United Way is partnering with downtown merchants for Get Downtown & Live United. Participating merchants will collect funds to benefit the United Way on Kansas University home football game days, today and Nov. 14. Customers are invited to round up their purchases, add 10 percent to the total purchase, or contribute loose change to the collection boxes at the cash registers. Proceeds will benefit the 2009 United Way Campaign.

United Way Small Business Division co-chairs Ernie Cummings, of Kizer-Cummings Jewelers, and Brian Iverson, of US Bank, along with Jane Pennington, director of the Downtown Lawrence Association, are leading the effort to bring awareness to the United Way’s 2009 Live United campaign.