Quoting from Pine Bluff Commercial Editorials of March 1 and May 3, 2009:

The United Way of Southeast Arkansas (Pine Bluff) exceeded its fall 2008 campaign goal of $1.25 million by $2,500, Julie Bridgforth, campaign chairman, announced Wednesday...The chapter may be the only state United Way organization to have met its goal, observed David Reber, the outgoing organization president. “This is clearly a strong community.”

The annual goal for each of the past three years was $1.25 million. Each year volunteers exceeded their goal. (May 3, 2009)

The announcement came during the fourth consecutive February where we compared Pine Bluff’s generosity to United Way campaigns in two cities about our size, but with much healthier economies.

While we have our problems, it says a lot about a community that always seems so willing to extend a hand to the less fortunate.

We have been comparing the United Way campaigns in Pine Bluff to Jonesboro and Joplin, Mo., since early 2006. Both cities have stronger economies, lower unemployment rates and seem to be generating new jobs every time we turn around. (March 1, 2009)

Jonesboro, for example, landed 1,000 new industrial jobs during the past year when two firms agreed to open operations in the city. However, the United Way of Northeast Arkansas - representing organization’s in eight counties- raised only $650,930 during the 2008 campaign.

United Way of Southwest Missouri at Joplin set a record for giving last year, but the $1.12 million in donations and pledges fell short of Pine Bluff’s accomplishments.

The magnanimity of the people in this area in unbelievable considering the high poverty and unemployment rate, yet a majority of those campaign dollars came from individuals. They keep renewing our faith. (May 3, 2009)