Campaign Update, December 10
TIME IS RUNNING OUT! PLEASE MAKE A DONATION NOW!

?????? ?????? ? ? ? ? Contact: Kelley Nave, APR, at 423-752-0322, 304-3579 or at kelleynave@uwchatt.org?
??????????? For Immediate Release Upon Receipt

??????????? It will be difficult for United Way of Greater Chattanooga to meet its mid-tier campaign goal of $11.7 million by the end of campaign on December 31. 2007. Due to flat wages, increased living expenses and more need for community assistance, campaign volunteers and United Way staff will need to work even harder between now and the end of December to finish the campaign at the higher-level goal.

??????????? As of the first week in December, United Way had raised 80 percent toward their $11.7 million mid-tier goal. With the $9.36 million that is turned in and another $2.2 million that is expected from individual donors, outstanding campaigns and other sources, the organization should reach $11.58 million, satisfying the lower-tier goal of $11.5 million. But United Way will still be left over $100,000 short of their $11.7 million mid-tier goal.

??????????? ?Once again our community is responding generously to our fundraising campaign but we are falling short of our full aspirations,? says United Way's 2007 Campaign Chairman and CEO of SunTrust Bank, Mike Butler. ?Now we have to really scratch and search for the rest. In some years, economic conditions have been more favorable, but this isn?t going to be one of those years. The need is still great and thousands of our neighbors who use programs funded by United Way count on these campaign contributions from our community.

??????????? ?I think there are several reasons for the shortfall we?re currently seeing,? he adds. ?Our partner agencies and other area non-profits have had record increases in requests for assistance, so contributors who want to do the most good may feel conflicted about where to help. It's also a fact that many employees are going without salary increases this year, or they?ve experienced sharp increases in their cost of living through rising gas prices and health care costs. And some companies have cut their corporate gifts while others have trimmed their workforce. Together these have the potential to become the perfect fundraising storm.

??????????? ?Area residents and corporations still have an opportunity to help the organization reach its goal by making a donation before the New Year begins, since United Way's campaign completion date isn?t until December 31, 2007. Contributors are encouraged to make their donations as soon as possible before the year ends, so they will be eligible for their tax deductions. Call United Way at 423-756-0300 or go to www.uwchatt.org to give securely online.

United Way of Greater Chattanooga funds local programs that create opportunities for people to care for themselves and each other, making our community the best at helping people achieve their potential. Thanks to an endowment fund that covers all overhead and administrative expenses, all contributions (100 percent) go directly to services that help individuals and families in the greater Chattanooga area, north Georgia and northeast Alabama.

Call the United Way at 423-752-0300 for more information.