United Way names chairwoman for ’05 campaign

United Way of Douglas County has selected a longtime reporter and editor for the Lawrence Journal-World to lead its 2005 fund-raising campaign.

Ann Gardner will chair the campaign, officials announced Wednesday. She said the campaign’s goal would be to top the $1.55 million raised in 2004.

“I’m really delighted she’s agreed to do this,” said Jo Bryant, United Way director. “I admire Ann for being very articulate and bright. She has lived here a long time, and she’s very committed to the community.”

Gardner has worked at the Journal-World for 28 years, the past 18 as editorial page editor. Previously, she was a reporter and features editor.

She is a graduate of Leadership Lawrence and remains involved in curriculum planning for that program. She is a board member of the Kansas Professional Communicators and Lawrence Education Achievement Partners, and she is a past board member of the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Assn.

“Over the years, just about every family in Douglas County is touched by some service provided by a United Way agency,” Gardner said. “The work they do and the needs they help fill are part of what make this such a great community. Being drive chair sort of puts me at the center of this year’s fund-raising effort, but many, many other volunteers will be involved. It’s really a community effort to achieve a community goal.”

United Way of Douglas County provides funding to 27 area agencies. Bryant said plans called for a Pacesetter campaign — which will involve several local businesses — to begin in August, with the overall campaign officially kicking off in September.

The past year’s total represented a 6 percent increase from 2003 contributions.

“That will be a tough act to follow, but we hope to build on that success by increasing both the number of dollars and the number of donors next year,” Gardner said. “The local needs aren’t diminishing, and agencies need our support.”