THOMASVILLE — Organizers say seats are still available for the annual United Way of Thomas County Campaign Kickoff Luncheon.

“We’ve had a good response so far,” Rebecca Cannady, executive director, said Monday. “We do have some seats still available, but people will need to call me by the end of the day (today) if they are interested.”

The event is Wednesday at The Plaza restaurant.

The 2009-10 campaign goal is $218,000, a decrease from last year’s $230,000 target.

“The United Way of Thomas County hopes this year is one of the most successful and exciting kickoff luncheon’s ever,” President Corey Hooper said.

The guest speaker is former college football coach Tommy Bowden, who has 31 years of experience.

His past coaching positions include: defensive backs coach at Florida State, running backs coach at Auburn, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Duke, head coach at Tulane and head coach at Clemson.

He has participated in 16 bowl seasons as either an assistant coach or coach.

“We’re honored to have a major college football coach like Tommy Bowden come to speak to us here in Thomasville,” Hooper said.

Cannady said there are many great items available for the auction.

These include a football signed by Eli Manning of the New York Giants, a football signed by Bobby Bowden and Charlie Ward Jr., a Georgia helmet signed by Coach Mark Richt, a Top Dawg book signed by Richt and a Georgia Bulldogs Die Hard Fan Book.

The 18 agencies United Way of Thomas County supports are: American Red Cross Georgia Wiregrass Chapter, Boy Scouts of America, Council on Aging/Scott Senior Center, Easter Seals Southern Georgia Inc., Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Halcyon Home for Battered Women, Rescue Mission Ministries/Soup Kitchen, Salvation Army, Special Olympics, Thomas County 4-H Club, Thomas County CASA, Thomas County Certified Literate Community Program, Thomas County Food Bank and Outreach Center, Thomas County Youth Camp, Thomas-Grady A.R.C., Thomasville Community Resource Center, Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society, and Thomasville YMCA.

Cannady encouraged community participation in the luncheon.

“It’s a great speaker, a great cause and a great lunch, too,” she said.