The Elizabethton/Carter County United Way is gearing up for the 2014 campaign and will hold its campaign kickoff next week.

The kickoff will be held next Tuesday – Sept. 9 – at the Pine Room at Franklin Fitness Center at 7:30 a.m.
Former United Way Director Debbie Guy said the kickoff will officially start fundraising for the upcoming campaign and with the goal of sharing what the United Way does for the local community.
The goal for this campaign year is $160,000, which has been increased $4,000 from the 2013 goal. “I am confident the United Way will be able to meet its goal for the 2014 year,” Guy said.
But while next week will mark its official start, the campaign is already making headway.
“Volunteers and board members have already been working hard on several fundraising events,” Guy said.
The United Way hosted the annual Fourth of July Stars and Stripes Race, the organization’s annual golf tournament and a fundraising night at an Elizabethton Twins game.
Chris Hitechew, director of Northeast State Community College at Elizabethton, will serve as 2014 campaign chair for the Elizabethton/Carter County United Way.
“Chris is a great choice for campaign chair,” Guy said. “He is dedicated to getting the word out about the services that the United Way provides and to making sure that the goal is met for the upcoming year.”
Guy said additional fundraisers are planned for the remainder of the campaign year. She noted that one of the most important sources of funding for the United Way is still the paycheck deductions that employees can opt to have taken from their pay if their workplace chooses to participate.
“We do have fundraisers and we have people that are out there making contacts for donations,” she said. “It is still important that the local businesses and industry support the United Way.”
The United Way will use funds raised from the 2014 campaign to benefit several local non-profit agencies.
For the 2014 campaign, the United Way will provide funding for Adult Day Services, the American Red Cross, Assistance Resource Ministries, the Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton, Contact Ministries, Elizabethton Senior Citizens Center, the Neighborhood Service Center and Personal Support Services.
The next scheduled upcoming fundraiser is the local celebrity grocery bagging event that will be held in the fall.