Published: February 23, 2009 09:43 pm      

United Way surpasses goal

From Staff Reports



A celebration complete with confetti “poppers” was held Monday as United Way of Navarro County announced it had surpassed its fundraising goal of $390,000 for the year.

Pledges totaling $392,354.75 were announced by Dan Wilkie, president of United Way of Navarro County, during the organization’s monthly board meeting. Funds raised by United Way of Navarro County go to support 25 different programs offered by 20 area agencies.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the great job of our Executive Director Kathy Hollomon and two campaign co-chairs, Susan Bruce and Paul Hooper, did to exceed our goal,” Wilkie said Monday. “This is especially noteworthy in these difficult economic times — it reminds me how blessed and fortunate we are in Navarro County to have such caring individual contributors, companies, and trust funds to support our many agencies.”

The local United Way organization approached this year’s fundraising effort with the goal of at least meeting last year’s funding. Both years saw the campaign goal surpassed.

“As the year went on, we would hear about other United Way campaigns not be able to reach their goals,” said Hooper. “In Navarro County, we saw again the generosity of our supporters who are helping to improve lives by ‘building better lives’ through their gifts.”

“Thank you to all of our volunteers, contributors, and board members who gave their time, money, and expertise in making this one of the most successful campaigns of all time,” Bruce said.

The organization commissioned a major needs assessment study in the county in an effort to identify and target areas that are in need of assistance, and is presently working with various groups in the community to expand the scope of United Way assistance, based on the needs assessment data.

“I think our donors realize that we really are working to change our community for the better,” said board member Les Leskoven. “I’m very encouraged by both their generosity in meeting our campaign goal and in the level of participation in our assessment committees.”

Hollomon, now in her third year as executive director, said increased participation of individual donations through the workplace helped United Way of Navarro County reach its 2009 goal.

“I’m so pleased that giving through the workplace campaigns increased this year,” Hollomon said. “By participating in their company’s payroll deduction program, these employees demonstrated how small amounts given regularly really can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors in need.”

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