By GARY DEMUTH, Salina Journal

The Salina Area United Way ended the public portion of its annual campaign Thursday with just less than $600,000 in pledges -- about half the amount raised in the 2008 campaign.

But the agency is still collecting pledges through the end of the year and beyond, according to Bill Weaver, United Way marketing director.

In 2008, $1,175,000 was raised.

United Way officials, participating businesses, donors and the public were invited to a celebration of the 2009 campaign Thursday at Outlaw Cycles, 901 E. Crawford, as part of a Salina Area Chamber of Commerce After Hours event.

This year's campaign goal has differed from previous years. Instead of a dollar goal, United Way campaign chairman John Quinley had previously announced that this year's goal was to sign up 500 new donors. This would increase the total number of donors to 5,000, up from 4,500 in 2008.

It's not known if that goal was met. Weaver said it will be difficult to tell until all of the pledges have been collected how many new donors have made pledges.

At this point last year, the campaign had reached about 63 percent of its monetary goal, Weaver said. However, at this point two years ago, he said, only about 40 percent of the campaign goal had been raised.

"So we're sitting pretty good at where we're at," Weaver said.

A number of local businesses whose employees contribute to the United Way end their campaigns late in the year, Weaver said, and there are a couple of major business donors that have yet to turn in pledges. That's why the exact amount raised during this year's campaign won't be announced until late January or early February.

The decision to focus this year's campaign on donors instead of dollars was made to put the emphasis on those who give instead of the amount given, Weaver said.

"We're redirecting our focus," he said. "People don't donate to the United Way just to give money. People give to help other people, because people are in need."

Weaver said that if 500 new donors pledge a dollar a week, or $52 a year, "that would be an extra $26,000 we've never had before."

To help encourage new donors to pledge, two motorcycles will be given away by the United Way -- a scooter and a dirt bike ¬­-- courtesy of Outlaw Cycles.

The names of donors who pledge 1 percent of their annual salary will be entered into the drawing for the scooter, Weaver said. The names of new donors who give $1 a week will be put into the drawing for the dirt bike.

The winners of both motorcycles will be announced in late February.

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

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Gunnhild says....
It's hard to think WE instead of ME when both your and your spouse are out of work.
11/21/2009

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