There is a

campaign currently taking place in south Fulton and across the metro Atlanta

region. It is the 2002 United Way campaign. United Way's metropolitan-wide

campaign will run until the end of December and expects to raise just

under $80 million this year.

South Fulton

has run a campaign for the last four years. The campaign amount raised

has grown each year. I have served as the campaign chairman in south Fulton

for the last two years. This year's campaign in south Fulton has set a

goal of $650,000. During the previous three year's of the campaign, the

Fulton Industrial Business District has accounted for the vast majority

of the money raised in south Fulton. While that area's 30,000 employees

have continued to contribute during this year's campaign, I have sought

to increase the number of companies involved in the campaign from that

area.

Additionally,

I would like to take this opportunity to respectfully urge the other area

businesses and residents throughout south Fulton to take a moment before

the end of the year and reflect on the things you are thankful for in

south Fulton and consider making a contribution as a business entity or

on a personal basis on behalf of United Way. Your money will go a long

way toward helping others in need.

Please be assured

that any and every amount will help us achieve our goals and you have

my pledge that the money raised in south Fulton will continue to be returned

to our community in various ways from Bankhead Highway to Palmetto. United

Way recognizes the economic realities and that money does not grow on

trees. However, it is during these hard times that those in need seek

greater assistance through an established organization like United Way.

During these tight economic times, United Way is the primary organization

that you will continue to be able to count on to support local agencies

and entities as they seek to serve an increasing number of folks in need

thoughout our communities.

If you live

in or own a business in Palmetto, Fairburn, Union City, College Park,

Hapeville, and all points in between, I simply ask you to consider giving

thanks in the form of a contribution to United Way, so that others may

be helped. If you are in the banking community, make sure that your United

Way contributions in south Fulton are being counted in south Fulton as

your way of thanks to your customers. If you are in the car dealership

business, even a small contribution as a way of thanks to your south Fulton

community will be a great help. If you are a major mall or a small consultant,

I urge you to make a contribution to United Way on behalf of south Fulton.

During last

year's campaign, Oscar's Restaurant in College Park participated in our

"round-up" program whereby customers could round up their tabs

to the nearest dollar amount and the difference would go to the south

Fulton United Way campaign. We sincerely thank them for their efforts

and encourage any and every south Fulton restaurant or hotel to do the

same between now and the end of the year as a way of thanks to their south

Fulton customers.

Please take

a moment a give thanks during this Thanksgiving season. Give thanks for

your families, friends, relatives and neighbors. Give thanks for heat

and electricity and phone service. Give thanks for the mobility you have

to get from point A to point B. Give thanks for your children and grandchildren.

Give thanks for your parents and grandparents. Give thanks for your health.

Give thanks for your local schools. Give thanks for your home. Give thanks

... and consider contributing some money to help and provide some hope

to others. To start maximizing your impact on the community, call your

south Fulton United Way area coordinator, Mya McGary, at 404-836-7721.

Thank you for your consideration.

[Patrick Stafford

is executive director of the Fulton Industrial Business Association. He

can be reached at [email protected].]