The Butler County United Fund kicked off its 2006-07 fundraising efforts with a lunch held Friday at Cambrian Ridge in Greenville.

President Ronnie Paulk said 25 agencies and organizations are set to benefit from the $55,000 goal the United Fund has set this year.

&#8220This is a joint effort where we work together and are effective in doing good for our local people,” said Paulk. &#8220It's really our way to help people who are not as fortunate as we are. It helps both the youth and the elderly in our county.”

The Butler County United Fund was started after World War II by a group of civic-minded individuals who wanted to do something good for charitable organizations inside the county.

Paulk said the United Fund grows each year.

&#8220For instance, last year we were able to throw Christmas parties at the nursing homes,” he said. &#8220And we're looking forward to doing that again this year.”

Paulk said many businesses that contribute to the United Fund offer their employees the opportunity to deduct their donations - be it weekly, monthly, or annually - from their payroll checks.

&#8220We estimate that we have a total workforce of 2,500 involved with the United Fund,” said Paulk. &#8220If just 1,000 of those gave $1 per week we'd have $52,000 raised.”

Allen Stephenson, an active volunteer with the United Fund, said some companies have raffles for relatively expensive items like televisions as a way to encourage support of the United Fund.

&#8220To some, it's an incentive to help give,” said Stephenson.

Funds raised by the United Fund are allocated in a meeting during the spring, said Paulk.

The following agencies will receive financial support from the United Fund of Butler County: YMCA, Safe Harbor, South Butler Volunteer Rescue, Butler Activity and Training Center, Red Cross, Girl and Boy Scouts, Georgiana Youth Activities, McKenzie Youth Activities, 4-H Club, Underprivileged Children's Emergency Fund, Goodwill Industries, Greenville Recreation/Dunbar, Food Bank, Greenville-Butler County Public Library, Family Medical/Foster Children, Children's Music Enrichment Program, Children's Depot, Butler County Boys and Girls Club, Butler County Foster Parent Fund, Healthy Kids, Rock West Outreach Food Program, and Every Child Deserves A Chance.