Local News in Brief : Countywide : United Way Gifts Are Ahead of 1987 Pace

Nine weeks into the 1988 campaign, the United Way of Orange County has collected $2.26 million, about 12% of its goal, officials said Tuesday.

Charles R. Rinehart, president and chief executive officer of Avco Financial Services and chairman of the campaign, said the $2.26 million collected so far is about 30% more than was raised during the same period last year.

Officials said most of the donations will come in during the final weeks of the campaign, which will end Dec. 13.

Despite shortfalls in contributions the past 3 years, Rinehart said the early trend indicates that United Way can reach its 1988 goal of $19.2 million. Last year’s campaign raised $16.7 million, $700,000 less than the goal.

The campaign has been boosted this year by several new or revised fund-raising programs, Rinehart said. Among them is a pledge by Peter Ochs, chairman of the Fieldstone Co. in Newport Beach, to match donations from new members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, which is made up of donors who contribute $10,000 or more. Ochs’ challenge to match each $10,000 donation up to a total of $250,000 has brought in $169,500 so far.