United Way has high hopes
It’ll take more than a dip in the economy to slow down the United Way of Greater St. Joseph Inc.’s fundraising campaign.
Representatives of the local charity told an audience of more than 300 people Thursday that it had raised $804,398 toward its $3.55 million goal during the United Way Kickoff Breakfast at Ramada Inn.
Perhaps more impressive, the United Way raised its goal by $100,000 from last year. Campaign chairman Curt Kretzinger said that the slow economy may actually help bring in more donations as the need for funding becomes more visible.
“They recognize that this is affecting their fellow citizens, their friends,” Mr. Kretzinger said. “People are really assessing how they can help each other.”
Last year’s campaign exceeded its $3.45 million target by more than $4,000, according to Kylee Strough, director of resource development for the United Way. Participating businesses have just over two months to meet the 2008 mark.
Joel Zeff, an author and motivational speaker, used improvisational comedy sketches to show the need for teamwork at the office and in the fundraising campaign.
“In the game, you can do anything you want and be successful,” Mr. Zeff said. “There is only one thing you can’t do. You can’t quit.”
Clinton Thomas can be reached
at clintonthomas@npgco.com.
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Oh PLEASE, any charatable organization who pays their CEO 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS per year salary will never see another dime from me.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/100/story/153812.html
Posted by ninja_man on September 5, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)Right on Frank! United Way supports Planned Parenthood, one of the world's foremost abortion promoting and performing agencies. I don't trust them with my money!
Posted by hcat on September 5, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)People who want an excuse to not help others will always come up with some lame reason why they won't give to charity. In St. Joseph, United Way has always been frugal with their funds when it comes to staff salaries and program operations--somewhere under 10 percent of their yearly campaign--and they do NOT fund Planned Parenthood in St. Joseph. The closest agency to Planned Parenthood in St. Joseph is the Family Planning Clinic--a Family Guidance agency--and it neither receives United Way funding nor does it offer abortion services. In fact, family planning services--even Planned Parenthood--are there to teach people how not to get pregnant in the first place!
No one ever got to the "top" on his own--everyone has help at some time or another, whether they want to admit it or not. Just remember that and remember to pay it forward this year during United Way campaign season. Especially in this economy, there are more reasons to give to charity than to not give. If you don't want to give to United Way, there are plenty of other agencies who could use your support. Give to one of them and feel the glow. There is ABSOLUTELY NO FEELING like knowing that you have helped someone who needed help.
Posted by Frank on September 6, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)Sorry you feel it's an "excuse to not help others or lame reason why they won't give to charity" hcat, but I'd hardly call throwing money at a charatable organization whose CEO is lapping up 1.2 million of it an excuse to not help OTHERS.
It's not the "others" I'm not wanting to help, oh yea of little comprehension, as I INDICATED ALREADY, it's that fat cat CEO I don't want to help...
So please step down off your sanctimonious soap box.
And I don't have the SLIGHTEST idea of the "feeling" you referred to when knowing I've helped someone in need, as the hundreds, even thousand or two I've given to United Way over the past 10 yrs didn't make me feel all warm & fuzzy inside. I could afford it, & it was the thing to do, PERIOD. No fuzzys, no head trips, etc.
But I will tell you there is ABSOLUTELY NO FEELING like knowing all that money I gave went to some rich CEO.
I could see a charity CEO making maybe 200k per year, but 1.2 MILLION??? You've got to either be on drugs, or maybe you're just one of those poor John McCain middle class folks who make less than 5 million per year, he referred to, I dunno...
And I didn't indicate I wouldn't give to any other charity, either, like you inferred.
Just say NO to United Way!
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