ST. THOMAS — The United Way of St. Thomas-St. John is well on its way to its best campaign ever, according to agency: officials.

At its 2002 kickoff and appreciation breakfast Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, 36 percent, or $234,000, of the campaign’s $650,000 goal already has been collected.

“People are just opening up their hearts and giving,” said Thyra Hammond, executive director. “We are very, very pleased.”

With a record of more than 60 kickoff donors. each of whom must pledge a minimum of $1,000, campaign Chairwoman Susan Laura Lugo said that number reflects a very generous Virgin Islands community.

“On one hand you have hotels and their employees being told that the reality of the next few months is not good, but yet they all are giving rain or shine,” Lugo said.

According to Lugo, the kickoff breakfast is important because it gives momentum and strength to the three-month campaign.

“By giving at the kickoff, it shows that businesses are not waiting to see their bottom line, but they see the United Way as a worthy cause that deserves their commitment,” Lugo said.

Leading the group of kickoff donors was the Prosser ICC Foundation with $25,000, West Indian Co. with $15,000; Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig law firm with $12,500 and a guarantee of $5,000 from its employees; and John Anderson Companies with $12,500.

The official start of the campaign begins today and ends in January.

Anyone interested in making a donation can call the United Way office at 774-3185. Checks and cash are welcome; credit cards are accepted with a minimum $500 pledge. Pledges do not need to be paid in full until December of next year.

Committee members are Shirley Quetel Hendricks, Winthrop Maduro, Martin Relwani, Raymond Fournier, Micol Morgan, Margaret Sprauve, Geraldine Heath, Louis Hill, Judy George, Muriel and Wingrove Fenton, Michael Cabacungan, Angelika Balkarran and Silvia Camohell.