United Way/Crusade of Mercy at 68% of goal

The United Way/Crusade of Mercy has raised $71.2 million, or 68percent of its 1990 goal of $105.3 million despite talk of recession,said the campaign's general chairman, B. Kenneth West, chairman ofHarris Bank Corp.

The annual fund drive is "in striking distance" of this year'sgoal, said Mark J. Knickelbine, director of public affairs andmarketing for the charity.

He said the campaign, begun last summer, got off to a slowstart, but corporate gifts have picked up and are now stronger thanthey were in 1989. The campaign ends March 7.

Last year at this time 71 percent of the goal had been reached.That goal of $100 million was exceeded by $30,000 and was the …