Economy puts pinch on United Ways

United Ways across the region reported better-than-expected returns from their 2002 fundraising campaigns, even though some fell short of their goals.

In Larimer County, 2002 marked the first collaborative campaign for the United Way of Fort Collins and the United Way of Loveland, Berthoud and Estes Park. This year’s combined effort – a trial run before a planned merger for the 2003 campaign – failed to reach the $5.5 million goal. Still the groups brought in 1 percent more than in 2001, raising $4.14 million.

“We had an extremely lofty goal that made some assumptions about where the economy was going to go,´ said marketing director, Stephanie Giard. “It didn’t go there.”

Giard said the $5.5 million goal was an ambitious target, 28 percent higher than the previous year.

Weld County United Way also just missed its stated goal of $2.85 million, raising $2.72 million – about 5 percent short.

“We came a lot closer than we thought we would,´ said executive director Jeannine Truswell. “We really got a wonderful response towards the end,” In December it was looking like the campaign would fall short by 10 percent.

In southern Wyoming, United Ways in Laramie and Albany counties surpassed their goals.

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