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United Way sets aggressive campaign goal for 2011

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JANESVILLE — Continued tough economic times convinced United Way of North Rock County leaders to be aggressive in setting this year's fundraising goal, President Ron Ochs said.

The 2011 goal is $1.3 million, a 7 percent increase over the $1.22 million raised during the 2010 campaign, Ochs said.

"The need is there. As we look at all the boards and agencies we are trying to help, the message comes loud and clear to us there is an increase in need. We translated that into an idea that we needed to be aggressive and do the best we could do to help satisfy that need," he said.

He is "cautiously optimistic" the goal can be met, even though the United Way has met fundraising goals only once since 2002.

"If we talk to our donors and prospects and translate that into need, I think people, companies and individuals will respond just because of who we are in this town," he said.

As of Wednesday, $234,488 had been raised, including $147,051 by pacesetter campaigns intended to jump-start annual fundraising, said Mary Wileman, finance director at United Way.

"If that trend continues, I think we can get to our goal," Ochs said.

In another effort to boost giving, United Way is identifying people who have not been campaign participants in the past, he said.

"Then our campaign cabinet chairs talk to folks to encourage them to participate," Ochs said.

United Way also is circulating a new video, "LIVE UNITED," online at uwnrc.org, localvisiontv.com, YouTube and the United Way Facebook page.

Its audio was recorded and donated by Pink Houses, a John Mellencamp tribute band from Edgerton, and produced by Local Vision TV. Volunteers featured in the video are from Edgerton, Evansville, Footville, Janesville, Milton and Orfordville—communities served by United Way of North Rock County.

Ochs said he's attended eight employee rallies where the video was shown, and it appears to connect with people who watch it.

"We had folks come to us afterward who said, ‘You know what? I'm going to participate,'" he said.

The campaign's approach is to reach goal one dollar at a time, Ochs said.

"If you contribute a dollar per week, that buys five scholarships for five different folks at the Boys & Girls Club," he said.

"Those are the kinds of connections we're trying to make as people think about giving and what the outcome is," Ochs said.

Ochs said volunteers are stepping up and working hard.

"If we go out and raise $1.3 million, we're going to do a lot of good work in this community," Ochs said. "We're going to support a lot of folks who have a lot of needs."