Seventeen Pike County agencies will participate in the kickoff for the Pike County United Way campaign Tuesday, Aug. 17 at Cattleman Park.

The campaign will get under way at 6 p.m. and conclude around 8 p.m. The public is invited to be a part of this “getting to know your community” event.

Each of the 17 agencies supported by the Pike County United Way will have a manned information booth at the kickoff event. The Kickoff will also feature special entertainment by the Jubilee Chorus, SheBANG! and Staley Pensinger, a singer and songwriter from Blue Springs. The Pike County Cattlemen’s concession stand will be open with a variety of foods for supper and snacks.

Special guests at the Pike County United Way Kickoff will be the Troy Recreation Department’s tournament baseball and softball teams.

“The Pike County United Way Kickoff is a great time of fellowship and an opportunity for the people of Pike County to learn more about the agencies that are so vital to our community and to learn more about the role the United Way plays in the operation of these agencies,” said Tonya Gibson, Pike County United Way executive director. “There are very few people in Pike County whose lives are not touched in some way by these 17 agencies.”

The Pike County fundraising campaign will continue through Thanksgiving and the funds raised will support all 17 agencies.

“The more money we raise, the more financial support we will be able to give to these agencies,” Gibson said. “These are difficult economic times and these agencies need the community’s support to continue to provide the much needed services.

Gibson said all of the money raised by the Pike County United Way campaign stays in Pike County, with the exception of the contributions to the Boy Scouts. Those funds come back in support of the operation of Camp Alaflo, which is the local Boy Scout camp near Enterprise.

Two agencies have been added to the list supported by the Pike County United Way.

“The Pioneer Museum of Alabama and OCAP play important roles in our community and are worthy additions,” Gibson said.

Other agencies served by the Pike County United Way are Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Humane Society of Pike County, Sav-a-Life, American Red Cross Pike County Branch, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Colley Senior Complex, House of Ruth, Salvation Army, East Central Mental Health, 4-H Clubs of Pike County, RSVP, Troy Charity League and Easter Seals.