United Way campaign shows economy still hurting

Considering the uneasy feeling still pervading the local economy, it was sad but not surprising that the United Way of the Plains not only missed its campaign goal by nearly $2 million Thursday but fell $1.6 million short of last year’s total. All the job cuts, ownership changes, contract struggles and other uncertainties have hurt Wichitans’ ability to give as generously as they would like to. The results put pressure on the United Way to get the most out of every dollar of that $14 million and continue seeking more. As fewer feel free to contribute, more are slipping into need, too. But it’s encouraging that 300 companies saw double-digit percentage spikes in their employee pledges, suggesting that those who are able to give recognize how much is riding on their generosity.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

9 Comments

  1. Galahad
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 8:55 am | Permalink

    Just think of all the good the local millonaires Koch and Garvey could do if they weren’t throwing money at their right-wing think tanks.

  2. Jed
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 10:12 am | Permalink

    Galahad,You’ve got to spend money to make money, and those think tanks provide them with the rationalizations they need to keep screwing the rest of us! So that’s investment, not, ugh, charity!

  3. Contributor
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 12:30 pm | Permalink

    Guess I shouldn’t be surprised Rhonda took a comment from the campaign Chairman, Ron Barauskas, and since he said it, she wrote it, it must be true.

    Could it be that Mr. Barauskas was an ineffective Chairman? Insiders say he was more interested in this position contributing to his resume than contributing to the cause.

    Could it be that the hurricanes (the ones that Bush caused, of course) shifted contributors priorities this year?

    How much did Koch and Garvey give this year versus last year? How much did Wichita’s liberal millioinaires give this year versus last year?

    It is irresponsible journalism not to report the facts, unless your are in the Op Ed business.

    What do you think, esod?

  4. Galahad
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 5:23 pm | Permalink

    Bill Gates gives 58 percent of his income to charity.

    The Walton family (Wal-Mart) give less than 1 percent.

    The former is liberal. The latter is conservative.

    Go figure . . .

  5. Joe Williams
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 8:10 pm | Permalink

    Galahad wrong! Bill Gates donates to the Republican Party.

  6. ID
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 11:25 pm | Permalink

    GATES, WILLIAM H IIIREDMOND,WA 98052MICROSOFT3/31/2005$1,000Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmtewww.opensecrets.org

  7. ID
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 11:27 pm | Permalink

    Galahad, calling your bluff. Source? Others call it BULLS*&T

  8. ID
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 11:38 pm | Permalink

    The Wal-Mart Foundation donated more than $170 million in 2004

    http://www.workingforchange.com

    Could it be that your source was a liberal biased stuck on stupid website? Maybe http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/2005-06/charity.php?

  9. Galahad
    Posted November 19, 2005 at 1:58 am | Permalink

    IDiot,

    My source was Robert Greenwald’s movie.

    All I know is what I read in the papers.