United Way of Hall County kicked off its annual Cornerstone Campaign on Tuesday at the Guest House in Gainesville.

United Way of Hall County is a nonprofit organization that brings together local financial resources and distributes them to partnership agencies that benefit the community.

Kelly Lee, the 2008 Campaign chairwoman-elect, said the Cornerstone Campaign sets the pace for the general campaign.

"It really gets everyone excited," Lee said. "It shows that we’ve already got this much community support, and it motivates people to get to the general campaign goal a lot faster."

The goal of the Cornerstone Campaign is to raise 25 to 30 percent of the overall campaign donations through the fundraising efforts of the sponsors and partnership agencies involved.

The organizations involved in the Cornerstone Campaign hope to contribute to the campaign’s total goal of $510,000 by encouraging employees to participate by donating a percentage of their paychecks.

Guest speaker Gail Douherty talked about her experience as a caregiver for her husband, Dan, with the Guest House until he passed away in April.

The Guest House, one of the partnership agencies and beneficiaries of the campaign, is an adult day health service provided for those who need assistance.

"(The Guest House) was a lifesaver for me," Douherty said. "It was comforting for me to know Dan never felt stress here. ... And it allowed me the flexibility to get resettled in the community without worrying."

The Cornerstone Campaign fundraising efforts will end in August.

The campaign totals will be announced at the launch of United Way of Hall County’s general campaign, which starts in September.

For more information, visit www.unitedwayhallcounty.org