By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

LEBANON - The Warren County United Way wants more donations from banks.

To help make that happen, this year's eight-week campaign, which starts Sept. 8, will feature a newly created "Banking Division" led by two local financial institution officials.

"We want to break some new ground with those that don't participate," said campaign director Don Trummel.

Steve Foster, chief financial officer of Lebanon Citizens National Bank, is campaign chairman; Matt Layer, Lebanon Citizens' vice president, is head of the campaign's banking division.

Layer will be in charge of contacting the county's 47 bank branches, or their regional headquarters. In the past, several account managers contacted banks.

"Matt is going to find out who's responsible for the decision on what is donated to United Way," Foster said.

Last year's campaign collected a record $2.32 million - a 5 percent increase over the previous year - but giving was down at some area manufacturers, due to smaller work forces and other economic factors.

Officials say there are indications that the manufacturing sector could again be a challenge this year.

But, "Warren County has always been very successful because of the growth of the county," Trummel said. "Even in hard times, the group here was able to come up with - in my mind - a good increase of 5 percent last year."

Trummel joined the Warren County United Way in May. Prior to that, he served for several years as an officer with the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.

Thirty-one agencies are supported by Warren County United Way, including the American Red Cross, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, The Salvation Army, Shared Harvest food bank and Warren County Community Services.

Other members of this year's campaign cabinet are: Tricia Marteney, Jeff Fliegel, Angie Szaruga, Bonita Sergent, Kent Carver, Bob Alexander, Paula McIntosh, Warren C. Young, Tim Ivory, Craig Ullery, Darren Ghanayem and Margie Clary.

The campaign goal will be announced the day of the kickoff.

•  For more information, call (513) 932-3987 or go to www.warrencountyunitedway.org