United Way of Greene County will officially begin its 50th campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 17, with a "Kick-Off Sock-Hop" at the General Morgan Inn -- a gesture to the fact that the local United Way began in 1958.

The kick-off event will begin at 11:30 a.m.

In celebration of the community's 50th United Way campaign, all campaign volunteers are invited to attend and wear their favorite '50s-era costumes.

David Bailey is serving as the 2008 general campaign chair.

Assisting Bailey are: Dale Long, Major Gifts chair; Jack Lister, Public Service chair; Paige Metcalf, Small Business chair; JoElla Moore, Individual Gifts chair; and Joy Rader, County Division chair.

The campaign's goal is to raise $760,000 in contributions to help fund 24 local community-service organizations.

Bailey also will lead two upcoming campaign report meetings and the 2008 campaign victory celebration and awards breakfast.

The first report meeting will be held on Wednesday morning, Oct. 15, followed by the second report meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 14.

The Nov. 14 event will be a lunch meeting to accommodate all volunteers and supporters who are unavailable in the morning.

The victory celebration and awards breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday morning, Jan. 7, 2009.

To date, campaign meeting sponsors for 2008 include: Angus-Palm, First Tennessee Bank, GreenBank, Greeneville Federal Bank, Greeneville Publishing and The Greeneville Sun, Laughlin Memorial Hospital, LMR Plastics, Tusculum College, and Wal-Mart Distribution Center.

These area businesses have agreed to sponsor all meetings throughout the campaign. No campaign funds are utilized to pay for campaign meetings.