Mississippi State University's 1996-97 United Way campaign exceeded fund-raising goals set for faculty and staff, as well as students.
Libba Andrews, who led this year's campus campaign, said faculty and staff members raised $73,464 for the charity, surpassing a goal of $72,000. The separate student campaign netted $5,835, exceeding a $4,500 goal.
Andrews, associate director of the university's alumni association, credited the leadership among the 18 university divisions and an early start for topping last year's $63,813 collection. Nearly 150 volunteer faculty and staff members assisted in the fund-raising effort.
"We started in September this time and hit the ground running," she said. "We set hard deadlines and were fortunate to have good leadership in all divisions--everyone who participated had volunteered."
The campaign closed Dec. 20 with $233,270 raised for all of Oktibbeha County, exceeding the overall goal by 3 percent. Mississippi State's contribution is about one-third of the county effort.
"It's a great way to start the year for the 19 agencies funded by the United Way," Andrews added.