Gary C. Dollar, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, delivers remarks at the December Degree Candidate Recognition Ceremony in Graham Chapel Dec. 5. Looking on is Grand Marshal Robert E. Wiltenburg, Ph.D. (center), dean of University College in Arts & Sciences, and Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton, who gave the Chancellor’s Message to the degree candidates. There are 773 December degree candidates. A reception for the candidates attending the ceremony, along with their families, friends, faculty and administrators, followed in the Danforth University Center. Dollar directs United Way’s support of more than 200 health and human service agencies that provide assistance to more than one million people in 16 counties in Missouri and Illinois. In its annual fund-raising drive that launched in September, the St. Louis United Way surpassed its goal of $66.5 million, raising $67.1 million, despite the down economy.