The Greater Lafayette community is being asked to raise $4.75 million during the United Way’s annual fundraising campaign this year.
Chairman Bill Olds says that goal was set based on feedback from business leaders and requests made by United Way agencies.
“Obviously, things don’t get cheaper, and they’re serving more and more people today. The agencies’ needs are not diminishing, at all.”
Those nonprofits include the Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County. A complete list is HERE.
The goal this year is $150,000 more than the previous target, which was surpassed by about $10,000. So far, the effort has brought in nearly $1.6 million from the pacesetter phase, or 33% of the overall goal.
Olds thanked those roughly four dozen companies and organizations Tuesday morning at the campaign kick-off event. He also highlighted Valero Renewables, which raised more than $38,000, even while its Linden ethanol plant was idle.
“With the markets that they’re in and the drought that affected corn prices and they shut down production, they still had 100% participation in their campaign and raised the dollars that they did. So, that’s a tremendous job.”
The United Way will announce final results November 15th. The campaign is accepting online donations HERE.
