Atmore’s United Fund is well on their way to this year’s fund raising goal of $60,000 and now the organization has new leadership to carry them into the New Year.

New UF board officers were chosen by the group in January. Taking over responsibilities as the new president will be former vice president Lee Ann Allen. Filling Allen’s former spot as vice president for the 2012 campaign will be Katrina Wallace while Cathy McKinley will once again serve as UF’s secretary.

Allen said she is honored to have been chosen as the board’s president and is excited about the other new officers as well as the 2012 campaign, which has already raised over $43,000 since it began in early December of 2011.

“It’s wonderful,” Allen said. “We’re excited about the new year. I’m confident that we’ll hit our goal and hopefully hit it so we can wrap everything up by the end of April. We’re looking forward to a strong close out.”

Allen said the addition of new board members Wallace, Kellie Ridgeway and David Landis in 2011 has helped the fund tremendously and added she expects Michael Arnold to be approved for membership during the board’s next meeting.

Aiding the hard working UF board members with fundraising for 2012 has been an extremely supportive community according to Allen.

“The public and has been very generous and the businesses around town have been very generous,” she said.

Even with new leaders in place on the board and funds quickly approaching the goal Allen said it will still take some added help from the community to get UF where they need to be by early summer.

All funds raised will go to aid local organizations and programs.

Agencies supported by the United Fund in 2012 include: Ester Seals Alabama; American Red Cross; Friends of Education of Escambia County, Ala.; Atmore Cal Ripken Baseball and Babe Ruth Baseball; Atmore Pee Wee football; Atmore Tee Ball league; Escambia County Cooperative Library System; Atmore Public Library; Greater Escambia Council for the Arts; Atmore YMCA; Atmore Girls Softball; Concerned Citizens of Atmore; Atmore Area Christian Care Ministry; and Hospitality House Ministry.