By LEONARD GRAY

The events of Sept. 11 had a profound effect on America, but public service organizations had another type of concern – where would all the charitable donations go?

Certainly, some of the earlier beneficiaries of Sept. 11 were the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. However, United Way organizations were concerned. People across the country were pouring out their hears (and their pocketbooks) into a few agencies, including new ones which appeared in the wake of Sept. 11.

In St. Charles Parish, where the 2001-02 fund-raising campaign for United Way got started days after Sept. 11, the mood at their campaign kickoff was muted. Few could say with real conviction whether their $1.3 million goal could be met.

This week, the organization finally got its answer. St. Charles Parish had responded, boosting the fund-raising effort to a record-shattering height.

However, it’s nothing new.

Back in 1956, when the original United Givers fund drive cranked up, the goal set was $8,000. Quite a difference from the current goal. But this was something new to the area and few knew how the people would respond.

They responded well, with a tally of $8,428.

Year after year, as the need increased, agencies were added and population swelled, the goal crept higher and higher and the effort continued to match and surpass the goal.

By the mid-1970s, the goal topped $100,000 for the first time. By the early 1980s, the $250,000 mark had been achieved.

In 1989, the goal set was $465,000 and the organizers were utterly delighted to see $515,000 come into the door and exceeding the half-million dollar mark.

The following year, still a little unsteady, a $495,000 goal was set. Again, the people came through, this time with $578,000.

In 1997, with a $900,000 goal, fund-raising efforts surpassed the million-dollar mark with $1,010,186.50.

And there, it stalled. Contributions continued to come in, but none exceeded the modestly-increased goal – until this year.

With a $1.3 million goal set for the third year in a row, the third time was the charm with $1,448,200 raised.

I’d personally like to congratulate campaign chairman Jas Gill for the achievement, and I wish next year’s chairman, Mike Rio, a lot of luck.

LEONARD GRAY is assistant managing editor for L’Observateur.