Pamela Sanders of Publix, right, receives a plaque from Angela Castellow, executive director of the United Way of Colquitt County, at a luncheon Wednesday announcing results of the United Way’s fundraising campaign. Publix, which opened its Moultrie store in November 2016, joined the campaign for the first time this year and exceeded its goal — although corporate policy won’t let the United Way say what the grocer has actually pledged until all the money’s counted sometime after the first of the year. From left are United Way Campaign Chair Brad Gregory, United Way President Mo Yearta, Castellow and Sanders.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The United Way of Colquitt County’s fund-raising goal was the largest in the organization’s history at $525,000. It didn’t make it.

But, for the third year in a row, the charity received pledges and donations of more than a half-million dollars.

Brad Gregory, chairman of this year’s fundraising campaign, told UW volunteers Wednesday at the close of the campaign that the $506,792 they had raised was the second largest ever.

“We didn’t beat last year,” he said, “but we did beat Jim Matney!”

Matney was campaign chairman two years ago, the first time the campaign topped the half-million-dollar mark. Last year’s campaign, led by Mo Yearta, raised $584,591.

The United Way raises money that it then distributes to 19 other local charities, organizations as varied as the Boy Scouts of America, Cross Roads Mission and the Colquitt County Arts Center.

Gregory said the United Way expects more money to come in even though the campaign officially ended Wednesday, but no one expected it to be enough to hit the goal.

The top giver this year was the Colquitt County School System, which raised $89,409. That was significantly less than last year, but Gregory said the system had seen deaths and cancer diagnoses and teachers were giving money to help their colleagues and students directly. Gregory, an assistant superintendent at the school system, was in charge of the schools’ United Way campaign last year.

Chairman’s Awards went to Colquitt Regional Medical Center, which gave $50,000, and to Sanderson Farms, which gave $73,214. Southwest Georgia Bank received the Fair Share Award; its employees gave an average of $250 each, and the corporation matched it for a total of $37,010.

Star awards went to businesses and agencies whose giving per employee met certain thresholds: five Bronze awards ($25-$49.99 per employee), six Silver awards ($50 to $74.99 per employee), and seven Gold awards ($75 or more per employee). Winners of the Fair Share and Chairman’s awards are not included in the Star awards.