United Way sets a lower goal than last year

United Way of the Plains on Thursday announced a lower goal for its annual campaign than the agency raised last year.

The 2014 goal of $15.1 million is $500,000 less than the United Way raised last year.

“We’ve set a tough goal in a tough economy,” United Way president Pat Hanrahan said at the kickoff breakfast at Century II.

Last year’s total was boosted by several sizable one-time gifts, said campaign chairwoman Jackie Wise, who is vice president and general manager of Entercom Radio. If the campaign meets this year’s goal, she said, it would represent an increase in ongoing giving.

Thirteen Pacesetter companies have already raised more than $309,000, which is an increase of 21 percent over last year.

Wise said that if participating companies could get their current donors to increase their gift by two dollars a week, it would mean an extra $2.5 million for the United Way.

“Eight dollars a month is doable,” she said.

The money raised will fund programs at 35 agencies in the community, the United Way 211 helpline, its volunteer center and other community initiatives. United Way of the Plains serves south-central Kansas, including Sedgwick, Butler and Sumner counties.

The nearly 800 people who attended the breakfast had a surprise waiting for them in large boxes in the middle of their tables: fleece material, scissors and pattern blocks with which they made nearly 100 tie-blankets for use by children at the Wichita Children’s Home.

“It’s a wonderful idea,” said Vernetta Dixon of the Center for Health and Wellness as she and her co-workers cut fringe in the cloth and tied the strips. “It’s a real simple project and very practical.”

The results of the United Way campaign will be announced in November.

This story was originally published September 11, 2014 at 9:22 AM with the headline "United Way sets a lower goal than last year."