United Way raises more than $1 million

Group cautious about economy

By Naomi Smoot, Journal staff writer

CHARLES TOWN - United Way officials met Friday with representatives from local community groups to share some good news, intermingled with a dose of caution.

For the fourth year in a row, the group's fundraising efforts are expected to generate more than $1 million for local community groups, said Ken Barton, president of the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle.

Donations to the agency, which help support dozens of nonprofit groups in the region, are expected to come in at nearly $1.3 million during the current fiscal year, Barton said. Portions of those funds will be distributed to various groups between June 30, 2009, and July 1, 2010, he said.

"We truly appreciate the generosity of the thousands of donors who gave a total of $1.3 million dollars," Barton said in a statement. "Of the dollars raised, more than $1.1 million will go back to the community."

A large portion of the funds that were raised came from the United Way Campaign, which enables local employees to have deductions taken from their pay checks and given to the United Way.

Some of these employees opted to give funds to the United Way to disperse as the agency saw fit, Barton said. Other workers chose to allocate their contributions to specific groups.

The number of such designated donations grew considerably this year, Barton said, adding that they now account for more than half of all funds raised.

Such designated contributions are expected to generate nearly $23,385 for the Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County, $16,241 for the Boys and Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle and $15,283 for the Eastern Panhandle Free Clinic.

Other groups saw smaller numbers for their designated contributions. The American Red Cross of the Eastern Panhandle is expected to receive $43 from designated donations.

Documents show that the Children's Home Society of West Virginia is expected to get $83 from designated contributions. Three other groups will receive no designated funding, Barton said.

"Sometimes we have winners and losers," he said.

Such designated contributions make up the majority of the contributions that the United Way expects to receive this year. While nearly 40 agencies have made requests for $1.1 million worth of funding from the United Way this year, only $480,000 in non-restricted funds exist, he said.

That figure could be cut further due to the current economic climate. Barton said many United Way organizations in neighboring areas are expecting that as much as 9 percent of their pledged funding for the current year might fall through as a result of the nation's on going economic downturn.

"The volunteers will have to make some tough decisions," Barton said of how funding will be distributed to various agencies.

A decision on which agencies will receive a slice of the pie, and how large that slice may be, is expected to be announced at the United Way's Annual Meeting and Recognition Breakfast on June 19.

Barton said the United Way is committed to contributing money to projects that will make the wisest use of their funding, and will also help ensure that residents' basic needs do not go unmet. The agency will also be looking at ways to finance programs aimed at crisis intervention, and others aimed at prevention and development, he said.

"We're going to continue to provide a safety net," he said.

Barton took time out Friday to thank all of the agency representatives who attended the day's meeting.

"Our agencies make this community as special as it is," he said.

More information about the United Way is available at www.uwayep.org

- Staff writer Naomi Smoot can be reached at (304) 725-6581 or nsmoot@journal-news.net