Meeting seeks more donations

Bob Saacke, the campaign director and employee of the private fundraising firm, National Community Development Services Inc., told about 50 business and community leaders that the campaign is on track.

He said that most of his efforts to date have been to gather information and to meet with local leaders.

He said had only sought contributions from 27 of the 130 individuals, businesses and other groups that will be contacted by the time the campaign ends in December.

“We have received $603,100 to this point, and we are very, very early in the campaign,” he said. “We now have 16 pledges and only three turn-downs for varying reasons.”

He said First American Bank & Trust that day had become the 16th donor and their contribution had not been included in the $603,100 total.

He recognized three businesses as being in the “major gift division” by pledging to donate at least $50,000 over the next five years.

The major donors include Chico’s, Republic Services and Barrow Regional Medical Center.

Based on the $20,000 annual funding level in the county budget, Saacke said he expects Barrow County also would reach the major donor level over the next five years. The other major donor is the IBA. After urging strong support for the campaign, campaign cochair Brad Akins publicly recognized the longtime support from the family of Chris Maddox, the president and CEO of the former Peoples Bank. Maddox, the other co-chair, was visibly moved by the recognition.

The purpose of the campaign is to raise five years of support for the Economic Development Council. Currently, the EDC has one full-time employee who needs additional tools to better recruit to the county some large employers, Saacke said.