The United Way of Natrona County is close to reaching its fund-raising campaign goal, with 90 percent of the funds already raised.

Although it may not be reached as early as last year, when the group announced the end of its campaign by the first week of January, executive director Shanna Harris said, "We will make our goal."

As of Friday, the United Way had raised $990,000 of the $1.1 million goal - $100,000 more than last year - set by campaign chairman Tom Pagel, the Casper police chief.

According to resource and development coordinator Laura Bemis, "Things are cruising along as they have in our history."

"If we weren't where we were now, we might be a little worried," Bemis said about the fund-raising campaign. "Everyone who has given has given as much or more than they did last year."

Bemis is certain that United Way will reach its goal because money is still coming in. Several companies participating in the campaign plan to submit their donations this month and Harris noted that they continue to receive money throughout the year.

"We have such good support so we're going to make it," Bemis added. "Our community is such a giving community. You would just be blown away by the amount of people who give and the amounts that they give. It's incredible."

Various companies around Casper regularly participate in the United Way fund-raising campaign and some get creative in their efforts. Bemis said the Wyoming Medical Center employees held a Wyoming Medical Center Idol contest and several companies hosted a jeans day, where employees donated money to wear jeans to work on Fridays.

According to Deputy Clerk of District Court Leticia Drake, county employees were presented with a "fun incentive" to participate. Drake said that those employees who contributed a total of $50 or more were entered into a drawing for prizes such as dinner-and-a-movie packages, a stay in a suite at the Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Centre and a digital camera with a printer purchased by the county commissioners.

"It just seems a little bit easier to part with a little bit of your money when we know we are going to get something back," Drake said. "It's just a really fun incentive. We only had about three or four employees who didn't do the whole $50."

Drake, who has participated in the United Way campaign in the past, said she enjoys doing so because she gets a chance to see her money make a difference.

"I like to do something for the community and we can really see the effects of the United Way," she added. "I really enjoy it."

The United Way of Natrona County provides funding for 27 nonprofit local agencies, such as Mercer House, Casper Youth Crisis Center and the NAMI-Casper Alliance for the Mentally Ill, which Harris said will apply for funding this year.

Brenda Eickhoff-Johnson, executive director at Mercer House, said funding from United Way is used in almost each one of the 15 to 18 programs they have. She said the money is used to directly serve their clients and also to show that they have community-level support that can be matched by other sources.

Beginning March 1, the United Way of Natrona County will start working on a new campaign with Susie McMurry as the chairwoman. Harris said work on the new campaign marks the end of work on Pagel's campaign. She anticipates the goal for the new campaign to be set at $1.25 million.

Both Bemis and Harris said they are hoping to get some new companies involved in the campaign who have not yet participated.

"We're going to have to be more creative," Harris said of the upcoming campaign. "Donors want to see how their money is making a difference in the community."

Those interested in donating to the United Way can call 237-9367 or mail donations to: The United Way of Natrona County, P.O. Box 2046, Casper, WY 82602.