By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / Febuary 3, 1999

DESTREHAN – Tom Cendrick, president of United Way of St. Charles Parish,opened his remarks with some bad news. The annual fund-raising goal hadnot been met.

However, despite that news – it’s the first time in years the group fell short of its goal – there was still cause for celebration with $1.1 millionraised in the 1998 campaign.

“I’m extremely excited and extremely proud,” Cendrick commented to the standing-room-only crowd gathered Feb. 28 at Destrehan Plantation’s MuleBarn.

This fund-raising achievement is the first million-dollar campaign in the organization’s 45-year history, and Cendrick immediately issued a challenge that the $2 million milestone be reached within 10 years.

Total individual contributions from people working in St. Charles Parishcame to $982,524.94. Special events, including the Run/Walk 98 and thegolf tournament, raised an additional $40,600. Federal employeescontributed another $12,937 and companies outside the parish, but with employees from the parish, contributed an additional $64,275.31.Campaign team leader was T. Allen Kirkly of Motiva Enterprises (Shell),Norco. His 1999 successor will be Ron Loving of Occidental Chemical, Taft.Several companies and government offices were recognized in their fund- raising achievements. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office was honoredfor improving its fund-raising effort by more than 200 percent over the previous year. Likewise, CXY Chemicals USA improved their fund-raisingeffort by 354 percent.

Companies honored for achieving the greatest corporate support per employee were Union Carbide/Cypress plant ($53.24 per employee forcompany with 100 employees or more) and IMC-Agrico ($272.73 peremployee for company with less than 100 employees).

Companies honored for highest employee per capita giving were Union Carbide/Star plant ($155.34 per employee for company with 100employees or more) and IMC-Agrico ($499.91 per employee for companywith less than 100 employees).

United Way of St. Charles Parish assists 34 agencies and programsincluding the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, ARC of St.

Charles, Boy Scouts, Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans, Catholic Charities, Cerebral Palsy of Louisiana, Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Epilepsy Council, Girl Scouts, Greater New Orleans Therapeutic Riding Center, Leukemia Society, National Stuttering Project, Norco Adult Day Care, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, River Parishes Mental Health Clinic, River Region Drama Guild, St. Charles Assertive TreatmentProgram, St. Charles Council for Prevention of Child Abuse, St. CharlesCouncil on Aging, St. Charles 4-H Clubs, St. Charles Parish HospitalAuxiliary, St. Charles Parish Hospital Poison Control Center, St. CharlesSocial Concerns, St. Charles Toy and Gift Fund, Volunteer and InformationAgency and VMCA Educational Services.

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