United Way blitz raises 72 percent of goal

The United Way of Horry County annual fundraising campaign has raised 72 percent ($935,207.87) of the $1.3 million goal in the drive’s opening blitz which ended Tuesday.

Genie Sherard, United Way president, set the opening blitz and an April 30 campaign close in her first year as chief executive officer. A year ago, the opening blitz raised 80 percent of its goal, so the 2015-16 campaign is 8 percentage points behind last year’s campaign. Sherard cited two main factors: “Three or four major gifts that we don’t have now and we had last year and we were quiet about three weeks with the flooding” that followed record rains in the early autumn. “I don’t like excuses, but it slowed the process.”

Sherard and Justin Lee, the campaign chairperson, are highly optimistic that fundraising stars are aligned to finish another campaign at its goal. That was achieved in April 2015 for the first time in several years of falling short in an overall weak economy. Prior to the recession of 2008, United Way of Horry County raised $1,491,000 – over the $1.475 million goal. As fundraising faltered, goals were lowered to $1.275 million until the slight increase for this campaign.

Several positive factors support the optimism. “In residential mailings, we asked for increases” in giving and “we’ve had a lot of good responses,” with folks who perhaps gave $100 and increased their donation to $150. The Crescent Society was started last year, aimed at $5,000 gifts. Dennis Wade, CEO of Jackson Properties, is chairman of the Crescent Society. Initially, “we were hoping for three or four couples and it grew to seven. We now have nine families, mostly couples,” Sherard says.

Another area is the New Business Division, added by Lee in seeking new money. So far, the campaign has 18 new business gifts. The new division did not have a monetary goal. Deborah Bridges-Manning is the leader of the division. The Industry Division (Gregg Turbeville) was at 87 percent of its goal as the blitz closed. South Strand, lead by Lynn Carmon, is at 89 percent, with 104 percent of goal reported for the subdivisions of South Strand Residential (Sherry Maloni) and campgrounds (Annette Shepherd). The Surfside business subdivision (Woody Ford) has 93 percent of goal.

Tracy Lee Vreeland, marketing and communications coordinator, says “there is always this ebb and flow, depending on when drives are held and the numbers are turned in.” In that flow, are differences in individuals’ or entities’ financial situations. Vreeland notes that the United Way has a new website, including PayPal. “This is just easier” for people to make contribuitons online. After the first of the year, an upgrade is slated of the “Get Connected” website for volunteers, which is open to any nonprofit.

Black River United Way, reorganized into a new organization with a focus on early literacy and career readiness, has a goal of $500,000. Lucy S. Woodhouse is in her second year as CEO. Black River serves communities from Kingstree in Williamsburg County to Murrells Inlet.

The two United Way organizations help finance dozens of nonprofits that provide a wide range of vital human services, including Boys & Girls Clubs, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts as well as local units of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The United Way drives need wide community support.

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 8:59 AM with the headline "United Way blitz raises 72 percent of goal."