"Groups came to us and gave us an idea of what they're going to use our funds for. We have a form that goes out to that asks specifically what they're going to use the money for," Shari Gillespie, president of the board of directors of Boone County United Way, said. "Most of the requests were to subsidize programs because they have been cut by the state and by the federal. It used to be if we gave them $3,000, they could maybe get matching funds from a government agency. Well, I don't know if that's a reality anymore, whether the funds are out there."
Gillespie, a Boone resident, has been with the organization since 1985.
The organization works one year ahead and makes decisions about the distribution of funds a year in advance, as well. All of the money that the local organization raises stays in Boone County. For the 2009 campaign, 24 agencies received assistance from the $110,000 in funds raised by Boone County United Way.
"They asked for $129,000 this year, so if we stay with the same goal as last year, we're going to have to cut almost $30,000 off of there somewhere," Gillespie said. "We're sure going to try to help out all of these groups. We will find out on Tuesday. They all do have worthy projects."
United Way of Boone County will meet Tuesday to set the 2010 campaign goal. They plan to announce which organizations receive funding from them, as well as the amount this week. "We don't know yet what our goal is going to be. I think we might stay with our same goal - you hate to go down. Our goal was $110,000 last year and I think it has been for the last couple of years," Gillespie said. "Hopefully we can fund everybody." Boone County groups and organizations that presented their cases at last week's hearings included: Center for Child Care Resources, Girl Scouts, American Red Cross, Genesis, Lutheran Services of Iowa, Red Rock Community Action, Boone County Transportation, Boone County Prevention, Boone County Community Services, Boone County Recovery Services, Youth & Shelter Services, Camp Fire USA, Child Care Junction, Home Care Services, Meals On Wheels, Beckwith Family Adult Day Care, Hospice of Central Iowa, Community & Family Resources, Richmond Center, Boone County CARES, Boy Scouts of America, Mid-Iowa Community Action, ACCESS, Foster Grandparents and RSVP. "Most of those agencies, except Child Care Junction, which was new to us, have applied for funding from us for years. They know how much we can collect, so they don't really ask for any terrific amount of money or more than what we have given them before," Gillespie said. She said with the current state of the economy in the United States, the need for assistance from groups like United Way of Boone County is even greater. "Everybody worries about the economy. But you know what? You got to have a goal and we could set it higher. There's more need out there now with people losing their jobs or their homes. The need is still there, it's probably more," she said. "There are always concerns about fundraising - there are people that need to put food on the table. Hopefully they understand that there are people that are really in need." No matter what amount United Way of Boone County decides to set their 2010 campaign goal at Tuesday night, they have already gotten a jump on fundraising thanks to a recent donation from Union Pacific Railroad, totaling $6,000. Boone County United Way meets every month, except July and December, on the second Thursday of the month at the Tic Toc Supper Club, 716 Keeler St., at noon for lunch and a meeting. The meetings are open to the public. For more information on Boone County United Way, contact the Boone Chamber of Commerce at 432-3342 or Shari Gillespie at 432-8985.
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