United Way launches campaign

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September 9, 2010

Anonymous Commercial-News The Commercial-News Thu Sep 09, 2010, 03:00 AM CDT

DANVILLE — Optimism was the key word Wednesday as coordinators kicked off the United Way fundraising campaign.

The local United Way of Danville Area starts its annual campaign today, shooting for a goal of $800,000. The total matches the goal set for the 2008 campaign and is down $50,000 from last year’s mark.

Rick Rotramel of Country Finance is the chairman of this year’s campaign. He has been involved in United Way activities in both Chicago and Paris in addition to Danville.

He said the economy will play a huge role in this year’s campaign.

“For the most part, the economy is going to motivate all of us to make sure we reach the goal,” he said, adding many more people need the agency programs assisted by the United Way as a result of the economy.

Pat O’Shaughnessy of Vermilion County Title said he believes people feel less uncertain about the economy right now compared to 2009.

“I’m very encouraged based upon what the community did last year in what was even more uncertain times than what is facing us today,” said O’Shaughnessy, one of several past chairmen taking part in this campaign. “People feel better right now than a year ago.”

Rotramel said the campaign had started prior to today’s kickoff, with several businesses beginning presentations.

“The majority of the businesses in Danville are welcome to having us come in and make presentations,” he said.

Two new groups are a part of the campaign this year. United Way President Jeanne Mulvaney said the merging of services by Crosspoint Human Services and Your Family Resource Connection opened one vacancy in the 17-member list of agencies while the Cerebral Palsy Clinic opted out in December to open another spot.

Taking their places are Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) and the Danville Learning Center. It is the first time an agency had been added to the list since 2000 when Project Success joined.

The search for new members was announced in February and out of as many as 16 agencies, O’Shaughnessy said four agencies were invited to apply. Only two did and both were added.

As in past years, the United Way is coming out with the message that it serves programs, not agencies, adding that agencies must show quarterly how the various programs are doing.

The largest requested allocations come from the Boys and Girls Club, which is asking for $85,000 for education and career development, and Crosspoint Human Services, which is asking for $105,000. A little more than half of that is intended for the YFRC’s Transitional Homeless Program.

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