United Way campaign extended in Waukesha County; campaign lags in Milwaukee County

Nov. 16, 2009

By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Nov. 16, 2009 0

Waukesha - With more people needing help, a higher fund-raising goal and fewer donations being collected, United Way in Waukesha County is extending its campaign another month, to Dec. 31.

At the same time, donations to the United Way of Greater Milwaukee campaign are lagging, about $800,000 short of projections with roughly three weeks remaining, according to figures released Monday.

Ken Riesch, Waukesha County's United Way 2009 campaign chairman and president and CEO of R&R Insurance Services, said Monday, "With more people seeking help and fewer donations being collected, the need to extend the campaign is obvious."

The $2.1 million raised so far is on pace with last year's effort at this time, Riesch said, but United Way in Waukesha County set a $5.1 million goal - compared with $4.8 million last year - because demand for services in these hard economic times is higher. Last year's campaign helped pay for 71 programs at 34 agencies that reached nearly 67,000 people.

The United Way in Waukesha County campaign started Sept. 1 and was set to end Nov. 30, but it needs more time to reach donors, including new ones, Riesch said.

Riesch said people are struggling to stay in their homes, pay their utility bills and put food on the table. Many agencies that get United Way funds are reporting much higher demand for services.

In the Milwaukee campaign, pledges to date total $33.5 million. The goal for the Milwaukee agency is $45 million.

"The good news is that, overall, we are still slightly ahead of last year at this point," said Keith Nosbusch, a Community Campaign co-chairman and the chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation. "However, increased needs demand an increased goal."

The 2008 campaign netted $44.3 million for area charities.

Officials set a goal of raising $5 million in pledges and contributions this week, to reach $38.5 million by Friday and 90% of the goal by Nov. 27. Donations typically slow near the end of the campaign, which ends Dec. 10.

About Laurel Walker

Laurel Walker covered local, school and county government for 20 years -- the last half of that at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- before she was named Waukesha County columnist in 1997. Today she writes about the people, places and events around metropolitan Milwaukee with a broad suburban focus. She was the youngest of nine children raised on a central Wisconsin farm before leaving the nest for journalism studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a masters degree at the University of Oregon. She has spent the last half of her life in Waukesha County, where she and her husband raised two sons. Though she has a fondness for life in Waukesha, she eagerly partakes in the culture of the big city to the east and the recreation of the forests to the west. With sons in the arts, she has a special fondness for symphonic music concerts and art museums. She finds peace in a good book at a Northwoods getaway weekend, adventure in family visits to the east and west coasts, and satisfaction in a column well-written that reaches readers.