The United Way of Howard County is a little more than halfway to its $1.5 million goal in the twilight of its Live United fundraising campaign, the organization’s president announced Wednesday.
During a campaign update luncheon for United Way fundraisers and contributors, Lori Tate, president of the organization’s local chapter, said the nonprofit had raised $751,081 as of mid-day Wednesday.
But that number is expected to increase significantly once the organization finishes some “cleaning up” by obtaining pledges from two of its largest contributors — Delphi Automotive LLP and Chrysler Group LLC.
Last year, the two companies, along with Haynes International Inc., accounted for about 57 percent of the campaign’s total contributions.
Haynes employees donated $125,000 this year, Tate said, but the United Way awaits the company’s corporate gift.
The Haynes gift was less than last year’s, she said. The decrease directly parallels the company’s layoffs, she said.
“Looking at our numbers, we can get to our goal this year,” she said. “It’s going to be close.”
The United Way lowered its goal from last year’s $2 million, which fell short at $1.75 million.
The campaign officially kicked off Aug. 15 with the Taste of Kokomo, which raised $26,000 for the organization. Loaned associates — fundraisers whose companies and organizations have loaned them to help out during the campaign — began seeking donations in September. By mid-October, which was the halfway point, the campaign was 20 percent of the way to the goal.
Tate said the loaned associates began their accounts with the campaign’s three leading contributors later than usual this year, which is why it was lagging at 20 percent at its midpoint.
Fundraisers told the campaign’s contributors during Wednesday’s luncheon that the small business donations were going to be key in closing the remaining gap.
“The major manufacturers are kind of like the cake, the foundation,” loaned associate Tony Nelson said. “... But it’s the small businesses that make this campaign successful. ... They’re the icing.”
Representatives from a few of the United Way’s 15 agencies also spoke to the luncheon crowd about their programs.
Katina Silver from Court Appointed Special Advocates, a United Way agency, said the child-advocacy program needs United Way funding to pay for training and background checks for its volunteers.
“We certainly don’t want to victimize them again,” she said. “... I don’t even know how to describe the kids we work with. They’re so vulnerable, and they need somebody so badly.”
An allocations committee will allot funding to each of the United Way’s agencies for next year. The organization has already cut 34 percent of its funding allocations for next year because of the economy.
Tate said the loaned associates would spend the remaining few weeks closing accounts before the campaign informally ends with a wrap-up meeting Dec. 9. Some businesses may continue sending donations until the end of the year, she said.
• Daniel Human is a Kokomo Tribune staff writer. He can be reached at 765-454-8570 or at daniel.human@kokomotribune.com.
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