Waukesha — United Way in Waukesha County has set a fund-raising goal of $4.3 million this year, about a 1% increase over the $4,261,000 it raised in 2009, to help fund health and human service agencies that assist people in need.
The annual fund-raising campaign comes during a down economy and at a time when agencies funded by the United Way are seeing an increasing demand for services, United Way officials say.
"Although this is a tough fund-raising environment, we cannot ignore the acute need in Waukesha County," United Way in Waukesha County Board President Paul Melnick stated in a news release.
"There are many consistent themes among our local nonprofit community . . . loss in funding; increased demand for services, especially in the area of basic needs; and an overall increase in stress levels among Waukesha County families due to job loss and other uncertainties. It's up to leadership organizations like United Way in Waukesha County to call our community into action," he stated.
Money raised in the campaign, which runs through Nov. 30, will help pay for more than 60 programs at more than 30 local agencies.
The $4.3 million goal is lower than goals set in the past. Last year, United Way in Waukesha County fell short of its fund-raising goal of $5.1 million, and cited the down economy as the reason. It set that goal after raising $4.8 million in 2008.
The shortfall in last year's campaign resulted in 5% funding cuts to local programs, the United Way said.
For information about the United Way in Waukesha County, go to www.unitedwaywaukesha.org or call (262) 547-8459.