Yellowknife (Mar 14/03) - The United Way of Yellowknife is preparing to share its good fortune with local community groups.

The new society started last year and launched the first campaign in October.

It is now deciding how to distribute the more than $64,000 raised over the past five months.

"We did not anticipate (that much money) in the first year," said director and communications person Doris McCann.

"I think we were pleased with the amount raised in the first year."

The United Way generates money for other charitable community organizations whose purpose is to create stronger communities for families, said McCann.

"We hope that the United Way will assist getting charitable organizations in the community to work together and to give them a means to work together better."

The $64,589 was raised through employee deduction programs in the federal, territorial and municipal government and credit card pledges. Hundreds of people signed up for the employee deduction program, said McCann.

One quarter of the donations will be given to donor-identified charities while the remaining two-thirds is open to the community.

A proposal process is being created by the community investment committee and should be ready within the next few months, said McCann.

"We hope to simplify the process," she said.

Directors are also developing the second campaign to be launched this fall.

"We're really going to improve reaching employees and community about United Way," said McCann.

She said United Way will focus on public sector employees for the payroll deduction program.

Since the launch in October the organization has established a financial system and policy structure to ensure a smooth operation by the second campaign in the fall, said McCann.