United Way of Monroe County’s “Empowering Your Community. One Donation At A Time” campaign came to a close Wednesday evening during a celebration at Hoosier Energy.
In past years, United Way has set a campaign goal — a visual reminder to donors in the form of a thermometer. In 2016, the campaign narrowly topped its $1.3 million goal, by $28.
This year, in a campaign that began in late September, the United Way didn’t set an overall goal. Instead, it worked with local organizations to set internal goals, Executive Director Barry Lessow said. Instead of worrying about that end goal, they set their sights on where those dollars were going.
Wednesday evening, Lessow announced this year’s campaign total — $1,300,363, or $335 more than last year.
“I saw that total and I honestly couldn’t believe it,” Lessow said. “I really don’t think (the absence of a goal) had much of an impact, positively or negatively. I think everybody had a plan and their own goals, and we knew as long as everybody does what they want to do throughout the campaign, we would match that number or do even better.”
During the celebration, Lessow thanked the room full of donors and representatives from many of United Way’s 25 member agencies.