Reach United Way goal
Because literacy unlocks the world and the ability to thrive in it, childhood reading makes a fine special focus for the United Way of the Plains’ 2015 campaign. But there are as many reasons to give to United Way as there are people counting on the agencies it funds, especially with Wichita’s economy still lagging and too many of our neighbors needing help with life’s basics.
At its kickoff event Thursday at Century II, where attendees were put to work packing 350 reading kits of donated books, United Way announced a conservative campaign goal of $15 million. The money will support 85 programs at 35 agencies that variously nurture children’s potential, foster financial stability and improve health.
Though United Way’s profile in the community is highest during its fall campaigns, the good work it does spans the seasons. It operates a 2-1-1 help line and volunteer center. In January it conducts the annual point-in-time count of the local homeless population, combined with a service event. With the start of the school year it launched a multimedia “Be There” initiative targeting chronic absenteeism, especially at seven Wichita elementary schools. It’s also sponsoring a daylong summit on school attendance Sept. 23.
“It’s generational change,” said president and CEO Pat Hanrahan, envisioning a time 10 or 20 years from now when people can tie gains in graduation rates and other measurements to United Way of the Plains’ efforts to curb truancy and tardiness and to help young elementary students succeed.
A target $100,000 less than was raised last year and $600,000 less than in 2013 might look like a retreat. But it’s more of a reflection of the stubborn reality in Wichita, which lost 20,000 net jobs as well as Boeing after the economy plummeted in 2008-09.
Hanrahan noted that Wichita “is still not in the most terrific of shape.” The unemployment rate rose from 4.4 percent in December to 5.7 percent in July. As the economy’s sluggishness lowers expectations for giving, though, it also ramps up the need.
“Regardless of the number, we’re going to go for broke with every account. We’re asking each account to really look at their potential and stretch,” Hanrahan told The Eagle editorial board.
Many can donate through payroll deduction at their workplace. Contributions also can be made at http://www.unitedwayplains.org/ or by mail: United Way of the Plains, 245 N. Water, Wichita, KS 67202.
AgVantis, AGH, Black Hills Energy, Capitol Federal, Wichita Transit, Kansas Star Casino, Sullivan Higdon and Sink, and Target served as the pacesetters, getting the 2015 campaign started by raising a combined $345,000 and improving their total by an impressive 29 percent over last year.
Between now and the campaign’s conclusion on Nov. 20, others in the community should take the measure of both the need and their capacity to give, and help United Way of the Plains achieve its essential goal.
For the editorial board, Rhonda Holman
This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Reach United Way goal."