United Way spends your contributions well

Everyone is stretching dollars these days.

Money and resources only go so far, whether being spent by a businesses, an agency or an individual. The United Way of Central Kentucky is no exception.

Each year, the organization has the responsibility of putting campaign money raised where it can meet the greatest needs of the community in the most efficient and effective manner.

At the beginning of the campaign, the United Way of Central Kentucky set out to raise $1.1 million. From a kickoff at the monthly chamber lunch in September, campaign volunteers and the small office staff met with employee workplace campaign coordinators, local businesses and schools to tell the story of how donations would be allocated through approved agencies

Potential donors were asked to give at any level to make a difference. Those who could were encouraged to give at a leadership level of a $1,000 annual donation. Donors were promised that the moey would be used in conjunction with the mission of “working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health.”

Based on the allocations made, it looks as though the community investment team has accomplished just that. Tangible allocations line up with needs of community.

As caring members of the community we want to give money and time to organizations and agencies which are going to do the most to improve the lives of those around us. We want to donate with confidence the hard earned money we contribute are maximized.

The United Way of Central Kentucky serves as a hub to collect and distribute the money each year. It is reassuring to know the duty of spreading these resources throughout the community is a task they do not take lightly.

Volunteers trusted to make decisions do so after reviewing applications and pondering the needs over the course of weeks to do the right thing with the money entrusted to them.

Kudos to the staff and volunteers who again ran a trusted campaign and distributed each dollar with care and consideration. Kudos as well to all individuals and businesses donating in this year’s campaign. It’s your efforts that provide the United Way with resources to close the gaps of the needs in our area.     

Fourteen agencies received funding totaling nearly $700,000 this year.
1. American Red Cross: $46,200
2. Big Brothers/Big Sisters: $60,000
3. CASA of the Heartland: $20,000
4. Central Kentucky Community Action: $12,000
5. Community Health Clinic: $80,000
6. Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland Inc.: $70,000
7. Grayson County Alliance: $55,000
8. Hardin County Schools-Family Resource and Youth Service Centers: $57,000
9. Helping Hand of the Heartland: $90,000
10. LaRue County Board of Education-Kids Crew: $16,039.94
11. Lincoln Heritage Council, Boy Scouts of America: $5,000
12. North Hardin HOPE: $90,000
13. Panther Place Afterschool Program: $33,000
14. SpringHaven Inc.: $60,000