United Way of Clinton County held their 63rd Annual Meeting at the 51 West Event Center on Wednesday, March 11.
United Way Executive Director Anita Stewart told the assembled crowd that the agency fell short of its goal to raise $450,000. Stewart said they wound up with $407,667 or 91 percent of their goal.
“Basically, we really had a good campaign in Clinton County,” said Stewart. “We were actually $11,000 over. Where we fell short was what we call ‘out of area’. Out of area is like Caterpillar, SIA and IU Hospital.”
Monies raised this year will help aid the 13 agencies which United Way funds. Those agencies are American Red Cross, Camp Cullom, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, COACH Kids, Library Literacy Program, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc., Open Door Clinic, Paul Phillippe Resource Center, The ARC, The Salvation Army and the Clinton County Family YMCA.
Board President Rick Stefaniak said this year’s campaign had many pockets of increases and success stories and in the areas that they didn’t hit their targets, they had learnings that they’ll take into next year’s campaign.
“Two learnings were big to me,” said Stefaniak. “First, we have to start now. This is a full year campaign effort, not just for the fall. Second, we have to get our word out there.”
Stewart added that means for the agency to work on their re-branding.
“We’re trying to figure out how to get the word and the message out on what United Way does because we have a lot of great things that we do,” said Stewart. “Not only through our agencies, but through the granting that we have. We really spend a lot of time on our early childhood education. We’re going to focus next year with the campaign and be very intentional.”
Stewart said there are four big areas they are going to focus on next year — government, industry, schools and health care.