Another big campaign for United Way

Unitedway Congratulations and gratitude are due the community for stepping up to surpass the United Way of the Plains’ fall fundraising goal of $16.2 million. The record $16.35 million in pledges will help sustain the more than 90 nonprofit organizations funded by United Way, and touch thousands of lives in and around Wichita. The 2007 campaign tally also stands as the latest indication that the local economy has weathered the post-Sept. 11 gloom and is growing again.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

6 Comments

  1. Kansas
    Posted November 16, 2007 at 7:38 am | Permalink

    Good job United Fund organizers and volunteers! :)

    Many will benefit because of your hard work.

  2. J R
    Posted November 16, 2007 at 8:13 am | Permalink

    United Way?

    No thank you.

    I went on a tour of United way financed charities once. The cars in the parking lots for the folks who worked at these various places? Lots nicer than mine. TOO nice for folks working for a charity.

  3. Kansas
    Posted November 16, 2007 at 8:46 am | Permalink

    I get the feeling J R that a rusted out 1971 Ford pickup would be an improvement for you.

    There is something that can be done about that you know without blaming people for their prosperity.

  4. Hawkeye
    Posted November 16, 2007 at 9:54 am | Permalink

    JR,

    You do realize that many blue collar as well as white collar workwers donate to the United Way through the aircraft companies as well as through teachers. Many of the people who help run the charities work other jobs and donate their time to the charity.

    I mean no offense, but that comment is extremely cynical and jaded and I have to wonder what happened to you. I read often and post a little and you seem to feel that the world is completely unfair especially to you and anyone who has done better deserves no respect. I believe those charities do a very good job as does the United Way in their oversight of how the money is spent.

    Again I mean no offense and I truly now only feel sorry for you taht you feel this way

  5. J R
    Posted November 16, 2007 at 2:22 pm | Permalink

    No offense taken hawkeye.

    I forgive your lack of knowledge here.

    I was on that tour because I worked at one of those aircraft plants. They were trying to rehabilitate their image after it came out that the head of the charity was using donor dollars to send his girlfriend on expensive trips and other such fine charitable endeavors. Do you remember that?

    I saw a club for kids. This is the example I cite.

    The TV inside for the kids was an old Keno monitor. I could tell because the keno stuff was burned into it. The place in general was run down, the furniture and games old or broken. I saw no kids.

    I did see about a dozen very nice vehicles in the parking lot.

    Too? I didn’t like how we were leaned on to give. And it was not because the company wanted to help. They did it for the PR. Now to be fair, my experience dates to about 10 years ago. Things may have changed.

    Sorry, I don’t trust the United Way. Their past is too cloudy and they try to do too much in too many directions. For the good they do great! The smaller charities for the same causes are a better bet though.

  6. J
    Posted November 16, 2007 at 2:47 pm | Permalink

    Maybe I should modify just a little bit.

    One thing the UW does have is a lot of recognition. As we see above, their fund raisers rise to the level of a civic event. That IS valuable. And I want to in no way stop someone short of donating to any charity. And not everyone has time to search the operating budgets and bottom lines of the various charities.

    In short, do the research if you can. But if you can’t, don’t hesitate to give to a charity. They tend to be fairly well watched these days.