MARSHFIELD — Marshfield Area United Way’s annual fundraising campaign is currently at 60 percent of the community goal of $830,000. For the past couple of months, Campaign Drive Chairs Brian and Beth Kief along with United Way Executive Director Paula Jero have been out visiting numerous businesses to discuss United Way’s work in the community.

“We have been touched by all of the people we have met and their tremendous generosity toward others. This experience as United Way Campaign chairs has affirmed our belief that this is a compassionate community. We are fortunate to be part of it.

“We are seeing that many of the completed business campaigns have exceeded their goal. This is a great sign. But we still have a ways to go and have several large employer campaigns yet to be completed. We still need everyone’s donation to achieve our community goal, and there is still time to give,” said Brian and Beth Kief about the progress of the campaign.

Funds raised during the campaign will be distributed in 2015 to United Way partner programs and initiatives in the Marshfield area. Last year these programs helped more than 15,000 individuals in Marshfield Area United Way’s service area that encompasses the following communities: Marshfield, Arpin, Auburndale, Chili, Granton, Greenwood, Loyal, Pittsville, Neillsville, Spencer, and Stratford. Every dollar given to United Way makes an impact helping provide things such as food, shelter, warm clothes, counseling for a child who has been abused, resources for parents with disabled children, and safety for families living in violence.

Tax-deductible contributions to this year’s United Way campaign can be mailed to United Way at P.O. Box 771, Marshfield, WI 54449 or dropped off at the United Way office at 156 S. Central Ave. A secure online donation can also be made by visiting marshfieldareaunitedway.org and clicking on the “Donate Now” button.