Published: September 09, 2009 04:07 pm      

A lofty goal — 09/10/09

Giving to United Way is even more important in tough times

The United Way of Northeast Kentucky has set an ambitious but realistic $750,000 goal for the 2009 campaign in Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence and Elliott counties.

No one — including campaign chairperson Traci Rothenstine of Ashland Credit Union — pretends that achieving that goal will be easy in a still weak local economy, but achieving — or surpassing — the goal may be more important than ever because the needs are greater. The demands on the services provided by the more than 80 non-profit agencies that receive funds from the United Way increase as the economy weakens.

The 2009 campaign goal is $50,000 less than the 2008 goal of $800,000. While that goal was achieved, it was mainly because of one large bequeath in a will. Campaign organizers recognize that the chance of such a large, unexpected donation being received again is unlikely. Thus, the 2009 goal has been reduced to a more realistic number.

Still, with the local employment picture still uncertain — particularly at AK Steel’s Ashland Works, a perennial major supporter of the United Way — new sources of revenue must be found if the campaign is to meet its goal. That means that the base of giving must be expanded to including smaller employers and individuals who have given little or nothing to the United Way in past years. And the workers at firms like King’s Daughters Medical Center, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Marathon’s Catlettsburg refinery, Cintas, AT&T Mobility and many others that have long supported the local United Way must dig a little deeper into their pockets to help those in need.

Why support the United Way? Those of us who have worked with past United Way campaigns have all heard the excuses for not giving: They don’t like one or more of the agencies that receive United Way funds, they don’t like the idea of their pledges being taken out of their paychecks, they don’t like feeling coerced to give by their employer — the list is endless. If you don’t want to give, you can find an excuse not to give.

However, there are even more reasons to give to the United Way. For one thing, no other gift will help support as many needed services in the community. Do you have a child or grandchild who is in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or 4-H? Do you know of an abused spouse who has received often life-saving support and found safety at Safe Harbor? Perhaps you have a family member who has received food from Helping Hands, clothing from the Dressing Room or help with a utility bill by CAReS in Ashland or Carter County. All these and many more are agencies that receive money from the United Way.

We doubt if there is a family in the five counties who has not been touched in some way by one of more of the United Way agencies. Together the agencies do not just serve the poor; they serve people from every aspect of society.

The campaign is supposed to last from Oct. 1 through the end of the year, but past experience tells us that it will extend into the new year. Basically, it will continue as long as money is being raised.

If the above words sound familiar it’s because we write an editorial encouraging support for the United Way every September. That’s because we believe in united approach to giving and the accountability the United Way demands from its agencies.

Early in 2010, we hope to write another annual editorial praising the United Way campaign for again reaching its goal. It won’t be easy but this campaign provides yet another opportunity to this community to provide what a giving and caring place it is.