The United Way of Denton County raised more than $1.8 million in donations and pledges during its shortened 2011 campaign, officials announced Friday.
The 2010 campaign raised about $1.96 million but was extended by two months, meaning donations from the first two months of 2011 were counted toward the prior year's campaign.
The 2011 total "will facilitate a tremendous amount of good work in the community over the next 12 months," said Gary Henderson, who was hired in May as the organization's president and chief executive officer. "I'm pleased with this result, but we're not satisfied with staying at this place."
Donations support the United Way's 22 partner agencies, which provide various community services that include food, clothing, child and senior care, rent and utility assistance and crisis counseling.
The organization broke with tradition in 2011 by not announcing a campaign goal after a shortfall the year before left less money for partner agencies and caused two partner agencies to break away. United Way will continue focusing on needs and causes - not fundraising goals - in future campaigns, Henderson said.
"That's what donors want to hear about," he said. "They give to the faces, the issues and the problems their neighbors are facing."
About 7,200 people across more than 160 businesses and organizations gave to the United Way in 2011. Campaign chairman Rob Seay called the numbers impressive given the struggling economy.
"On behalf of our campaign cabinet volunteers, board of directors and staff, I want to express our deep appreciation to every donor for such generous support," Seay said in a statement.
Partner agencies are facing higher demand and fewer resources after the Texas Legislature cut spending on education and health and human services to help cover a shortfall in the current two-year budget, Henderson said. The money raised isn't enough to cover all of the partner agencies' funding requests, but United Way officials don't expect any more agencies to decline the funds and break away, he said.
The Salvation Army and American Red Cross, facing grant reductions of more than 75 percent each, chose to leave the United Way in 2011 rather than sign a partnership agreement, which would have limited when they could raise money during the year.
"Our hope is that all of our 22 partner agencies will continue in our work together moving forward," Henderson said.
LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com.
