Butler County United Way provides agencies with $1.6M in funding

View the allocations

JournalNews :: 5.3.05 — The Butler County United Way allocated about $1.61 million Monday for program funding to its 29 partner agencies. The nonprofit agency’s distributions from the 2005-06 Community Investment will support 53 programs throughout southern Butler County.

“It’s a daunting task,” said Maureen Noe, president and chief executive officer of the Butler County United Way. “Because we have agencies that request funding, the programs are based on needs. The process is competitive, objective and comprehensive ... based heavily on outcomes and results.”

Most of the agencies requesting funding received only a portion of the amount. Only six programs weren’t funded, officials said.

Regardless of how much or how little the grants, leaders of agencies receiving money said they’re pleased.

“I think the allocation process went as well as to be expected,” said Tina Osso, executive director of Shared Harvest Foodbank in Fairfield. “There wasn’t enough money to go around. I wish our congressman and senators were as thoughtful and concerned to serve people in need as the volunteers are at the United Way.”

Osso requested $58,100 to fund two programs at the foodbank, but received $54,385.

“We have learned, especially with the tremendous cuts we received last year, that you just keep doing what you’re doing and not worry. I don’t have time to worry about if this cut will send us over the edge,” she said.

Jeffrey Diver, executive director of Supports to Encourage Low-income Families in Hamilton, said he’s thrilled with the allocation to support three programs.

SELF requested $70,800 and received $60,200 from the United Way.

“We are thrilled that the United Way volunteers have entrusted SELF with funding,” Diver said. “Based on the reality that there are limited dollars to allocate all of the requests, for one of the programs we will need to find additional funding.”

SELF received a full request for one of its programs. The third program, which is new, will assist people as funds are available, he said.

Last fall, United Way officials received $2.5 million in pledges during the annual campaign. However, Noe explained that figure is not always raised and it must be divided before it can be allocated for program funding.

Of the $2.5 million raised in pledges:

$165,000 of the pledges were uncollectible;

$124,000 went toward other communities at the donors’ request;

$19,000 was spent on dues to the United Way of America and the Ohio United Way;

$10,000 went toward local initiatives;

$600,000 went for the Butler County United Way’s internal budget, including funding programs of BCUW.

The remainder was used for community investment allocation.

“When we have limited resources,” Noe said. “Stretching that dollar to see the best results is what the volunteers are looking for. It’s a very challenging process.”