Contributed photo Perdue Farm's Rockingham Associates pledged $43,037 to the United Way of Richmond County. Pictured are; Claranette Baldwin, Perry Brown, Dwayne Williams, Maxine Gardner, Bobby Ingram, Mary Bright, Cortez Smith, Quintavis Cheeks, Robert Daniels and Michelle Parrish, United Way.

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Associates at Perdue Farm’s Rockingham Plant pledged in November to give $43,037 to the United Way of Richmond County.

The United Way Perdue Associates Campaign allowed associates to use a simple payroll deduction process to individually contribute to the United Way. Those associates that pledged their fair share received a “Live United” T-shirt donated by the Rockingham Plant.

Michelle Parrish, Executive Director of the United Way of Richmond County, said Perdue Farms had to go through the proper channels with the payroll department and they have recently finalized the process to be able to begin the deduction process.

The payroll deductions will take place from January 2013 until December 2013, Parrish said.

“I am very proud of our Rockingham Associates,” said Kendall Casey, Perdue director of operations in Rockingham. “Even during these difficult financial times, our associates found a way to contribute to the United Way.”

“There were 244 associates who donated their fair share,” said Jim Brown, Perdue Plant Human Resources Manager in Rockingham.

“Our associates are very generous when it comes to giving and in many cases those that can least afford to give, give the most,” Brown said.

Adding to the pledge, the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation will give a grant that is 10 percent of the $43,037, according to Parrish.

Considered by the company to be the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, The Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, is a tax-exempt charitable foundation that was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue. The grants support the communities where the Perdue Farms do business.

The start of the United Way campaign year was March 16, 2012, but the campaign officially kicked-off in September with United Way’s annual Day of Caring. The current campaign runs through March 15, 2013, according to Parrish. As of Friday, The United Way has reached 90 percent of its overall campaign goal, which is $250,000.

“We’re ahead, right now, of what we overall raised for the 2012 campaign,” Parrish said.

If you would like more information on how your company can participate with the United Way Campaign or to make an individual donation, contact Parrish at 910-997-2173 or 910-206-2909. United Way’s mailing address is PO Box 153, Rockingham, NC 28380.

— Staff Writer Laura Edington can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at ledington@civitasmedia.com.