Extending its contribution campaign paid off for the United Way of the Greater Miss-Lou, which exceeded its goal and raised more than $368,000 for local charities.

The 2001 campaign, &uot;United We Stand for a Greater Miss-Lou,&uot; kicked off in August and was scheduled to end near Thanksgiving.

But in her first year as United Way president, Monica Lynch said the campaign lagged on and almost $50,000 more was raised.

Major contributors this year include new donor Isle of Capri which raised almost $40,000 and Titan Tire’s Natchez plant with more than $21,000 in employee donations, Lynch said.

Because of recent layoffs at Titan, Lynch said the likelihood of collecting plant employees’ contributions, the majority of which are based on payroll deductions, is questionable.

The rise in contributions is partially due to companies such as Callon Petroleum deciding to match employee contributions dollar for dollar, she said. But individual employee donations, about $240,000 this campaign, were also up over last year.

&uot;It was one of those years people felt like they were ready to give,&uot; Lynch said.

Increased contributions locally could be a bright spot in United Way campaigns nationwide, which have been disappointing the last 10 years.

In fact, the United Way recently launched a new hard-hitting advertising campaign in hopes of improving contributions.

Lynch, who just returned from a national conference, said contributions have increased every year up to $3.77 billion in 1999. But once the numbers are adjusted for inflation, the reality is contributions have leveled off.

But as United Way donations decline, contributions to the growing number of other charity organizations are on the rise.

&uot;Part of it is that’s the trend. Let’s start a non-profit,&uot; she said. &uot;There are more options for donors now.&uot;

The 25 agencies in Adams County and Concordia Parish that benefit from United Way donations should begin receiving their quarterly checks in February, Lynch said. An allocations committee determines how much money an agency receives depending on how much the agency requested and what the committee believes its need to be.

While this year’s campaign is complete, Lynch said planning for next year has already begun. &uot;Even though you’re not going to see us for a while, we’re out there working in the community,&uot; she said.