DAPHNE, Ala. — United Way of Baldwin County announced a goal of $905,000 at its campaign kickoff event held Thursday at the Daphne Civic Center.

“This is a challenging time,” United Way of Baldwin County Chairman Leon Hill said. “This economy is the worst we’ve had since anybody can remember. We wanted to set a goal that was more than what we were making last year so we could provide more funding for our 42 agencies.

“But we keep in mind that these are challenging times. The goal is $905,000.”

He said the United Way was already at 17 percent of that goal before the luncheon began.

United Way of Baldwin County sold 520 tickets at $25 apiece, which equals around $13,000 raised.

Steven Jones, a senior football player at Foley High School, gave his testimony to the crowd about his time living at the United Way-supported Alabama Sheriff’s Boys Ranch.

He said he did not have a great home life, and in middle school his passion for football was hindered by discipline problems, according to an event brochure. However, a coach saw potential in Steven on and off the field and connected the teenager to others who introduced him to the ranch.

Steven heard about pre-placement, packed his things, went straight to the ranch and never left.

“After that, life’s been a lot better,” Steven said. “I don’t have to worry about what I’m going to eat or what I’m going to do or where I’m going to sleep. The ranch takes care of all of that for me.”

Steven is entertaining scholarship offers from college recruiters and plans on a career in law enforcement.

“I wanted something better than what I had,” he was quoted as saying in the campaign event’s brochure. “In my whole family, nobody has gone to college; they’re all on the same cycle.

“The ranch changed my life. If I had not come here, I probably would not be in school — I would be in trouble.”