With less than a month left in its 2005 campaign, the United Way
of the Bradford Area has collected more than 75 percent of its
$375,000 goal.
“Without including the major leadership gifts we’ve collected in
the past couple of days, we are more than 75 percent to goal,”
United Way executive director Kristen Tate Luther said Friday.
Luther said exact figures for campaign collections are
traditionally not available until about mid-Jan. People or
businesses can still contribute through Dec. 31, although the
official end of the campaign is set for Thursday (Dec. 15).
Luther said that normally the United Way looks to the leadership
division of its donors, or those who contribute $500 or more, to be
the “pace setters” for the campaign. This year, however, they left
them for the finale.
After the confirmation of that last division of pledges, she
said, officials will make an announcement regarding goal.
She admitted the thermometers that allow the public to see the
agency’s success are a little behind, due mostly to the inclement
weather. One thermometer has actually been crushed to the ground,
she said.
Luther said overall the campaign has gone very well, and “the
community, as usual, has been so very responsive to the United
appeal.”
“Personally,” she went on, “what amazes me every year is the
overall generosity of the community. And for every donor that
chooses not to donate, new and generous faces come forward.”
Luther talked specifically about the employees of the Bradford
City Water Authority, saying they met her challenge last year by
doubling their donations from the year before. This year, after
thanking those employees for that gesture, she asked for every
employee to give something and attain the “100 percent” status. She
said she and executive assistant Mandi Wilton promised the
employees a “hot lunch on a cold Bradford day” if they met the
challenge.
And they did.
“So I’ll be making homemeade meatballs, sausage and rigatonis
for the water authority,” Luther laughed.
Once all the numbers are crunched, the United Way will publicize
all the 100 percent givers.
As far as this year’s chairpeople, Bob and Julie Marasco, Luther
said the couple’s “enthusiasm is so contagious.” She said they are
a perfect example of the saying, “the whole is greater than the sum
of parts. They are two people who add up to ten.”
She said the energy, enthusiasm and dedication they have brought
to the campaign has been outstanding.
“People know who they are. When Bob and Julie come on behalf of
the United Way, people respond. It’s been very motivating to work
with them,” Luther said.
Luther also said the campaign’s success has been thanks to the
campaign coordinators and volunteers in the community who help with
“internal campaigning.” Several individuals at the larger companies
and businesses lay the groundwork for Luther and Wilton, so that
when they approach the donors with a presentation, much of the leg
work is already done and the donors are ready to give.
