St. Marys Area United Way at 83 percent of goal

Saturday, February 18, 2012

ST. MARYS - The loss of a donation from a corporation means the St. Marys Area United Way has only reached 83 percent of its goal $205,000 goal.
Sherron McGowan, executive director of the St. Marys Area United Way, said a week before the end of the 2011-12 campaign she was told that Osram Sylvania would not be receiving employee payroll deductions from the company. The company had already pulled its match in October. This meant a $22,000 loss for the United Way's 16 member agencies. McGowan said the decision to pull the donation had nothing to do with the local employees, it was a corporate decision resulting from a change of management.
She said she was concerned that maybe the goal of the United Way was not made clear enough about how the money helps the 16 agencies it supports.
If the United Way had been notified earlier it would have lowered its goal and notified the agencies it supports, she said.
McGowan said she has been told by Osram Sylvania that next year employees will again be given the option of making a payroll deduction donation to the United Way or to another non-profit agency of their choice.
She said she is confident the local residents want to take care of each other and hopes they will continue to give.
If the donation hadn't been pulled the United Way would have reached about 95 percent of its goal. The campaign officially ended Jan. 31 reaching $170,000, but there is still time to make a donation since the donations will not be dispersed until later this year, McGowan said. Without the money the needs of the 16 United Way agencies does not lessen so the United Way will try and do some restructuring to try and find some additional money to support its agencies, she said.
The last time the United Way in St. Marys was this far from its goal at the end of a campaign was in the 1970s when a similar event occured, she said.
The United Way in St. Marys has not reached its goal in four years by the time the campaign officially ended, but has been very close. Last year it reached 96 percent of its goal.
She said the loss of this donation shows how important it is for the people of the St Marys area to really take care of each year.
There were some increases in giving from other businesses this year and some additional people joined the Leadership Club, donating at least $500 a year.
Raising money is not an easy task. McGowan said often money is available for a "project," but typically there is no money available for other necessities non-profits have such as electricity and other utilities. The money these agencies receive from the United Way can be used to cover these expenses, which non-profits are often left without funding to cover.
"I wish we were $25,000 over (our goal) so we could give everybody an increase," McGowan said.
"I hope the agencies will be okay," she said.
Contributions from the United Way are made to: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, the American Red Cross, the Boy Scouts, the Boys and Girls Club of St. Marys, Citizens Against Physical, Sexual and Emotional Abuse (CAPSEA), Catholic Charities Counseling and Adoption Services, Dickinson Center Inc.'s Project Crossroads, Elkland Search and Rescue, the Girl Scouts, the Guardian Angel Center, Oak Manor, The St. Marys Community Pool, the St. Marys Public Library, the St. Marys Servicemen's Detail, the St. Marys Youth Council and the Veterans' Memorial Eternal Flame.
Donations can still be made to the St. Marys Area United Way by sending them to: The St. Marys Area United Way, 44 S. St. Marys St., St. Marys, PA 15857, by calling 781-6000. Employees can also encourage their employers to set up a payroll deduction so they can donate a small amount from each paycheck. For more information or questions contact the United Way.
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Reported by JoAnn Seltzer, staff writer. Email: jseltzer@thecourierexpress.com