DAPHNE, Ala. — The United Way of Baldwin County announced at its campaign kick-off luncheon  Thursday that this year’s fundraising goal is $905,000.

UWBC Chairman Leon Hill cited tough economic times and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as potential factors that could reduce the amount of money raised, but he said United Way wanted to raise more than last year. The organization has already raised 17 percent of its goal, he said at the Daphne Civic Center.

Sports writer and radio personality Paul Finebaum spoke at the event about the impact his mother had on his life, and how she would react to his working with United Way.

“Earlier today when we landed, looking out at that magnificent bay, I thought about my mother (who died more than a decade ago) and how proud she would’ve been of her son that I was here today; that I was here doing something constructive, doing something that would help people,” he said.

During the event, Foley High School football player Steven Jones gave his testimonial about living at the Alabama Sheriff’s Boys Ranch for much of his teenage life.

See the full story in the Sept. 8 editions of the Daphne Bulletin, Spanish Fort Sun, Fairhope Courier, The Independent or The Baldwin Times.