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United Givers Fund needs donations to meet go

By Jared Felkins
The Times-Journal

Published November 4, 2009

United Giver’s Fund executive director Shelly Allen remains cautiously optimistic of the fundraising engine meeting its 2009 goal as it heads into the home stretch of its campaign.

On Monday, Allen said the campaign is at nearly 55 percent of its goal, having raised $139,555 of the $255,000 goal so far this year.

At the same time last year, the campaign was at 63 percent of its goal.

“If you look at the numbers from last year, they really aren’t that different,” Allen said. “I’m remaining optimistic. We have seen some contributions go down, but we have seen some go up.”

Allen said UGF agencies that depend on contributions from businesses and individuals are the DeKalb County chapter of the American Red Cross, the ARC, CASA, CASA-Helping Hands, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Salvation Army, the Fort Payne-DeKalb Child Development Center, Partnership for a Drug-Free DeKalb and the USO.

Allen said not making goal means that UGF will have to cut the amount of money that it gives to each agency.

“It means that agencies will be more limited in the number of people they can serve during a time when requests for assistance are at an all-time high,” Allen said. “It also means that they will have to spend more of their time in fundraising activities.

“With the economy like it is, people are needing more help and agencies are getting drained in that regard. I am concerned about meeting this year’s goal. We need help so they can offer help. I appreciate all the help people have given us so far. For the people who haven’t helped already, go ahead and get those donations in.”

At a recent report meeting, Allen said Fort Payne City schools, Fort Payne clothing and variety businesses, Fort Payne residential, Fischer community and Fyffe business and industry groups had made their goals. DeKalb Regional Medical Center had surpassed its goal and increased giving was reported from DeKalb County employees and employees from GameTime and Horizon Bank in Fyffe.

Allen said the Fort Payne Sanitation Department and DeKalb County Revenue Commissioner’s Office reported 100-percent participation. She also said Fitness First, the Fraternal Order of Police, Precision Auto Wash and Ol’ Tymers Blues and Barbecue had fundraising events either completed or planned.

“Some areas are still responding to appeals that were mailed out in September and October,” Allen said. “Some of the participating industrial companies are still working on their campaigns. But many more reported that the businesses and individual approached just don’t have it to give this year.”

Donations can be mailed to UGF at PO Box 680292, Fort Payne, AL 35968, by calling 845-4006 or by logging on to ugfdekalb.org.

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