United Way extends campaign to Feb. 14 on The Murfreesboro Post

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United Way extends campaign to Feb. 14

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Posted: Sunday, January 17, 2010 7:09 am

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties has extended its annual fundraising campaign through Feb. 14, the local non-profit has announced.

The campaign, which was originally scheduled to conclude on Jan. 31, is projected to finish with a total of $2.2 million in pledges based upon trends. This year’s goal is $2.8 million.

During the 2008-2009 campaign, the highest amount of pledges to date was secured with $2.734 million; however, there were $1.4 million in unmet requests from partner agencies due to lack of funding. The funds raised during the United Way campaign are allocated back to its 45 partner agencies through an application process that considers outcomes, impact, and other sources of funding for the agency.

“We have met a difficult obstacle in our fundraising campaign due to the current state of the economy,” said Brian Hercules, president and CEO of the local United Way. “Ironically, as the impact of the economy causes a reduction in donations, the needs from our agencies increase.”

A recent calculation done by United Way estimated that if each household in Rutherford and Cannon counties donated $50 per year (which is less than $1 per week), the fundraising campaign would total over $6 million. The funds that are allocated back to the partner agencies intend to meet the most serious community needs first and often impact people who are not always aware they are utilizing an United Way agency. In fact, United Way agencies directly impacted over 93,000 people (about one-third of the population) in Rutherford and Cannon counties last year.

United Way reported that 100 percent of its 45 partner agencies and its board of directors were currently contributing to the campaign, however, shortages in funding for partner agencies often result in a reduction of services provided or number of people served.

For example, the Boys and Girls Clubs was required to reduce their services by nearly 400 hours last year. Moreover, this year, $1,000 less in funding for Domestic Violence may mean that approximately 19 domestic violence victims go without a shelter, counseling and meals. For each $850 decrease in funding for Meals on Wheels, a senior citizen could go without meals for a year. In addition, a $2,000 decline in funding for the Cannon County R.E.A.C.H program could result in seven children no longer receiving tutoring services.

"We're turning to our communities in these final hours of the fund-raising campaign with this direct, simple message: We need your help so we can help others,” said campaign chairman Andrew Oppmann.

"Anything we can do in these last days will make a difference in the lives of people who need our aid now more than ever."

Options for donating to the United Way include online at www.uwrutherford.org, contacting United Way to receive pledge forms for payroll deduction, joining the Over the Top Club with a $100 donation ($250 for organizations and companies) and being featured weekly in The Daily News Journal, or simply mailing checks to United Way at P.O. Box 330056, Murfreesboro, TN 37133.

The United Way and its 45 partner agencies and programs work to advance the common good in Rutherford and Cannon counties by focusing on the essentials for building a strong community: education, income and health. The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is located at 615 Memorial Boulevard, Suite 200 in Murfreesboro. For more information, call (615) 893-7303 or visit www.uwrutherford.org.

DID YOU KNOW?

• United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties (UWRCC) partners with 45 agencies and programs to provide critical health and human services locally. UWRCC is operated by a local staff and volunteer board of directors. UWRCC focuses on the essential building blocks for a strong community: health, education, and income.

• UWRCC focuses on fundraising efforts for its partner agencies so that they may focus on providing direct services to those in need.

• One-third of people in Rutherford and Cannon Counties are directly impacted by a United Way partnering agency.

• UWRCC has an 11 percent overhead (14 percent during campaign months), compared to the national average of 20-25 percent overhead of many organizations.

• UWRCC invested $1,617,574.52 back into the local community following the 2008-2009 campaign.

• UWRCC engages over 100 local volunteers (who are also donors) that carefully examine and review each agency for funding. Items of consideration include degree of need, outcomes, number of people served, overall finances and budget, etc. These volunteers then make a recommendation to the United Way Board of Directors. The recommendation includes which agencies are eligible for funding and their suggested allocation amounts.

• By donating to UWRCC instead of directly to an agency, your gift helps to ensure high standards of agency service through oversight and accountability standards, helps meet the most serious community needs first, and frees agencies to devote their time to providing direct service while UWRCC fundraises for them.

• UWRCC provides community outreach through two initiatives: Success by 6 and Project PASS. In addition, the 2-1-1 program allows community members to connect with numerous services and resources with one phone call.

• UWRCC had requests in 2009 for $1.4 million from partner agencies that went unfulfilled due to shortages in funding.

• The money raised in each county stays in each county unless otherwise designated by the donor on the pledge form.

• The 2009-2010 fundraising goal is $2.8 million.

