For the second year in a row, the United Way of the Flint Hills has met its drive goal of $600,000. They even exceeded it.
This year’s drive raised $602,363.90. The goal was $600,000.
“Susan (Moran) set the goal of $600,000 for the first time the previous year. It’s a big chore and we’re thrilled the community has given generously,” said Chris Walker, drive chair. “It’s fantastic.”
Duane Dreiling, director of United Way of the Flint Hills, announced the amount during today’s 2006 celebration and annual meeting luncheon at Emporia State University. He said this morning this is the second year in a row the campaign has raised more than the goal of $600,000.
“I think this is a testament to our community,” Dreiling said. “I am proud of the people that give to the United Way of the Flint Hills. They understand the importance of the 25 agencies and what they do for the community.”
Dreiling said every campaign is different. This year, things seemed to move slower than last year.
“A lot of things were running slower than normal,” he said. He added that donations that usually come in the first of December showed up a couple of days ago. “But they were on target.”
Another difference in this year’s campaign was the number of new contributors to the United Way. A plan was developed to attract new contributors and it worked.
“We’re really excited this year that we’ve had so many new contributors,” Dreiling said. “I think that’s the true success this year not only making the goal but touching new people in the community. I know we substantially increased the number of new contributors.”
Dreiling said the campaign wouldn’t have been as successful without the help of the people that worked on it.
“I would like to thank the efforts of Chris (Walker) the drive chair and Larie Schoap the pacesetter chair,” he said.
Also during the celebration and annual meeting, Dreiling outlined some of United Way’s successes for 2006. They include:
• Established the Transformation Task Force.
• Program-based funding of agencies. This is the first year the United Way had agencies apply for funding for specific programs. Dreiling said this allowed the United Way to show what programs are being funded with donated dollars.
• Funded 37 programs of 24 United Way agencies.
• Implemented post-campaign allocation process. The charge of the Community Investment Committee, formerly the Allocation Committee, is to review applications from agencies and invest dollars in the programs that make up the United Way.
• Approved revisions to organizational articles of incorporation and by-laws.
• Co-sponsored nonprofit management — Seminars for Success.
• Completed the United Way Retirees Association Mentoring Program.
• Accepted into the Mentoring Plus program, a pilot project of the United Way Retirees Association.
• Completed the first draft of the community needs assessment. Dreiling said he hopes the needs assessment will be used by the United Way and the community.