Little more than a month after its campaign kickoff, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley announced Friday that it has garnered pledges of almost $2 million, or about 29 percent of its goal of $6.8 million.

"I am very optimistic about the way the campaign is going so far," said Scott Ferguson, president and CEO of the local United Way. "Companies that reported so far have had great results and we hope that will continue."

Several organizations have exceeded their expected pledges, Ferguson said.

Brookstone School tripled its giving over last year, Ferguson said. Columbus Specialty took employees on agency tours for the first time and has raised more than six times what it did last year.

"I have heard so many positive things out in the community regarding United Way campaigns," said Ledger-Enquirer Publisher Rodney Mahone, 2012 campaign chair. "We set our goal $200,000 higher this year, and I think that we have a great group of volunteers that will make it happen."

United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley serves Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Stewart, Talbot and Taylor counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama.