It has begun!

United Way of Freeborn County officially kicked off our Campaign on Sept. 10. Anyone who was there marveled at the beautiful sweet rolls and bagels Conger Catering donated for the event. Everyone loaded up on carbs, and we are now on the race to the finish line.

Now comes the time when our advocates begin to visit the businesses, professionals and local community organizations to ask for support of United Way funded programs. Start seeing Live United.

Some days are jam-packed with presentations and events. Cargill and Lou-Rich, for example, gather their employees for us to do six presentations in one day. I recall last year that was a feat of endurance. But our campaign chairman, Steve Merfeld, is a long-distance runner, and we all have faith that he can make it.

Of course, the real work goes on behind the scenes. There are people with each business who have the title of “Workplace Coordinator.” They help coordinate United Way presentations, fundraisers and events at their workplace.

One of the joys of a campaign chairman is being invited to judge chili cookoffs and partake in lunches, bake sales, silent auctions and all of the other fun things local businesses do to raise money for United Way. Thank you to our workplace coordinators for your excitement and tireless involvement during the campaign!

We are excited to have many fun events coming up. Steve mentioned them in his last column, but here’s a reminder:

Live United Disc Golf Tournament is this Monday at 4 p.m. at Bancroft Bay Park.

The rain date is Tuesday.

You don’t even need discs to play disc golf at this event. We have some to loan you. Just show up and try it out. The cost is $10 per person or $30 per team.

Hanson Tire Lube-A-Thon is Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 a.m. to noon at Hanson Tire in Albert Lea.

We will have local troops and volunteers washing windows during the event. If you’re lucky you may also receive a free car wash.

Keep the Fires Burning is Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner of Marshall Street and Bridge Avenue (next to Nancy VanderWaerdt State Farm Insurance and the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce).

Fountain Warehouse Liquor Wine Tasting is Friday, Nov. 6, at 5 p.m. at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club.

Our thanks go out to the wonderful people on our Public Relations Committee who coordinate and promote these events: Scott Schmeltzer, Jennifer Sorlie, Jenny Davis, Jill Koehler, Crystal Miller, Dave Miller, Tim Engstrom, Ryan Haacke, Capt. Jim Brickson, Anna Rahn, Jackie Myran, Janna Arbic and Steph Helleksen.

We are also lucky to have the help of our local newspapers, the Albert Lea Tribune and Freeborn County Shopper, as well as the radio stations, KQPR Hometown Broadcasting (Power 96) and KATE AM and KCPI FM. United Way columns appear in Sunday’s Tribune, and we have radio shows every Monday afternoon on KATE and Wednesday morning on Power 96. Thank you for your help promoting United Way.

You may have noticed the beautiful ads that appear in the Tribune every Friday, promoting agencies supported by United Way. Larson Contracting has donated ad space for us to present information about United Way funded programs for years. Thank you for your support of United Way programs.

And, of course, thank you to everyone in the community who continues to support United Way year after year. Heart club members have begun to send in their donations — thank you!

Our mailers will go out early next week to all retired residents in the county. It never ceases to amaze me how stacks and stacks of letters are returned with donations from people who want to help their neighbors and strengthen our community. Thank you!

Ann Austin is the executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County.