United Way Surpasses Campaign Goal
By: Caroline Tucker
Updated: June 13, 2012
The United Way of Greater Rochester has surpassed its fundraising goal for the fourth year in a row.
The United Way raised close to $27.9 million dollars.
It's 2012 goal was $25.5 million.
The organization lowered its fundraising goal from 2011 because of community conditions, including Kodak's financial troubles.
But the lower goal didn't stop people from giving.
This year's campaign included challenge grants from the ESL Charitable Foundation and Constellation Brands totaling $700,000.
It was the largest challenge grants the United Way has ever received.
Some of the money raised goes to the Community Fund which benefits about 80 local organizations.
The organizations help early childhood, aging, crisis services, and other
"United Way touches more than 500,000 people in our area every year, people who are in need in various capacities without the funds there would be a lot of people who wouldn't get what they need," said Rob Sands, 2012 Campaign Chairman.
The United Way said they worked hard to increase giving to the community fund, increase the number of donors who give $10,000 or more, encourage more corporate giving, and secure new donors.
The organization said it secured 10,000 new donors and received $1.5 million in new community fund donations.
The organization said that they are unable at this point to tell how many donors or money that they lost from the previous year.
The organization is already looking ahead to next year.
It appointed University of Rochester President Joel Seligman as the 2013 campaign chair.
"I am thrilled by the opportunity to support the United way it's one of the great community organizations and I love the idea that we celebrate we are one community," said Joel Seligman, 2013 Campaign Chairman.
The United Way's roots began right in Rochester.
George Eastman originally founded the Community Chest, which paved the way for the United Way.
