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United Way of Delaware County Meets Fundraising Goal (Mar 29, 2010)

United Way of Delaware County met its 2009 fundraising goal of $3.1 million – proving Delaware County residents are indeed a caring community.

"Despite the past year's economy, people in a position to give financially, chose to do so," explains Brandon Feller, President of United Way of Delaware County (UWDC). "It's a double-edged sword as the economy creates more people in need, yet the decreasing workforce makes it even more challenging to raise additional money for the increased needs."

United Way campaigns typically conclude by the end of March, but with the economy and increased social service needs the past few years, many United Way's continue to raise funds year-round. "While we're pleased to have met goal, unfortunately there are more needs in the community than we can support," says Feller. "So, we're hopeful we can continue this momentum of philanthropic spirit."

Steve Garlock, Chairman of the Board of Directors at United Way of Delaware County, says that many United Way organizations throughout the region and statewide are struggling to meet goal, "so we're feeling especially fortunate in Delaware County right now."  That was not the case in 2008 when the campaign suffered a more than $400,000 shortfall and many social service agencies received large reductions in funding or no funding at all.  

"We've said time and again that extraordinary times call for extraordinary generosity, and Delaware County residents get that," says Garlock. "Our County has certainly seen its share of job losses and difficult times. But we believe more people understand that this is when charitable giving is most critical."

Many people reaching out to social service agencies for assistance are doing so for the first time. Like the single, college-educated, working mother who lost her job. After many months unemployed, she no longer could keep up with the bills and turned to Helpline for assistance.  Herein lays the basic philosophy of United Way.

"When people give to United Way, we're able to direct those dollars to the communities' most pressing needs," explains Feller. "Our funding model supports the communities' safety net services, such as food, shelter and emergency or disaster assistance for anyone in need. But we also allocate much-needed dollars on an on-going basis to help at-risk children, mentally and physically challenged persons, frail senior citizens and others in need with services such as transportation, utility assistance, accessing affordable healthcare and quality daycare, drug and alcohol treatment, mentoring and counseling."

Feller says, "United Way makes the most efficient use of every dollar donated and keeps it all local. When you give to United Way of Delaware County, your donation impacts lives here in Delaware County.  Our staff and volunteers do the research, homework, and due diligence so that donors can be confident their money is being used in the most meaningful way to help change people's lives and make a difference."

As part of the annual allocations process, 38 volunteers from throughout Delaware County have been reviewing 39 applications for funding from 25 social service agencies.  These volunteers have visited the agencies, scored the proposals and agency performance, and will make funding recommendations to the Board of Directors of UWDC the end of April.