United Way at 96% of goal thanks to Sam’s and Wal-Mart

Four local Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart stores doled out $8,000 in incentive grants to the United Way of Southern West Virginia on Tuesday, and United Way executive director Linda Lugar was pleased to announce that the gifts bring her organization to 96 percent of its financial goal for the 2007 campaign.

The grants of $2,000 apiece from Beckley’s Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart stores in Beckley, Fayetteville and Summersville supplement monies contributed from the payroll checks of store employees, which is in addition to Wal-Mart’s match of 100 percent, Lugar explained.

“That is money that we are currently distributing. I’ve always said that the person who started United Way should have raised money for a year and then distributed it,” she quipped. “We give it out in the same year that we conclude a campaign.”

Such large grants are uncommon for the local United Way, she said. “United Way is small. We don’t get a lot of large single contributions. The most important donors for us, and the backbone, are the people who give through payroll deductions.”

Lugar added the Lowe’s store in Fayetteville will be recognized next Monday for the $5,000 donated by its employees. “They had 97 percent of their employees giving,” she noted.

“They are wonderful. We’re really pleased to get this grant. It comes at a good time. The last 20 percent (toward goal) is the hardest to get. We’re glad to be at 96 percent and counting every day. Every little dollar helps.”

— E-mail:

mhill@register-herald.com