“We had a great turnout,” said Jan Hansen, executive director of the local United Way. “We even increased in the number of volunteers. We have some new companies participating this year that haven't in the past.”
Hansen hopes the increase in participants this early in the campaign could turn into more dollars to allocate to the area agencies.
“We see Tuesday's turnout as a good sign for our campaign,” Hansen continued. “We would like to see participation increase in each division of the campaign.”
The “boot camp” training session was designed to provide loan executives — volunteers who run the individual campaigns for their respective businesses — strategies for effective fund-raising.
Monies raised from the annual campaign, which runs Sept. 1 through Nov. 15 this year, is used to fund 15 area not-for-profit agencies.
“The United Way is an organization designed to pull together local monies through our fund-raising activities and distribute the funds to agencies that are providing much-needed services to our community,” Hansen said.
And community input is vital to the organization, Hansen added, not only by way of the pocket book but also in helping to distribute the money to where it is most needed.
“Our allocations committee consists of members of the community who look at each agency, what the organization requests and its needs. Then the members allocate the funds where they are most needed in our community,” Hansen said.
Donors can chose a variety of ways to give — from payroll deductions to a one-time cash payment. Donations can also be earmarked for one particular agency.
Virtually all the money raised by the campaign, stays in Howard County, Hansen said, with about 10 percent of the funds going toward administrative costs.
The campaign officially kicks off Aug. 19 with the annual luncheon set for 11:30 a.m. in First United Methodist Church's Garrett Hall, at 400 Scurry St.
Radio personality Tumbleweed Smith, a Big Spring resident, will be the guest speaker.
Tickets for the luncheon are $12 and can be purchased at the Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce, 215 W. Third. For more information, call 267-5201.
