Sept. 22, 2008 -- The United Way of St. Thomas-St. John launched its annual fund-raising drive for the 2009 year at a breakfast at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.

"We are all demonstrating something in common. We care about the community and want to make it better," said Kim Moholland, president of the St. Thomas-St. John United Way.

The United Way funds about 15 agencies that educate, transport, house, help and provide health care and spiritual services for Virgin Islanders.

Representatives of the various United Way member agencies, including the Boy Scouts, Ebenezer Gardens home for the aged, Catholic Charities, The American Red Cross, spoke about how much the funding provided by the United Way affects their organizations.

A video produced by Gloria Gumbs showed the projects supported by the United Way. One of the organization's newest events, the Day Of Caring, provides numerous services for the homeless.

Dawn Milliner, a representative of the Church of the Reformation Summer Program praised United Way for supporting that event, which made it possible for the church to provide "a safe, fun place to be."

The United Way campaign kickoff breakfast brought in first-day pledges of $135,700. In recent years the kickoff raised as much as $335,000, but this year, a number of large corporate donors from previous years were not in attendance.

The United Way fell short of its 2008 fund-raising goal of $800,000. It brought in about 80 percent of that, according to former fund-raising co-chair Simon Caines.

"Today is just the beginning and we need your help," Moholland said. The 2009 goal is again $800,000.

Anyone who would like to contribute can visit the United Way office in Nisky Center or call 774-3185.