Give-A-Christmas goal set at $40,000
Marking its 20th year, the 2005 Give-A-Christmas campaign officially begins today with a goal of raising $40,000 for the Salvation Army. The drive is off to a solid start with $6,000 in contributions, including a $1,000 donation from A.B.A.T.E. and a donation of $5,000 from the energy company Atlas America Inc., which is based in Pittsburgh and engaged primarily in the development and production of natural gas in the Appalachian Basin.
Marci F. Bleichmar, vice president of marketing, wrote, “Atlas strongly believes in giving back to the communities where we drill. With that in mind, please accept our donation of $5,000 to be used in your annual Give-A-Christmas campaign. It is our hope that our donation will help make a difference to those in need.’
“Wow! Thanks so much for your generosity,’ said Sparkle, the Christmas star, who once again is acting as official mascot for the campaign.
Sparkle also had a few words for Herald-Standard readers who might be considering being part of the campaign.
“Thanksgiving is a wonderful day to count our blessings and think of others,’ she said. “We are coming off a wonderful year in 2004 when the campaign raised a record $64,126.35 for the Salvation Army. That’s the largest amount we ever raised since we started the campaign. But this has been a difficult year for many people and we’re hoping that you readers will be generous once again.’
Since its inception in 1986, Give-A-Christmas has raised $609,985.69 for the Salvation Army. That includes donations from the students, teachers and friends of the Albert Gallatin School District, who have been the campaign’s biggest donors over the years. In fact, many local schools contribute generously to Give-A-Christmas.
Donations also come from businesses, such as Atlas America, as well as local churches, organizations and individuals.
“I’m always amazed by the kindness of our readers who care enough about others to contribute to this project,’ said Sparkle.
All funds contributed to Give-A-Christmas are turned over to the Salvation Army service units in the Herald-Standard readership area. The total collected will be reported in the Christmas Eve edition of the Herald-Standard. The deadline for donations is noon on Thursday, Dec. 22.
Donations by readers are sent to the service unit that provides for the area in which they live, but readers can designate that their funds go to another service unit. Service units do not share funds. All money raised in an area stays in that area unless the donor requests otherwise.
The service units of the Salvation Army that receive funds from Give-A-Christmas include the following from Fayette County:
? Albert Gallatin Area Service Center, which includes Adah, Allison, Brier Hill, Brownsville and West Brownsville, Cardale, Chestnut Ridge, East Millsboro, Edenborn, Fairbank, Fairchance, Gans, Gates, Grays Landing, Grindstone, Hibbs, Hiller, Isabelle, Keisterville, Labelle/Maxwell, Lake Lynn, Lamberton, Leckrone, Martin, Masontown, McClellandtown, Merrittstown, New Geneva, New Salem, Newell, Oliphant Furnace, Point Marion, Republic, Ronco, Smithfield, Smock, Uledi, Upper Middletown and Waltersburg.
? Connellsville Service Center, which includes Champion, Connellsville, Dunbar, Indian Head, Melcroft, Mill Run, Normalville, South Connellsville and White.
? Dawson-Perryopolis Service Unit includes Dawson, Dickerson Run, Layton, Leisenring, Perryopolis, Star Junction, Van Meter, Vanderbilt, West Leisenring, Whitsett and Wickhaven.
? Hopwood/Markleysburg Service Unit includes Brownfield, Chalkhill, Farmington, Gibbons Glade, Hopwood, Markleysburg and Ohiopyle.
? Uniontown Corps includes Lemont Furnace, Mount Braddock, Oliver and Uniontown.
The Greene County Service Unit takes care of the entire county.
In Somerset County, the Confluence Service Unit handles Addison, Confluence, Fort Hill, Listonburg and Ursina
In Westmoreland County, Scottdale Service Unit handles Scottdale, Everson, Ruffsdale, Alverton and Tarrs.
Donations can be mailed to Give-A-Christmas, P.O. Box 1147, Uniontown, Pa. 15401 or brought to the desks of the Herald-Standard offices in Uniontown and Connellsville weekdays during business hours.
In addition, Give-A-Christmas donation cans have been placed in 250 stores throughout the Herald-Standard’s distribution area.