Geraty and Debbi Huffman Guthrie, president of Roy O. Huffman Roof Company of Riverside, will direct this year's fundraising campaign. Their appointments were officially announced at the United Way Celebration Program, held at the Victoria Country Club in Riverside. More than 350 people attended the celebratory luncheon, the culminating event for the 1999-2000 campaign. The record-breaking $3.7 million raised for regional United Way charities during 1999-2000 surpassed the previous record by $400,000.

Funds raised for the United Way of the Inland Valleys go to more than 42 non-profit agencies in greater Riverside, along with organizations in Banning, Beaumont, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Perris, Temecula and Wildomar.

During the course of his six years as La Sierra president, Geraty has continuously sought to broaden the university's involvement in community activities. But it is his well-established reputation as a community leader that made him a natural choice for campaign CO-chair, said Raymond Humphrey, president of the United Way of the Inland Valleys.

"He is a distinguished leader for good and has been a wonderful friend to the United Way," said Humphrey, United Way president since 1988. "We feel very strongly that the community will respond very enthusiastically to his leadership."

Geraty has been active in recent United Way campaigns, serving as chair of the University and Colleges Division during the 1998-99 campaign and serving this year on the same division's steering committee.

As CO-chair for the 2000-2001 United Way campaign, Geraty will first recruit and then provide direction for members of the "campaign cabinet." The cabinet, a group of community and business leaders, will direct fundraising activities in their respective districts. Geraty will also serve as a spokesman for the campaign at public events and during the campaign kickoff in October.

Despite the load associated with his university responsibilities, Geraty said the campaign CO-chair post will allow him to put institutional values into action.

"The United Way and La Sierra University share so many guiding principles," he said. "Both organizations seek to empower people for service and to reach out to those in need. Again and again, this region has proven its generosity and compassion. As CO-chair, my job is just to further develop this spirit."

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