United Way tops goal by $100,000; agencies to get 5 percent increase

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 22, 2011

Rowan County United Way
The Rowan County United Way will be able to give its member agencies a Christmas gift ó more money than planned after the agency ended its annual fundraising campaign with a total of $1.7 million, campaign organizers said. Thatís $100,000 above this yearís goal.
ěWe are so grateful to the community for their support of the campaign,î Steve Fisher, campaign chairman, said in a press release. ěExceeding our goal by $100,000 will allow us to increase funding to our member agencies, something we have been unable to do over the last several years.
ěEach day they are faced with meeting critical needs to our citizens and these additional dollars will go directly to support their efforts,î Fisher said. ěWe had many companies with increases in their campaigns while individual giving was up as well. We are so thankful especially during this holiday season.î
The Rowan County Board of Directors has approved a 5 percent increase to all member agencies. The remaining money will be allocated to agencies based on recommendations from Allocations Committee chairs and vice chairs.
Mike Williams, vice president of allocations for United Way, praised Fisherís leadership in the campaign and said in the press release that agency officials are ěready to meet and determine how to allocate the remaining dollars based on agency needs. What a wonderful ëproblem to solve.í î
The United Way campaign ended Nov. 16. Organizers also said this was the first campaign in five years where the goal was met on time.
ěExceeding our goal and doing it on time in this economy is unbelievable,î Guy Hoskins, United Way board president, said in the press release. ěSteve and his cabinet did an outstanding job. We are grateful we can give the additional funding to the agencies especially in these hard times. The people of Rowan County are uncommonly caring and generous. This truly is a special place.î