Geico was named United Way of Central Georgia’s top contributor for the ninth consecutive year.

Officials gathered at Geico’s Macon campus Thursday to celebrate the $915,449 pledge for United Way’s 2012 campaign.

Geico associates raised $737,449 and the company pitched in a $178,000 corporate gift.

“Geico makes up nearly a quarter of the United Way Campaign total and we could not have the impact we have in our community without them,” said George McCanless, president and CEO of the United Way of Central Georgia.

“More than 100,000 local people will be helped this year thanks to the generosity of Geico employees,” said Dan Forrester of State Bank & Trust Co., United Way’s 2012 campaign chairman.

The United Way of Central Georgia announced in September its 2012 goal of $4.25 million, $50,000 more than last year’s goal. The organization will announce in March how much it raised.

-- Staff reports