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United Way sets goal of $680,000 for new season
Dollar amount ‘is realistic and one that we can achieve.’
By MICHAEL MITSEFF
mmitseff@lakecityreporter.com
The United Way of Suwannee Valley kicked off its community fundraising campaign and family celebration Thursday night in the Lake City Community College Howard Gymnasium with an ambitious goal of $680,000.
The goal is approximately the same as last year’s drive.
“I think we’ve been mindful of having a downturn in the economy, but we think our goal is realistic and one that we can achieve,” said UWSV President Joe Flanagan.
Last year’s goal was exceeded by several thousand dollars, according to UWSV figures, but it’s those funds that allow the UWSV to make a positive difference in the lives of children and adults in the Suwannee Valley area.
“I have a lot of goals for this upcoming year because our community has a lot of needs,” said UWSV Executive Director Rita Dopp. “So tonight what we are here for is to kick off our general community fundraising campaign; and another goal that I have is to initiate a mentoring program for foster children aging out of the foster system.”
One of the UWSV agencies that benefits from United Way funding is the Boys and Girls Club of Suwannee Valley.
“The United Way helps us to provide services for 86 youth in the Suwannee County area,” said Kevin Kidd, executive director of Boys and Girls Club of Perry and Taylor. “Its support helps us provide activities
from education to sports and recreation to drug prevention and career development.”
Daphna Klein, employee of Lake City-based call center Sitel, said that the company’s goal this year is to raise $27,000 for the United Way.
“United Way is about improving the lives of people through working together,” said Flanagan. “Our hopes for the evening is to talk about what it means to “Live United” and to get people fired up.
“Living United is an idea that we all win when our children do better in school and when are families are more financially and socially stable,” he said.
The goal is approximately the same as last year’s drive.
“I think we’ve been mindful of having a downturn in the economy, but we think our goal is realistic and one that we can achieve,” said UWSV President Joe Flanagan.
Last year’s goal was exceeded by several thousand dollars, according to UWSV figures, but it’s those funds that allow the UWSV to make a positive difference in the lives of children and adults in the Suwannee Valley area.
“I have a lot of goals for this upcoming year because our community has a lot of needs,” said UWSV Executive Director Rita Dopp. “So tonight what we are here for is to kick off our general community fundraising campaign; and another goal that I have is to initiate a mentoring program for foster children aging out of the foster system.”
One of the UWSV agencies that benefits from United Way funding is the Boys and Girls Club of Suwannee Valley.
“The United Way helps us to provide services for 86 youth in the Suwannee County area,” said Kevin Kidd, executive director of Boys and Girls Club of Perry and Taylor. “Its support helps us provide activities
from education to sports and recreation to drug prevention and career development.”
Daphna Klein, employee of Lake City-based call center Sitel, said that the company’s goal this year is to raise $27,000 for the United Way.
“United Way is about improving the lives of people through working together,” said Flanagan. “Our hopes for the evening is to talk about what it means to “Live United” and to get people fired up.
“Living United is an idea that we all win when our children do better in school and when are families are more financially and socially stable,” he said.
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