Officials at the Northwoods United Way announced this week that they have reached 76 percent of their $225,000 goal by raising $170,471. Included in this latest total are the amounts raised by Wausau Papers employees of $33,000, Printpack employees of $13,300 and MMG/SHSMH employees of $9,692.

“These employee fund-drives are at the heart of what we believe in, ‘people helping people,'” said Tracy Beckman, Executive Director for the United Way. “Funds raised by employees make up 60 percent of our donations, and we are so gratefull for their continued loyalty to the United Way. Year after year, these same companies and their employees help us to help those in need in our community and we can’t thank them enough.”

The fund-drive began on Oct. 3, and will continue through Dec. 31, so there is still time to help the United Way make their goal by getting in those year-end, tax-deductible donations. Donations can be sent to the Northwoods United Way at P.O. Box 177, Rhinelander, WI 54501-0177.

For more information about the United Way, visit northwoodsunitedway.org or facebook.com/northwoodsunitedway.