United Way scrambling to meet last year’s goal

Agency that had set ambitious goal is now faced with $30,000 shortfall at time when needs are increasing
By 
KRISTYN HALBIG ZIEHM
Ozaukee Press staff

United Way of Northern Ozaukee is looking for a little help — not to reach its goal for this year, but to reach last year’s goal.

The campaign is $30,000 short of last year’s goal, and organizers are hoping they can raise that amount before they close the books at the end of March, United Way Executive Director Barbara Bates-Nelson said.

“We’re hoping in the next 30 days we can make up the $30,000,” she said. “We don’t want to take a step backward. We’re hoping people realize the impact it will have.

“If everyone just gave a little, we could get there.”

The campaign has raised $280,000 so far this year, Bates-Nelson said. While that’s an impressive number, it’s short of the $316,000 the campaign raised last year and significantly less than this year’s goal of $400,000.

“We knew that was an ambitious goal,” she said of the $400,000. “But the last couple of years, we’ve had some banner years.”

The organization had tried to grow its fundraising arm, bringing in someone to help with those efforts, but it took longer than expected to get that plan in place, Bates-Nelson said.

The organization had several legacy gifts during the last year or so, but those have ended, she said, and while they gained some new workplace campaigns, they also lost some.

The shortfall comes at a difficult time, Bates-Nelson said. Agencies rely on United Way, especially since other funding sources have been getting more competitive.

Needs are also increasing, she said, particularly in the areas of mental health, homelessness and drug and alcohol dependency.

“We want to be part of the solution,” Bates-Nelson said.

United Way helps fund 13 agencies, such as Family Sharing, Ozaukee Family Services, Advocates of Ozaukee and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“These agencies are hoping we can give them the same amount as last year,” Bates-Nelson said. “Their costs have gone up and so has the number of clients. That’s why this is so critical.”

United Way organizers aren’t giving up on their goals, she said.

“We’re pulling out all the stops,” she said. “We’re going to continue to work hard for the next 30 days.”

In addition to funding, Bates-Nelson said, United Way is also seeking volunteers to help with events.

  It’s not just money United Way is seeking. It is also looking for volunteers to help with events, she said.

Anyone interested in volunteering or making a donation can call her at (248) 613-7855, send contributions to P.O. Box 39, Port Washington or visit www.unitedwayno.org.

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Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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