Largest fundraising year ever for United Way of Erie County

May 21--The United Way of Erie County raised more money in its 2013 annual campaign than any drive in the organization's 99-year history, according to projections the agency is expected to announce this morning.

The record-breaking campaign raised more than $6.2 million, marking only the third time in local United Way history the fundraiser has ever surpassed $6 million.

The drive smashed all prior totals despite decreases from GE Transportation and Erie Insurance, the top two donors, respectively, to the nonprofit.

United Way officials will deliver their projections at their annual meeting today at the Bayfront Convention Center at 8 a.m.

The agency today also will be announcing its fundraising total in a new format, calling it "total community support," which includes additional resources in the form of grants, sponsorships and endowment fund earnings.

The United Way collected more than $6.7 million in "total community support" in 2013, officials said.

That figure was boosted by nearly $280,000 in grants and sponsorships to the agency's Imagination Library literacy project, launched at the May 2013 annual meeting; more than $207,000 in grants to Erie Free Taxes, which helps low-income workers, and other United Way initiatives; and endowment fund earnings rising nearly $200,000 when compared to 2012.

The final count of corporate and individual donations to the 2013 campaign will be completed in late June, officials said.

Money donated to the agency's annual drive goes directly to funding income, health and education programs designed to reduce poverty.

"Money alone cannot solve our community's problems. But make no mistake, it takes money to get things done," said Bill Jackson, president of the local United Way.

"Our fundraising success is a tribute to the generosity of the individuals and businesses in our community," Jackson added. "The community is clearly responding to our goal to help more families become self-sufficient by 2025, and their support will help us make that vision a reality."

The United Way is projecting GE's drive to finish at about $1.5 million, down from $1.6 million in 2012. That figure includes a projected company match of 50 percent to all employee contributions.

GE's unionized workforce, through the Employees Community Service Fund of General Electric, collected $600,000, down from the $700,000 it had raised for each of the 2011 and 2012 drives.

R.J. Zonna, the United Way's senior vice president, said the decrease from the Community Service Fund is largely attributed to layoffs in 2013 at the Lawrence Park-based plant.

GE announced in April 2013 plans to eliminate 950 union jobs and 100 salaried positions. The first round of those layoffs occurred in November.

"If they have less people, they are collecting less," Zonna said.

Jackson said workplace pledges in general for the 2013 drive were flat compared to 2012.

"When you consider the economic news coming out of GE, to hold our own on that line is extremely good," the United Way president said.

Erie Insurance, annually the second-highest donor, collected $667,066, down $22,053 from the $689,119 raised in 2012.

Many workplace campaigns experienced increases.

UPMC Hamot raised $136,588, up from $115,000 in 2013, and the campaign by Port Erie Plastics jumped 72 percent compared to the 2012 effort.

Wegmans employees at the two Erie County locations increased their drive by about 6 percent, up to $155,571 in 2013, and Northwest Savings Bank saw a 9 percent climb, up to $47,746.

"It really speaks to the fact that we have a generous community," Jackson said. "They have a better understanding of where their money goes when they give to United Way."

Through the highly successful Imagination Library, more than 8,400 children younger than age 5 have signed up to receive a free book mailed to their home -- about 43 percent of the total number of Erie County children 5 or younger.

Erie Free Taxes continues to provide free preparation services.

Marlene Mosco, regional president of PNC, was the United Way's campaign chairwoman for the 2013 drive.

Terry Cavanaugh, president and chief executive of Erie Insurance, will serve as chairman of the 2014 drive, which officially kicks off in September.

Today's annual meeting also will mark the United Way's 100 years of raising money in Erie County.

GERRY WEISS can be reached at 870-1884 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNweiss.

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