United Way holds victory bash for meeting $1.1 million goal

Despite major area fund-raising efforts for several natural disasters in the last year, the United Way of Southeast Missouri exceeded its 2005 campaign goal, collecting more than $1.1 million.

With a few campaigns still underway and pledges continuing to come in, the United Way expects the total to slightly increase over the next few months. The current total is already $50,000 more than the goal.

"It's been a challenge to surpass our goal with the hurricanes and all, but we did it," said Kathy Bertrand, campaign chairman at the United Way's "victory party" Wednesday afternoon.

The United Way has surpassed its fund-raising goal each of the past five years. The organization has raised more than $5 million since 2000.

"Not much has changed in how we raise money but in how we distribute it," said Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the United Way. "Rather than just give the money to an agency, we allocate it towards a specific program inside that agency."

The United Way of Southeast Missouri provides funding for 40 agencies and programs in Cape Girardeau County, Scott City, Perryville and Marble Hill. Some of those agencies include the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Boy and Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Teen Challenge, Safe House for Women and 25 others.

In the past, Jernigan said the United Way allocated funding in a "shotgun approach" by giving an agency the funds and letting it decide how to spend the money.

"Now we have gone to a more targeted approach and really zeroing in on the specific programs to fund," Jernigan said.

One of those programs includes accrediting area day-care centers through the Success By 6 program, which is an early childhood initiative to ensure children receive a healthy start in life. When Success By 6 started five years ago, only one day care -- Southeast Missouri State University's Early Childhood Learning Center -- was nationally accredited in the region. Today, four day-care centers in Cape Girardeau County are accredited, and 10 more are actively pursuing accreditation.

"Data has shown that children will do better at an accredited day care," Jernigan said. The United Way has provided college scholarships to educate area day-care staff in order for the center to receive accreditation.

The Safe House for Women, which provides emergency housing for abused women and children, receives United Way funding that is allocated for three of its programs -- the 24-hour hotline, crisis intervention program and community education program.

Linda Garner, executive director for the Safe House for Women, said United Way funds are critical for maintaining the agency.

"We couldn't do it without the United Way," Garner said. "The funds cover some our expenses that the state and federal grants won't allow us to cover."

Along with allocating funds, the United Way began to set aside 10 percent of its funding towards specific issues. Three years ago, along with the Community Caring Council, the United Way assessed the four biggest issues -- transportation, access to medical care, alcohol and drug abuse and family issues -- facing Cape Girardeau County.

"As we raise more and more money each year, you still hear about these people who are slipping through the cracks," Jernigan said. "Anymore, it's not about the number of people you've helped but how you've changed their lives."

Jernigan also credits the United Way's success to the Top 20 Advisory Council, which was organized four years ago. The council is made up of members from the top 20 contributors to the United Way. These top contributors account for 70 percent of the campaign goal.

Jernigan said the United Way meets with the Tops 20 Advisory Council and asks each member to set their own fundraising goals.

"That helps us to set our total goal," Jernigan said. "We get a stronger commitment from them too if we do it this way."

All of the funds raised during the United Way's campaign stay in community-based agencies.

"We are the community and are looking at any way to help make the community stronger and healthier," Jernigan said.

jfreeze@semissourian.com