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United Way chapter near halfway mark

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JANESVILLE — Nearly half the money needed to meet the United Way Blackhawk Region's overall fundraising campaign goal for 2012 has been raised.

As of Friday, Dec. 7, that represents $1.36 million, or 48.2 percent, of the $2.8 million goal, said Steve Kinkade, president.

The Blackhawk Region is the unification of the former United Way of North Rock County, based in Janesville, and the Stateline United Way in Beloit. Each local United Way continues to conduct individual campaigns this year.

Janesville has raised $506,220, or 39 percent, of its $1.3 million goal. Beloit has raised $854,310, which represents 56 percent of its $1.5 million goal.

"We're just slightly behind pace overall," compared to last year, Kinkade said.

That means the campaigns are about $62,000 behind dollars collected during the same time in 2011.

"One specific large employer (in North Rock County) will not conduct its campaign until after the first of the year," Kinkade said. "It's just internal issues for them and when it's that large, we wait."

Kinkade also believes uncertainty about the so-called "fiscal cliff" is another factor.

"I think the longer that decision is delayed or deferred, that creates uncertainty in people's future, including what will my taxes be going forward," Kinkade said. "In the case of businesses, that also drives some decision-making."

However, most companies and organizations will have their campaigns finalized by the end of the year, and no later than mid-January, Kinkade said.

"Historically, both United Ways work closely with companies who haven't reported in, so that enables us to do some forecasting," he said.

Kinkade said United Way leaders have "guarded optimism" that goals will be met, based mainly on past histories with communities that have supported United Way.

"They understand what United Way means in our community, so when all accounts are accounted for, we'll be on target," he said.

Kinkade said United Way programs helped about 113,000 people out of 200,000 in this region last year.

"That's powerful when you think about how many people turned to the United Way system," he said. "That's why (raising) these dollars are critical."

If the money isn't raised, "that same level of service may not be available going forward," Kinkade said.