ST. THOMAS - The United Way of St. Thomas-St. John kicked off its 27th annual fundraising campaign during the weekend with a healthy start - picking up almost a third of its $800,000 goal in pledges as the drive was launched.

"We've got a lot of work ahead of us. But we feel confident the community will come through again," Thyra Hammond, executive director of the United Way of St. Thomas-St. John, said Sunday.

On Saturday, the organization had its 2006 Campaign Kickoff and Appreciation Breakfast at The Ritz-Carlton. The event served a dual purpose: to commend those who contributed to the 2005 campaign and to launch the 2006 campaign, which officially gets under way Oct. 1.

The theme for the campaign is "Your Islands, Your Home, Your United Way."

"We wanted to give it a more local feel this time," Hammond said. "All the monies that are raised here stay here, and we are trying to strengthen our community."

The funds raised during the drive help support a variety of local human services agencies.

At the breakfast, more than 63 companies, organizations and individuals came forward with pledges totaling $258,140 - about 32 percent of the 2006 goal, according to a statement United Way released Sunday.

The organization has set its goal at $800,000 for the last three campaigns, Hammond said. For the first year, contributions exceeded that amount. However, for the 2005 campaign, contributions fell slightly short - about $30,000 below the goal, she said.

In the statement, Raymond Green, president of the United Way board of directors, said the loss of Economic Development Commission companies hurt the fund drive for 2005.

Hammond said that in response, United Way concentrated its efforts in other areas, specifically on employee campaigns.

"This year, we're trying to still be creative and look for other sources of funding," she said.

A benefit jazz concert, set for Jan. 21 at Reichhold Center, will be an additional source of income for the campaign. The concert will feature Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves and two "world-class" Virgin Islands musicians - bassist Reuben Rogers and saxophonist Ron Blake, according to the statement.
The money raised by the campaign will support these local agencies: The American Red Cross, V.I. Council of Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People's Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning and the Yellow Cedar Group Home. Funds also will be used to support United Way's Venture Grant program.