Luverne’s first annual Community Fund campaign came to a glorious, smashing triumph of a climax this week.
Cash in the bank from the campaign totaled $10,850.
Pledges to be paid during the coming year total $2,817.70.
This makes a total of $13,667.70 raised by the campaign solicitors who didn’t leave a stone unturned in a united effort to make the Community Fund drive a success.
The quota set by the budget committee for the fund had been $9,500.
Looking back at the results as against the original hopes officials of the Community Fund admitted that they might have been much too timid in setting a goal for the first drive.
Because it was the first campaign and because the time allotted for the Community Fund drive was impossibly short and on unbelievably short notice, it was thought better to set a smaller quota than a more realistic quota.
Underestimated Response
“We underestimated the potential response,” said Dr. Robert Keitel who headed the campaign division of the Community Fund.
“And we also underestimated the approval of Luverne residents who showed by their gifts they heartily endorse the fund idea of giving once and giving for all.”
The canvassing organizations who have been included in the Community Fund this year all had conducted financial drives here the past five years.
No doubt there will be a number of other organizations who will want to be included in the 1966 Community Fund campaign. The U.S.O. would be a typical example because of the expanded need for the U.S.O. because of the Viet Nam situation.
Great credit was given to the women who did such wonderful work in the campaign. The women’s division, which handled the residential canvassing, were responsible for a $4,071 total in gifts.
Mrs. Les Murphy was co-chairman of the fund drive with Dr. Keitel, and Don Dennis serving as assistant to Keitel and Mrs. Chester Holm and Mrs. Milo Kontz serving as co-chairwomen of the women’s division.
More Agencies Next Year
Ray Frick, who headed the Community Fund organization, said that the fund this year had made provision for 11 organizations.
“There will be more who now will want to participate,” he said.
“There will be other organizations who will conduct direct mail campaigns, many of them worthy indeed, and individuals will have to use their own judgment on those organizations.”
But--- the smashing response to the Community Fund drive is evidence that people who have been solicited for many a drive in the past and donors who have wearied of multiple appeals want a Community Fund for Luverne.
“We had wonderful support from the workers and we had a wonderful response from the citizens of Luverne,” said Frick. “The women did a terrific job. It was wonderful all the way thru and everyone can be really proud of the outcome.”