Local United Ways falling short of goals

The United Ways of Larimer and Weld counties want people to know that it’s not too late to contribute to the annual holiday-season campaign.

Both agencies anticipate falling below this year’s goals, and both plan to continue their annual holiday giving campaigns through January.

“We’ve given it an amazing try,´ said Jeannine Truswell, executive director for United Way of Weld County. “It’s not over yet, but all in all, we could be as much as 10 percent down.”

The 2002 goal of $2.85 million is based on the needs and economics of the community.

“The reality is, if we based it on community need, we’d be doing a $10 million campaign,” Truswell said.

In Larimer County, the 2002 campaign marks the first collaborative effort of the United Ways of Fort Collins and the United Way of Loveland, Berthoud and Estes Park — a trial run before an expected merger in 2003. “We’re distributing from two different pots of money,´ said Stephanie Giard, marketing director for the joint campaign, “and volunteers work together to determine where donor dollars go in the communities.”

Together, the United Ways of Larimer County are shooting for $5.5 million this year based on community needs. That’s 28 percent higher than last year’s $4.3 million.

“We set this based on needs identified a year ago. Now we’re seeing programs losing other sources of funding from cities, the county and state, and endowment funds. They’re all cutting back,” Giard said. “Given current economic conditions, we could be very pleased with where we are.”

Early estimations put the organization 2 percent to 3 percent up from last year’s donations.

Nearly three-quarters of United Way’s funding comes from corporate donations and campaigns conducted within the workplace.

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