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United Way is 'back on track'

April 01, 2004|HERB BROCK

Heart of Kentucky United Way raised $970,968 during its 2003 campaign, falling just short of its goal but still surpassing the amount collected for the 2002 fund-raising effort.

The total raised during the 2003 campaign was 98 percent of a goal of $990,000 but about $14,000 more than what was raised during the 2002 campaign.

Giving a boost to the recently-ended campaign was an increase in members of the Leadership Club, United Way Executive Director Janie Pass said today. The club, whose members give a minimum of $1,000 each, grew from 172 member in 2002 to 179 members in 2003, she said.

"We are still not back to the pre-9/11 days, but we are getting back on track," she said.

Pass was referring to the slowdown of the nation's economy at the beginning of the decade which was worsened by the economic impact of the terrorist attack on America on Sept. 11, 2001. Over the last three years, Danville has lost one of its major industries, ATR Wire and Cable, and its more than 500 employees, and Boyle County's unemployment rate has hit double digits on a number of occasions.

"The loss of ATR was a big hit to the community and also the (United Way) campaign, as were some of the personnel changes at Matsushita (Floor Care Co.)," Pass said. "But the economy, locally as well as nationally, is getting better, and I think that is reflected in our improvement from the 2002 campaign to the recent campaign."

Pass said she hopes the economic upturn will continue to such an extent that the United Way again can resume its trend of the 1990s of surpassing goals and shattering records one year after the next. The record amount raised by the local United Way was $1,036,000 three years ago, she said.

Edmond Jarrell credited

Pass credited Edmond Jarrell, 2003 campaign chairman, for "leading a very strong and successful campaign." Meanwhile, Jarrell shared Pass's assessment of the 2003 campaign.

"Heart of Kentucky United Way's purpose is to be a leader in bringing together the resources to build stronger, more caring communities," Jarrell said. "Given what many would describe as a difficult and challenging economic climate, we are pleased with the outcome of the 2003 campaign.

"These results demonstrate the continued generosity and caring of the people of our community," he said. "We feel confident that Heart of Kentucky United Way will continue to provide the best way for the community to invest in caring for one another." The agencies and programs that will receive funds from the 2003 campaign are: Habitat for Humanity; Heritage Hospice; Kidney Foundation; Recovery Center; American Red Cross (Central Kentucky and Bluegrass chapters); Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center; Family Services Association; Salvation Army; YWCA Abuse Center; Bluegrass Community Action Agency Senior Companion Program and Self-Sufficiency Program.

Other recipients are the Boyle County and Lincoln County senior citizens centers; Nursing Home Ombudsman Program of the Bluegrass; Danville-Boyle County Literacy Council; Legal Aid of the Bluegrass; Special Persons Advocacy Network; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Boy Scouts of America (Bluegrass Council); Danville Learning Disabilities Association; Wilderness Road Girl Scouts; Wilderness Trace Child Development Center; Wilderness Trace YMCA; Woodlawn Sanders Crisis Stabilization Center; and Boyle County and Garrard County 4-H programs.

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