Morgan County’s annual United Way campaign is making progress with pledges and donations to date totaling about $600,000 or a little more than a third of a $1.7 million goal.

The campaign will continue until year’s end and the money raised will be used to help finance the operations of 25 participating agencies in 2012.

“Things look pretty good for success even though our economy is struggling,” said George Pollit, executive director of United Way of Morgan County. “The annual Daikin Golf Tournament raised $381,000, or about $30,000 more than last year. That was a good start for us and we’re hopeful it will generate the energy and enthusiasm needed to reach our goal.”

Pollit said plans are to complete the campaign by the end of the year and urged campaign volunteers to get their assigned work done as efficiently and quickly as possible.

Several Hartselle people are serving as volunteer leaders in the fundraising drive. They include Councilman Mark Mizell who is heading up the Governmental Division, Mayor Dwight Tankersley who is serving as a loaned executive and Stacey Segler and Lacy Garnett, both of whom are working as volunteers with the Hartselle Parks & Recreation Department.

“I really didn’t realize how much the participating agencies depend on the United Way for support until I participated in an agency tour,’ Tankersley said. “For example, Meals on Wheels gets more than half of its revenue from the United Way; F.A.C.E.S., 49 percent of its budget; ARC, 38 percent; and Big Brothers-Big Sisters, 25 percent.

“I also learned that the 211 Information Referral Service is a UW – supported program. By dialing 211, you can receive resource referral information.”

Tankersley is working with government entities and education systems. He said fundraising drives are already underway at Hartselle City Schools, Hartselle Utilities, the Town of Falkville and Joe Wheeler EMC.

Segler reported that $700 was raised at a “wrecked car bash” during Hartselle Depot Days.

A baked goods sale and concessions at a rummage sale at Sparkman Civic Center on Nov. 4-5 is also a UW fundraiser. Other fundraisers are in the planning stage.