Published: December 20, 2008 11:06 pm         

United Way falls just short of $1.1M fundraising goal

United Way of the Laurel Highlands announced Saturday that it narrowly missed its fundraising goal for its annual campaign, but the organization still was pleased with the results.

Bill McKinney, executive director, announced during the first intermission of Saturday night’s Johnstown Chiefs game at Cambria County War Memorial Arena that this year’s campaign netted $1.03 million.

The total fell $70,000 shy of the $1.1 million goal.

The money raised benefits United Way’s 25 member organizations in Cambria and Somerset counties.

This year’s campaign raised $14,000 more than last year, leading McKinney to call it a success.

He said the gap between goal and amount raised may yet narrow as final contributions trickle in during the next two months.

“Given the economic climate, we think we did very well,” McKinney said. “And we still have a chance to get some extra dollars coming in over the next two months.”

From the beginning of the campaign, United Way leadership characterized the $1.1 million goal – an increase of 10 percent over last year’s goal – as very aggressive. McKinney said his organization won’t back down from its direction when next year’s campaign begins.

“We’re going to try to be aggressive and raise as much money as we can so we can benefit as many organizations and individuals in need as possible,” McKinney said. “That’s just our nature. It’s how we operate.”

United Way also drew the grand prize winners on Saturday for this year’s campaign.

The top prize, a 2008 Toyota Yaris, sponsored by Laurel Auto Group, Conemaugh Health System, EMAP, Harrigan’s Wine and Cafe Deck, and AmeriServ Financial, went to Harry Mangus of Johnstown, an employee at DRS Laurel Technologies in Richland Township.

     

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