United Way Drive Ends On Optimistic Note Charity Expects Total To Reach $4.95 Million For This Year

United Way of Spokane County closed its annual fund-raising drive Wednesday just $160,000 short of last year’s total.

The charity was $1 million behind two weeks ago.

Many people at the closing banquet at Spokane’s Ridpath Hotel said they were “pleasantly surprised” when Campaign Chairman Dave Peffer announced the projected total is $4.95 million.

“We wanted to peak at $5 million and we got awfully close,” said Peffer, assistant city police chief. “The people close to this campaign had to work awfully hard just to get that.”

The money will be distributed among 36 charities that provide health and human services to the county’s poor and disabled.

The $4.95 million total is an estimate, projected on the number of pledge cards that are still not in, said United Way spokeswoman Jesse McManigal. Officials said they are confident the final tally will be very close.

“There’s no fluff in that number,” she said. “We have gone over it with a fine-tooth comb.”

Every year, United Way officially closes its campaign before several companies turn in their employee pledge cards. This year, accountants estimate almost $1 million in pledges is still outstanding, McManigal said.

“All along, things have been slow,” she said, with more pledge cards than average still out.

Those companies have assured United Way volunteers they will still be asking their employees to support the charity.

Officials at the charity clearing-house blamed a shaky local economy and corporate reorganizations for poor pledge returns. A reduction in the government workforce, also put a dent in the pledge drive.

Federal employees are expected to give $390,000; state workers $244,000.

United Way’s niche is at the office, where employees can donate through payroll deduction.

Going into the campaign, officials knew it would be a difficult year to raise money, Peffer said. Corporate support of the organization had waned.

United Way also had 25 percent fewer employees on loan from various businesses to run the campaign.

“Times are not going to get any easier,” Peffer predicted. “In terms of charitable giving, it’s only going to get tougher.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: United Way falls short