Jason Silvers/Tribune Photo The local Boy Scouts of America chapter lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance after presenting colors during the United Way campaign kickoff.

The United Way of Bourbon County organization is taking a different approach this year to marketing its 2008-09 fundraising campaign.

Instead of trying to raise about $100,000, which is typically the organization's goal each year, local United Way members will try to raise $99,999.99 during the organization's 2008-09 "Live United" campaign.

"When people hear you're trying to raise $100,000, it's kind of ordinary," United Way of Bourbon County President Jamie Armstrong said. "When you hear $99,999.99, it gets your attention. And we thought we'd be fun and creative."

At least 100 people attended the organization's 2008-09 campaign kick-off breakfast on Thursday in the Fort Scott Community College cafeteria, an event planned by the United Way Board of Directors.

Funds raised during this year's campaign will be distributed to 15 different area agencies that offer assistance to thousands of people in the community each year. The agencies also work to help raise money for the United Way campaign. Individuals, groups, businesses and other organizations donate to the organization's cause each year.

During the kick-off event, United Way officials talked about the impact the agencies make in the community, as well as the organization's need for donations.

"What we are is this, we ask people, regular folks like us, to give to the United Way to help these agencies," United Way of Bourbon County board member Mike Lakeman told the audience Thursday. "From kids to senior citizens, the United Way touches so many people."

Lakeman said the organization receives many donations each year from a process that allows employees of some businesses in the area to donate money to the United Way through payroll deduction.

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"Some people donate $1-$2 a week through payroll deduction," Lakeman said. "We get a lot of our funds that way."

United Way members also presented a video on Thursday during the kick-off event that explains how each local agency that is sponsored by the United Way contributes services to the community.

"Each agency touches a different aspect of our community," Armstrong said.

Armstrong said donations to the United Way are vital in order to continue providing funds to agencies supported by the organization. Last year, the organization's campaign goal was $102,000, but the organization came up just shy of that amount, raising $96,312.

The United Way of Bourbon County is trying to ensure that this year's campaign doesn't come up short so as to avoid cutting funding for any of the agencies supported by the United Way, Armstrong said.

"Last year, we didn't meet our goal, and we don't want to have to cut funding to agencies," she said. "It's not something we want to do."

During the Thursday kick-off event, members of the local Boy Scouts of America chapter presented the colors and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Lakeman and Armstrong both spoke to the crowd about the United Way campaign, with Armstrong also presented an overview of all agencies that the United Way supports.

Some of the local chapter's goal each year include assisting Bourbon County residents, addressing emergency needs, and promoting health, healing and coping in the community.

In 2008, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $14,410 in grants through the United Way of Bourbon County to two local assistance agencies; $4,683 for Mother to Mother Ministries, a local agency that provides food, clothing and other items to area mothers, and $9,727 for The Beacon, a local food pantry and community assistance agency. The American Red Cross also benefits from the United Way, having received funds in recent years for hurricane relief efforts along the Gulf Coast.

Local agencies that will benefit from United Way funding this year include the Bourbon County Senior Citizens, Tri-Valley Developmental Services, the Bourbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Southeast Kansas Respite Services, the 4-H Fair, United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas, the Salvation Army, Kansas Legal Services, the Crisis Resource Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc., the Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc., the Boy Scouts Ozark Trail Council, the Hospitality Fund, the Keyhole Youth Center, Mother to Mother Ministry, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.