A lagging economy with contributing businesses dealing with layoffs and furloughs in 2015 hampered United Way of Knox County’s fundraising efforts.
That’s according to Executive Director Ann Tucker-Lockhart who tells WGIL that the non-profit organization fell $44,000 short of raising their goal of $350,000.
United Way extended the 2016 campaign through Jan. 31 when they were only at 67% of their objective.
The extra time they alloted allowed that percentage to be boosted up to 87.54%.
Tucker Lockhart says that the final amount was more than she had anticipated after having major concerns a few weeks ago.
“There were a lot of companies, for instance like BNSF, there’s a lot of furloughs going on out there,” Tucker-Lockhart says. “That’s a very, very large campaign for us. They are our number one contributor. So with those furloughs, there’s obviously no income, so people weren’t pledging.”
She also says the state of Illinois politics are hampering organizations United Way works with.
“Several of these agencies rely on state funds so they’re taking a hit,” Tucker-Lockhart says.
United Way’s annual meeting is this evening and then the Board of Directors will meet on Feb. 20.
Tucker-Lockhart says on the 20th the 2017 campaign will be at the top of the agenda and it could likely be decided then if the $350,000 goal will be adjusted.
