AUBURN – The goal is $1,717,000 and teams of United Way volunteers throughout Androscoggin County expect to reach the target in just over two months.

The kickoff breakfast for the 2004 campaign of the United Way of Androscoggin County took place Thursday morning at Martindale Country Club. Representatives of companies throughout the area learned that the Pacesetting Campaign has already raised nearly $170,000, and other pledges put the current tally at just over $200,000.

A new element this year is a Family Leaders’ Circle Program, according to Mark Anthoine of Healey and Associates, Inc., who is chairing the campaign for the second straight year. Anthoine told the volunteers it’s an expansion of the successful Leaders’ Circle Program and its objective is to show families how their donation of $500 can affect the community.

“This helps us bring it down to the level of our children,” Anthoine said. He emphasized the importance of instilling a sense of philanthropy and community service in young people of the community.

JoAn Chartier, a United Way-loaned executive who is employed by L.L. Bean, gave an emotion-charged talk about caring for a 9-year-old abandoned child who came into her home a couple of years ago. She told how various United Way services helped that child move from extreme psychological trauma toward a more normal life today.

Joe Liguori of Androscoggin Bank, the United Way board’s chairman, said, “Everything we do, we do with a passion.” He said United Way of Androscoggin County is busy throughout the year as it assists with funding for almost three dozen area agencies. However, he noted, it’s the coming two months when United Way is most visible in the communities as its campaign moves forward.

Joleen Bedard, executive director of United Way of Androscoggin County, recognized special volunteer service by Francine Anstey of Turner.

She also pointed out that 109 volunteers were set to fan out through L-A Thursday for the United Way’s “Day of Caring.” That’s when they do hands-on work for needy and deserving people or groups. The work might include yard clean-up, painting, window washing or repairs, she said.

The 2004 campaign’s divisions, chairmen and goals are:

Education Division, Francine Anstey, goal of $42,500; Commerce Division, Jeff Gosselin of BankNorth and Marc Paquette of Androscoggin Bank, $875,000 (Gosselin is campaign chairman-elect for the coming two years); Nonprofit Division, Betsy Norcross-Plourde of Advocates for Children, $65,000; Local Government Division, Dottie Perham-Whittier, community relations coordinator for the City of Lewiston, $52,000; Financial and Banking Division, Roxanne Salatino of Fleet Bank, $278,000; Professional Division, David Wightman of Austin Associates, and Marc Frenette of Skelton Taintor and Abbott law offices, $60,000; Health Care Division, Katherine Davis of Sisters of Charity Health Systems, $175,000; Leaders’ Circle Division, Janet Bishop of White Rock Distillery, and Fred Bishop of Nason Mechanical Services, $488,570.

The United Way staff is handling other area towns and businesses, and their goal is $39,500.

The 2004 goal of $1,717,000 is less than last year’s goal of $1,800,000. The 2003 campaign fell a bit short of that total, but United Way raised about $1,700,000 in 2002.

Officials of United Way of Androscoggin County set the lower goal this year with the expectation that it is realistic.

The campaign runs through a finale set for Dec. 2.