Mike Jablonski,

chairman of the Fayette County United Way Advisory Board, invited members

of the county Chamber of Commerce to work together in making an impact

on the community.

He spoke at

the chamber's Breakfast Before Hours about a community impact plan that

would affect safety regarding children. Jablonski said affordable, quality

preschool and child care would mean success in school, which would in

turn mean less truancy; problem resolution and coping skills would allow

for a stronger community, and employment and training allows families

to be economically self-sufficient.

Involvement

in neighborhood and civic issues and active leadership by organizations

and associations will create a stronger community. "When people come

together and have a common vision," he said, "they can make

a difference."

Fayette County's

director of community education, Jim Pittman, said he is grateful for

United Way's support of the program. "It enables us to have a high

ratio of teachers or care givers to students, one to three students. In

some cases, it's one to one. And we have 40 to 50 kids in each session."

Pittman also

noted that the program costs $190 per student, plus transportation costs,

and virtually every child requires door-to-door transportation. "Thanks

to United Way grants, we are able to honor requests for this kind of transportation,"

he said.

This year,

United Way will invest more than $941,000 in programs and initiatives

in Fayette County. Donations will allow the organization to align with

one or more solution areas, making the region safer and stronger. These

would include nurturing children and youth, strengthening families, increasing

economic self-sufficiency, encouraging citizen involvement and basic needs.

The 2001 Pacesetters

were announced as agreeing to begin its United Way campaign early: Cooper

Lighting, Fayette Community Hospital, Fayette Senior Services, Hoshizaki

America, Pathway Communities and Sealed Air.