Results of the United Way campaign will not be announced until at least next week as companies wrap up their in-house drives and send in their final numbers.
“Some companies started their drives a little later this year,” said Paula Obermark, executive director. “We are still waiting on numbers from five of our Top 12 corporate contributors, as well as others.”
As of Tuesday, the campaign was at 71 percent of the $1 million goal with $714,659.75 in gifts and pledges.
“If we add our projections in, we get to $940,326,” Obermark told The Missourian. “But the campaign is still ongoing.”
The drive officially ended Oct. 31, she said, but companies are given an additional two weeks to get their campaign reports into the United Way office.
The United Way board will meet next Tuesday and Obermark said a decision could be made at that time to extend the drive or end it and post the final result.
“I’m telling people it’s not too late to give and if you have never given in the past or made a donation last year and have not done so yet, there is still time,” she said. “Every donation, no matter how small or large, is critical and makes a difference.”
Becky Buhr, who is co-chairing the campaign, said whatever the final result she feels the drive has been successful, bringing in more than last year which will go a long way to help the agencies and programs served by the United Way.
Obermark said there are many positives with the 2012 campaign and several companies have gone “above and beyond for us.
“As an example, Melton Machine, which was our second largest contributor last year, just blew it out of the water for us with a 20 percent increase. This is just phenomenal — and this is from a company with just 100 employees,” she said. “The Bank of Franklin County also reported a 30 percent increase, this is huge.”
Despite those successes, Obermark said other corporate gifts have been down and some special events lagged behind from last year.
While the campaign is winding down it’s not too late to make a donation, she stressed.
“We know the need is great and the ongoing recession has impacted many people and families,” she said.
“Due to increased needs from our agencies over the last four years, we have dipped into our reserves, but have withdrawn the maximum we can and will not be able to do that again this year,” she said. “This means that agencies funded last year out of those reserves will not be funded at the same level this year.”
Obermark encourages those who have not given to mail in donations to P.O. Box 3, Washington, MO 63090, or go online to www.franklincountyuw.org to make a donation.
Agency funding decisions will not be made until Jan. 8 after all donations and pledges have been received.
This past year, the United Way helped over 70,000 people receive $750,000 in health and human services.
“These services strengthen families, nurture and protect children, assist the elderly and disabled, and provide emergency assistance to those in need,” Obermark said. “Please remember that helping others helps us all build better communities — healthier residents, safer neighborhoods, and stronger communities. We all benefit.”
