Albert Lea Select Foods employees raised almost $100,000 this year to go toward the United Way of Freeborn County’s 2009 Live United campaign.

This has been the highest employer donation during the campaign, said local United Way Executive Director Ann Austin. It is $30,000 more than the company’s employees raised last year.

The organization’s leaders found out about the donation earlier this week.

“It’s through education that the employees are able to understand the services in the community,” Austin said. “They’re a very giving group of people who are aware of the needs in the community.”

She noted that the company’s leadership met with every one of its about 450 employees individually and talked about the services the United Way provides to the community.

The donations came mainly from employee deductions, but there were cash donations, too, she said.

“It’s unbelievable what a company like that could do for us,” said 2009 United Way campaign Chairman Steve Merfeld. “They have an almost 99 percent giving rate. Just the gift of theirs is about a quarter of our need.”

The company’s donation pushed the overall campaign total to over $500,000. Other employer donations will be recognized at the United Way campaign celebration in February.

Merfeld said there were several businesses who donated for the first time and some others that quadrupled their donation.

As of Friday, the campaign had raised $548,000 through fundraisers, donations and corporate gifts, which is ahead of where the organization was at this time last year, Austin said. The campaign goal is $645,000.

Donations have to either be pledged or turned into the local United Way office by Dec. 31 to count toward this year’s campaign.

“We’re very thankful for everyone who has given,” she added.

Between now and the end of the month, the United Way will still be getting corporate donations, she said. The organization also issued a challenge to local businesses and organizations to raise a little extra money for the campaign throughout the month of December.

The winner of the challenge will receive a catered meal from Quiznos for up to 25 employees and cookies from Cedar Valley Services.

Austin said if the organization is able to raise as much as it did last year — about $600,000 — they will call it a success.

She encouraged people who cannot afford to give financially to look for volunteer opportunities.

The United Way of Freeborn County provides support for 19 agencies in the county.