The Pike County United Way will kick off its 2010 fundraising campaign on Tuesday night, Aug. 25 at Cattleman Park and everyone is invited.

“We have a great night of information, entertainment and fun planned from beginning to end,” said Tonya Gibson, Pike County United Way executive director.

The kickoff will be from 6 until 8 p.m. and Gibson said it’s going to be a squeeze to get all the fun and excitement bottled into those two hours.

“All 17 agencies serviced by the United Way will be represented,” she said. “Each agency will have a booth with information about their services and volunteer opportunities. Young people who are interested in joining the local Scouting programs can do so at the kickoff.”

There will be several ways to contribute to the 2010 Pike County United Way campaign on site. The silent auction is loaded with good items, and there’s a chance to take home a lot of greenbacks in the 50/50 drawing.

“Merchants and individuals alike have really come through for the silent auction,” Gibson said. “We’ve got some great items including the use of vacation condominiums and Regions Bank has donated one of those green bicycles that you see in their television commercials. We’ve got appliances, restaurant gift certificates and a large variety of miscellaneous items.”

Tickets for the 50/50 drawing are a dollar donation each and the person whose name is drawn at the night’s end will take home half of the pot, which could be a lot, Gibson said.

Tickets for the drawing are available at all United Way agencies and will be available at the kickoff event Tuesday night.

While the adults are browsing the booths and bidding on auction items, the kids can visit the Kids Corner that will feature a climbing wall for those ages 13 and over. Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center will have activities for the younger children including face painting, coloring and putting handprints on tiles.

Entertainment will be provided by Calvin Bodiford and his pickers and grinners, Reddemann’s Karate and SheBANG.

The Pike County Cattlewomen will have concessions including hamburgers and snacks.

“We plan to honor the peewee football teams and cheerleaders from all schools in the county, the eight-year-old baseball team that raised money for the Miracle Field and our Dixie World Series champions,” Gibson said.

“We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy a night of fellowship and fun and help us raise funds to support 17 agencies that play such important roles in the Pike County community.”

The agencies served by the Pike County United Way are the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Colley Senior Complex, Humane Society of Pike County, RSVP, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, 4-H Clubs, Women’s Life Center, East Central Mental Health, House of Ruth and Easter Seals.

The Pioneer Museum of Alabama and OCAP have been added to the agencies served by the United Way campaign and will begin receiving funds from the 2010 campaign.