AUBURN – With an increase of just $1 a week from its payroll deduction donors, United Way of Androscoggin County is aiming for a goal of $1.8 million or more this year.

That’s an increase of about $100,000 for the 10-week 2006 campaign that began Wednesday morning at a kickoff breakfast at Martindale Country Club attended by a record crowd.

“We’ve never had a room filled with this many energized people,” said Jeff Gosselin, campaign cabinet chairman.

United Way of Androscoggin County Board Chairman Mark Anthoine emphasized the impact of United Way’s assistance to area organizations and social service agencies.

“Your presence here in such large numbers says a lot about your commitment” to the campaign, Anthoine said.

He emphasized that the United Way’s annual campaign does more than raise money. He said it also raises awareness of needs and benefits provided by area agencies, and it raises hopes.

Joleen Bedard, United Way’s executive director, said the mission of the United Way of Androscoggin County is to increase the organized capacity of people in Androscoggin County to care for one another.

Bedard explained a new donor incentive program for the 2006 campaign. She said people donating $3 a week or more will be entered to win an L.L.Bean kayak package or 100 gallons of home heating oil from Heutz Oil Co. Those donating $5 per week or more will be eligible to win an all-inclusive trip for two to Cancun, courtesy of Dube Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

Bedard also recognized the important role of loaned executives in the campaign.

She said, “At this time of the year, our staff literally doubles.”

Dave Eid and Charlie Lopresti of WGME-13 introduced a video that featured several local agencies that benefit from United Way. The video showed activities of the 2-1-1 telephone referral to social services, SeniorsPlus and their Meals on Wheels program, and Literacy Volunteers.

Judy Martineau, who was featured in the video’s Literacy Volunteers segment, appeared at the breakfast meeting to speak about her admiration for United Way help.

She told the volunteers that teachers “thought that I was unable to learn,” and that false assessment followed through high school.

“When my children were in school, I learned from them,” she said. It wasn’t until she was assisted by Literacy Volunteers years later when she was in her 40s that she was diagnosed as dyslexic and, with help from the agency, a new world of reading was opened for her. Martineau now writes poetry and enjoys theatrical activities.

“Learning to read became an elevator,” she said.

Many of the breakfast attendees wore the blue T-shirts identifying 164 volunteers from 18 companies. They undertook community service projects at several area agencies throughout the day Wednesday.

Goals of the several campaign cabinet divisions also were announced at the breakfast.

The target for the Education Division, headed by Tom Jarvis, Lewiston School Department, is $47,000; the Commerce Division, headed by Marc Pacquette of Androscoggin Bank, Dick Albert of Parent Insurance, and Maureen Aube of the city of Auburn, $900,000; Nonprofits Division, Anne Craigs, Central Maine YWCA, $58,000; Local Government and Public Service, Maureen Aube, City of Auburn, $50,000; Finance, Insurance and Real Estate Division, Todd Abbotoni, TD Banknorth, $289,000; Professionals Division, Jim Pross and Andre Duchette of Gosselin, Dubord and Bell, $65,000; Healthcare Division, Diane Mulkhey of Central Maine Medical Center and Michele Greenier, Sisters of Charity Health Services, $165,000; and the Leaders’ Circle with individual donors of $750 or more, Pat and Patty Butler, Butler Brothers, Inc., $540,000.