United Way Falls Short Of Its Goal Despite Record Donations, Charity $400,000 Off Of $5.56 Million Target

United Way of Spokane County wrapped up its 1996 campaign with less-than-usual fanfare during the recent ice storm, raising a record $5.1 million but falling short of its goal.

The charity topped its previous record, from 1994, by $100,000. But the lofty goal of $5.56 million remained out of reach by more than $400,000.

“We made tremendous strides in achieving that goal,” said Campaign Chairman Tony Bonanzino, vice president of Bayer Corp. “It clearly determines a benchmark to work from next year.”

The goal this year was based on a needs assessment of all 38 human service charities that belong to United Way. In the past the goal was simply a 1 percent to 3 percent increase over the amount raised the previous year.

“We were able to communicate that to the contributors at the workplace,” said United Way Director Jose Pena. “Employees understood that this was for a real need and responded very generously.”

In order to raise even more money in the future, United Way must expand beyond its traditional workplace campaign at large employers.

Currently, most of the companies participating in the campaign have more than 70 percent of their employees signing up for the workplace deduction, Pena said.

Although a few companies have room for improvement, any real growth will have to come from new sources, he said.

United Way hopes to involve more small companies, which in the past seemed too little to trouble with the paperwork. More than 80 percent of the businesses in Spokane County have fewer than 20 workers, Pena said.

Although it will mean more volunteers, that may be one of the only ways to keep up with the increasing needs.

This year also was a record year for volunteers, with more than 400 people helping the campaign.

The number of donors who give $1,000 or more doubled to 300, Pena said. A total of 36,000 people signed pledge cards and agreed to contribute a portion of their salaries to the agency, which will distribute the money to member charities.

A handful of donors designated their contributions to agencies outside the United Way umbrella - primarily Planned Parenthood, which will get $11,000 and Catholic Charities, which will get $9,000.

The annual dinner where the final number was announced fell on Nov. 19, the first night of the ice storm that knocked out power to 100,000 homes and business. Of the 450 people with reservations, fewer than 100 showed up.

, DataTimes