The United Way concluded its 2012 fundraising campaign on Jan. 31 by raising $744,108 — about 93 percent of its fundraising goal.

Plum Creek Manufacturing and its employees were presented with the 2012 United Way Community Hero Award for their exemplary support of the community.

The 2012 campaign was one month shorter than the 2011 campaign, and the goal was the same amount raised in 2009. Every donated dollar will go toward helping people in Northwest Montana.

United Way member agencies helped 44,631 people in need. Those agencies provide basic human services while continuing to experience record increases in needs.

Current member agencies include Big Brothers and Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, Eagle Transit, Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Help Net — First Call for Help, Literacy Volunteers, Mental Health Crisis Line, Nurturing Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Samaritan House, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center and the Violence Free Crisis Line and Abbie Shelter.

Services supported by United Way include CASA for Kids, Disaster Care Services, Gateway Community Center, Leaders of Tomorrow Montana 211 Database Project, the United Way Volunteer Center and the Youth Suicide Prevention Project. United Way also supports numerous emergency food and shelter programs in Northwest Montana.

Local volunteers determine where donations are spent. Last year, more than 100 community members participated in the local Citizens Review Panel process to allocate funding and set the monetary goal. For more information, call 752-7266.