The St. Louis chapter of the United Way announced Thursday that it surpassed its annual fundraising record by $1 million.

It brought in a total of $72 million for the 2012 campaign. Last year it brought in just more than $71 million.

The total of metro-east donations is expected to be revealed at the organization's Thank You dinner Nov. 29. Two weeks ago, the organization reported that it was $545,000 short of its $1.62 million goal. At the time, the St. Louis region had raised $53.9 million before making a big late push to surpass its goal.

The United Way supports more than 170 agencies ranging that serve a wide variety of needs throughout the St. Louis region. The annual fundraising campaign began in 1922.