WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | United Way extends 2009 campaign
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SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - For the first time in a very long time, the United Way of the Coastal Empire is extending their campaign.
On Friday, the United Way announced it did not meet its $8.2 million goal.
The new deadline is December 1. The slow economy has put the charity organization in an overtime situation. It was supposed to be the end of another successful United Way campaign; however, when the grand total was announced, reality set in.
The fundraising campaign fell about $400,000 short of its goal, just above $7.8 million. Not too shabby, but not the goal they set.
"We knew it would be challenging," Jeff Kole, 2009 campaign chairman, told WTOC. "Our goal is not what we thought we could raise but what we needed to raise."
Kole blames the economy for the shortage in donations. At at their victory celebration today, he thanked those who gave.
"We are very happy to be in excess of $7.8 million given what is going on in the community these days," Kole said. "It's the economy and we made a tremendous effort. We beat the bushes and saw some weakness out there."
"I think it's a very heroic effort," Bill Oakley, president of Goodwill Industries, told WTOC.
Oakley has suffered similar difficulties the last year and a half.
"It's not a wholly surprising thing. Goodwill has experienced that through out the year," he said. "I think people are wary and cognicent of economic circumstances and being a little more careful."
But, it's not over yet. Thanks to a challenge grant, $100,000 from an anonymous donor, the United Way has vowed not to quit until they meet their goal, with a 10 day extension to the 2009 campaign.
"It's an unusual step for United Way to take, but the times are also unusual," Kole said.
The United Way of the Coastal Empire, with thousands of donations from Chatham, Liberty, Bryan and Effignham Counties, will have until Tuesday December 1, to reach the $8.2 million goal.
WTOC's own Sonny Dixon was emcee for the victory celebration Friday and WTOC's operation manager Craig Harney was there to show his support.
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