With just days left in the annual United Way fundraising campaign the goal is in sight.
“We are at a confirmed pledged or collected $110,589.75,” said Josh McKinney, the Community Impact Coordinator for United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County.
That total brings the agency to 88.68 percent of their $125,000 goal.
McKinney said he anticipates the local United Way will meet its goal this year.
“Projections are very good,” McKinney said. “We’re over with our projections so we are just hoping the projections hold.”
Over the last several years, the local United Way has struggled to raise funds. Only once in the last 16 years has the agency reached their annual fundraising goals. This has led to cuts in the administrative costs of the agency as well as reductions in the funding the agency allocates to its partner agencies that provide needed services in the community.
With projections indicating the agency will meet the goal this year, McKinney said he and the agency’s Board and volunteers are excited for what that entails for the local United Way’s community partners.
“We’re making plans right now to pay our first month’s allocations. We’re excited to be able to pay out the full amount of the allocations we’ve committed to our partners,” McKinney said. “Our projections are strong enough that we don’t feel the need to take any actions right now to reduce allocations.”
“We’re going to be hand delivering the allocations to our partners,” he added. “We want to celebrate with them.”
While the projections are strong, McKinney said the agency is still seeking donations to ensure they reach their goal. This year’s campaign will end on Jan. 31 and the agency has until that day to receive donations for the campaign.
“We have a dual focus right now,” he said. “We’re focusing on finishing this year’s campaign and beginning to plan for next year’s campaign.”
According to McKinney, the local United Way will be approaching the next annual fundraising campaign a bit differently than it has in the past.
“We’re looking to have a campaign chair supported by a cabinet,” McKinney said. Anyone who would be interested in volunteering to assist with the 2017 fundraising campaign is asked to contact McKinney. Planning for the campaign will begin in February with an official campaign kickoff being held in September.
For more information on United Way, to make a donation, or to sign up to volunteer, contact the United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County at 423-543-6975 or by e-mail at director@uwayecc.org.