BLOOMINGTON - United Way of McLean County will not have a pacesetter campaign this summer to advance the communitywide fundraising campaign in the fall but instead will run a marketing campaign focusing on the need for individuals to work together to benefit society.

For several years, United Way has designated a campaign "pacesetter" to run a high-profile summer fundraising campaign that other businesses and organizations can learn from for their fall campaigns. Last year's pacesetter was the Town of Normal.

Instead, United Way this summer will focus on Live United, which is part of an international United Way program, said Alan Chapman, United Way of McLean County's 2008 campaign chairman and a retired Unit 5 school superintendent.

Live United is a marketing effort focusing on individuals' interdependence, Chapman explained Tuesday. United Way positions itself as an organization that can advance the common good, he said. Live United will be used as the springboard for the communitywide fundraising campaign, which will begin Aug. 27 and end Dec. 31, Chapman said.

The fall 2007 campaign raised a record $4,490,675. Donations to United Way support programs trying to solve root causes of problems involving families, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, the homeless, and people in need of health care. This year, United Way money is helping to fund 46 programs at 29 local social service agencies.

Also on Tuesday, Chapman announced his campaign cabinet, which consists of 31 leaders from business, labor, government and education who volunteer to spearhead the fundraising campaign. (A list of leaders appears on Pantagraph.com.)

This year's campaign will be divided into four divisions, said Catherine McGeehan, United Way's investor relations and resource development manager. They are house accounts (large employers), portfolio (employers of 100 or more employees), target markets (including professionals such as doctors and lawyers), and medium firms (employers of 100 or fewer employees), she said.

Chapman said a focus will be increasing the number of Leadership Givers (those who donate $500 or more) and Tocqueville Society members (those who give $10,000 or more).

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United Way campaign leadership

United Way of McLean County on Tuesday announced its 2008 Campaign Cabinet - volunteers who will spearhead this year's fundraising campaign. Cabinet members are:

Campaign Chairman Alan Chapman, retired from Unit 5 schools

Carol Ambler, Mitsubishi Motors North America

Dave Anderson, retired from Town of Normal

John Burrill, Mid Central Community Action

John Case, Electrolux Home Care Products North America

Julie Dobski, Little Jewels Learning Center and McDonald's

Fred Drake, Heartland Bank & Trust Co.

Carl Enchelmayer, AFNI

Geoff Fruin, Town of Normal

John Hintz, State Farm Insurance Cos.

Mike James, Brad Barker Honda

Allison Khoury, Electrolux Home Care Products North America

Bob Lakin, Commerce Bank

Mike Matejka, Great Plains Laborers District Council

John Meek, Felmley-Dickerson Co.

Paul O'Brien, State Farm Illinois Operations Center

Jason Pals, National City Bank

Sherry Parker, State Farm Insurance Cos.

Mark Peterson, Town of Normal and 2008 campaign chairman-elect

Michael Poon, Electrolux Home Care Products North America

Michael Powell, Law Offices of Michael A. Powell LLC

Sarah Powell, Country Financial

Shelly Prehoda, Country Financial

Aaron Quick, Farnsworth Group

Sonja Reece, BroMenn Healthcare

Barry Reilly, District 87 schools

Mons Schrantz, retired from State Farm Insurance Cos.

Gina Schuck, State Farm Insurance Cos.

Kevin Vannatta, AT&T

Michael Wiggins, Electrolux Home Care Products North America

Sheahon Zenger, Illinois State University

SOURCE: United Way of McLean County