of eastern Maine. This campaign is about more than just reaching a numerical goal. It’s about hot meals for hungry people and shelter for victims of abuse. It’s about positive role models for children and meaningful activiites for people with disabilities. It’s about helping one another.

And for all these reasons I say “Thank you.” John W. Bragg 1996 United Way Campaign chair Bangor