Colleen Gregoire, left, United Way of Douglas County campaign manager, and Chuck Warner, United Way co-chairman, present the 2007 Pacesetter Award to Susan Metzger, a manager at Allen Press, as Karen Warner, United Way co-chairwoman, looks on from right Wednesday at the Kansas University Adams Alumni Center. The award recognizes the company with the greatest percentage increase in pledges from the previous year. Allen Press contributed 9,000 to the local United Way chapter, which has raised more than 58,000 so far this year. United Way of Douglas County's goal for this year is to raise .7 million. The campaign ends Nov. 16.

The United Way of Douglas County’s fundraising campaign hit the ground running Wednesday morning, as leaders unveiled pledges of $458,284 toward the $1.7 million goal.

“We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go,” said Chuck Warner, a campaign co-chairman with his wife, Karen.

United Way leaders announced how much area businesses had raised during their recent pacesetter campaigns at the Kickoff Breakfast at the Adams Alumni Center at Kansas University.

Allen Press won the Pacesetter Superstar Trophy Award because it had the greatest percentage increase of gifts pledged from the previous year. Last year the company raised $8,400, compared with $19,000 this year.

“What we did was just unbelievable. I’m just very proud of everyone,” said Susan Metzger, a manager at Allen Press.

The pacesetters this year were made up of 16 other companies and organizations.

Last spring’s Rock Chalk Revue at KU raised $33,000. The Spirit of Kaw Valley Association raised $133,637.

Chuck Warner said campaign organizers will have their hands full in the campaign that lasts until Nov. 16. He is the Lawrence president of US Bank.

The campaign raised $1.63 million in 2006. This year’s funding will support 27 health and human service agencies. Fundraising for the pacesetter campaign increased 21 percent this year from the $378,381 raised in 2006 to start the overall United Way campaign.

Other pacesetter organizations were Callahan Creek, Capitol Federal Savings, Central National Bank, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Coldwell Banker McGrew Real Estate, Commerce Bank, Corner Bank, Douglas County Bank, Douglas County government employees, HRH insurance firm, KU’s pacesetter team, Laird Noller Ford, Peoples Bank, Stephens Real Estate, The World Company and US Bank.