United Way Campaign is still short $1 million

CLEVELAND (February 11, 2010) –United Way of Greater Cleveland, one of the largest health and human service funders in Greater Cleveland, is still $1 million short of making its $40 million goal. This shortfall will translate to fewer funds to invest in the 202 programs provided by 126 agencies that help 450,000 Greater Cleveland residents every year.







“This is the worst of times to come up short,” said K. Michael Benz, United Way of Greater Cleveland President and CEO. “Our community is facing high unemployment and foreclosure rates that increase the number of people who are seeking help in our community. Without United Way dollars, the agencies that provide so many of the services our community depends upon will be overburdened.”







United Way of Greater Cleveland set a $40 million goal last September. The recent economic downturn has affected the campaign because most of the dollars that United Way raises are within workplace campaigns. The economic downturn has resulted in fewer employees in the workplace and lower profits in the corporate community to support the campaign.







At the same time, the volume of calls for help to United Way’s 211 health and human services referral line continues to grow. In 2009, information and referral specialists answered 206,000 calls for help, 16,000 more calls than in 2008. Utility and rent payment assistance, food pantries and homeless shelters were among the top requests.







“We have witnessed extraordinary generosity throughout the campaign, and we are grateful,” said David Hooker, United Way of Greater Cleveland Campaign Co-Chair and Thompson Hine LLP Managing Partner. “But if everything stays the way it is today, we will come up short. That is why we are making this last appeal, asking everyone to give an additional gift to help those in need.”







Donors can make their contributions securely online at uws.org/give. Mail checks to United Way of Greater Cleveland, 1331 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44115. Or text "CHANGE" to 864833 (which spells UNITED on the phone key pad) and a $5 donation will be added to your mobile phone bill.