Tagged under Hercules, United Way

Member Opinions:

By: attagirl on 1/17/10
Do not give to the United Way! They use strong-arm tactics with big employers to basically force every employee to give via payroll deduction. They give the bosses super-sweet incentives for "100% particpation" with employees. And they pay their executives huge salaries.

If you want to give to charity, give directly and cut out the middle man.

By: Macgyver on 1/17/10
Its weird how many articles we read on the
United way. Do they pay for these ads?

By: specialmom on 1/17/10
I will be honest and tell you why I chose NOT to contribute to United Way this year. In past years, I have been able to designate WHERE I wanted MY money to go. That option was NOT given this year. I REFUSE to give money to certain organizations. Since United Way chooses to NOT allow me to designate where my money goes, I choose NOT to support the United Way. I would rather give during the year to SPECIFIC organizations.

By: attagirl on 1/17/10
Macgyver, the United Way are like pirhannas (spelling?). They latch on and never let go. They are the most aggressive charity out there. I urge you to give directly to the charity of your choice.

Btw, the dnj has been deleting my comments about the united way and then disabling the comment section to prevent me from posting more. They've been doing it for about a month now.

How 'bout that for some influence from united way? They can actually get the PUBLIC NEWSPAPER to stifle the community's opinion of their organization.

By: ojt on 1/17/10
Give directly to your charity so that the charity receives the full 100%

United Way does not give 100% of the money to your the organizations.

By: thankyouforsmoking on 1/18/10
attagirl, I have to agree one hundred percent with you. They came into my place of employment and were extremely pushy, but were subtly so. They really didn't give anyone the chance to say no, and since they presented this with supervisors present who were also advocating giving, it was even harder to say no. But I did, because I don't think you should be pressured into giving to a charity. I give elsewhere, and I'm happy to give, but I'm not giving to United Way.

By: krpe on 1/18/10
I believe that many of you have misconceptions about the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon County. FIrst and foremost, there is no "strong-arming" from United Way representatives or executives to give. NO ONE receives any type of kick back for allowing United Way to do a presentation to their employees.

The local United Way represents 47 local non profit agencies and programs for whom they fundraise so that these agencies can concentrate their time and resources on providing direct services for those who need them most. When a United Way representative visits a place of employment they simply talk about what United Way is all about, show a video, and pass out pledge forms. It is solely up to the employee as to whether or not they want to fill out a pledge form and turn it in or not. There is absolutely nothing aggressive about that- its simply providing an opportunity to give.

The overhead for the local United Way is about 11%, the national average overhead for non-profits is between 22-25%. They do allow designations- it simply needed to be handwritten on the pledge form and it would be forwarded on.

This is a fantastic local organization that relieves a lot of fundraising pressure off other partner non profit agencies. Some of these agencies would not be able to keep their doors open without United Way funding. Even if you are not supportive of United Way- please don't spread misconceptions because when you do, you also potentially hurt other wonderful local organizations who are affected by United Way's ability to raise money. Please don't hurt the people who need it the most in your LOCAL community.

By: thankyouforsmoking on 1/18/10
I know that the United Way does a lot of good, I'm simply saying I did not agree with the way they solicited money from me. I felt extremely pressured, and that made me not want to donate. I give money because I want to, because I enjoy helping people. I don't want to donate when I'm made to feel like I don't have a choice.

By: lduke on 1/18/10
Tyfs-I agree.

By: Farmall on 1/25/10
KRPE, thats an absolute lie. I assume your on the dole of the United Way. I have been strong armed for this charity many times. The give aways they have and bonuses they give to the employers that get large participation. Just because they don't call it kickbacks doesn't mean its not.

By: krpe on 1/26/10
@Farmall... I can assure you there are no kickbacks or bonuses given to any executives that support United Way. When an incentive is given to an employee who chooses to donate... that incentive is supplied by and funded by the company that is allowing a United Way campaign to take place. Because so many of our local companies are extremely community minded they (the company not UW) actually budget money for this.

I do love UWRCC simply because it is (for me) the most efficient way to help the most people in our local community who need it the most. I also love the fact that many companies are receptive to allowing for payroll deduction as a means of giving because many people want to give money to the community but it is too difficult to cut a big check at one time. By allowing payroll deduction they can give a little at a time and at the end of the year have a accumulated a good sized donation. I love that UWRCC represents so many local charities and that I can choose which of these I want my dollars to support. So yes, I love UW and am very proud to be a supporter and to volunteer this organization.

If you doubt anything that I have said about the money and where it goes... call our local UW and ask to see their books- they are happy to show you. 893-7303