MARCH 26, 2009 ISSUE
Help the High Country United Way Reach Its Fundraising Goal by March 31
Nonprofit in Danger of Falling Short by 20 Percent
With less than a week left in this year’s High Country United Way (HCUW) Campaign, the nonprofit, which supports 26 local agencies and dozens of programs in Watauga and Avery counties, is reaching out local residents for help in reaching its goal of $625,000. As of press time, the nonprofit is more than 20 percent short of their overall goal. The deadline to donate to the campaign is Tuesday, March 31.
HCUW Executive Director Linda Slade is concerned about the funding shortfall, but is hopeful that area residents will help bridge the funding gap.
“I really believe this is a caring community and [they] won’t let us down on this,” said Slade. “I just really believe that people will give us what they can and we’ll go from there.”
According to Slade, HCUW is moving more away from its big annual campaign and increasing its efforts to raise funds for local agencies year-round. Slade said that the March 31 cutoff is necessary to begin the allocation process, which will be made more difficult by a significant funding shortfall.
“It’s going to make the allocation process more difficult if we’re significantly down,” said Slade.
Of particular worry to Slade are the programs that deal with providing basic needs such as food and shelter to those in need.
“We know that those particular programs we fund that address those needs are going to be higher this year,” said Slade. “We still need to focus on the long-term health of the community by looking at those prevention type things that can keep those people from falling in the river to begin with. It’s going to be a balancing act.”
Although she hopes to see the HCUW much closer to its fundraising goal by March 31, Slade emphasized that the nonprofit gladly accepts donations regardless of the date.
“A gift to the United Way helps so many different entities,” said Slade. “When you give a gift to the United Way, we’re looking across the board to help our community stay strong. No gift is too small.”
To make a tax-deductible contribution to High Country United Way, mail checks payable to HCUW to P.O. Box 247, Boone, NC 28607 attn. Linda Slade, Exec. Director. For more information, call the HCUW at 828-265-2111 or click to www.highcountryunitedway.org.
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