United Way falls short of fundraising goal

After raising a record amount of money last year, the Johnson County chapter of the United Way fell $400,000 short of this year's fundraising goal.

The organization raised $2.35 million for its 2009 campaign, which was actually $300,000 less than what was raised last year.

United Way officials acknowledge that this year's goal of raising $2.73 million was lofty, but spokesman Mitch Overton said that they were pleased with how deep Johnson County residents and businesses dug to help them come close to their ambitious mark.

“We're happy with where we ended considering the economy and we're more than a year post-flood,” Overton said. “The community really stepped up in supporting us.”

Overton said that the group, which partners with 29 agencies throughout the county, saw an increase in the average donation, but that the volume of donors declined from last year.

“Across the board, smaller donors dropped off with a general belt tightening,” Overton said. “Last year we had so many first time donors due to the Floods of 08 ... Without that urgency of flood relief we saw a lot of those folks drop away.”

Overton said that the top contributing 25 companies accounted for sixty percent of the money raised, and that they hope to bring in more first time donors in next years campaign.