The United way of West Alabama raised 103.5 percent of the fund raising goal it had set for itself in 2006.

The groups had set its sights on raising $3 million for the 2006 calendar year and ended its fund raising period with $3.1 million. Executive Director Homer Butler announced the results of the 2006 fundraising drive to volunteers on Jan. 4.

Community Relations Director Joanne Miles said the group serves 26 agencies across the Black Belt region. She said the group helps agencies in Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa Counties.

Miles said a group of local business owners is gathered each year and they, not the organization, decide on what the year’s goals will be. She said the group usually meets in late summer to research and decide its decision.

Miles said the committee travels to each agency that has submitted a funding request to the organization during the spring. She said the committee determines if the requests by the agencies are reasonable.

Miles said volunteers are also the ones who actually go out and fund raise or direct the fundraising efforts. She said there are several groups of volunteers that are involved in the fundraising aspect of the program.

Miles said there is also a group called the campaign cabinet that runs the efforts. She said they are business people with significant roles in their companies or communities. She said the campaign is quite reliant on the bottom rung of fundraisers who actually pound the street.