By Jason Michael White, Daily Journal of Johnson County staff writer
The United Way of Johnson County raised more money this year than last year and fell just short of its goal of $1.32 million for local nonprofit groups, according to the agency.
Volunteers raised $1.29 million, about 2 percent more than last year, and the money will go to 24 nonprofit agencies such as the Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club of Franklin and Johnson County Senior Services, the agency reported.
Donated money also helps fund programs such as Operation Bundle Up, which gave coats to more than 750 children this winter, and the Christmas Angels Program, which gave toys to more than 2,000 children for Christmas.
The United Way celebrated its campaign Monday with a dinner and program themed "An Evening in Italy," hosted by Steve Brown and Rob Shilts.
The two men, dressed in togas, stood on a stage in front of a set designed to look like a café in Rome. Behind the café was a black cloth dotted with white Christmas lights to give the appearance of a star-filled sky.
Ellis Hall, retiring president of the United Way board, sat on the stage behind a table, which was covered with a red, checkered table cloth and fake glasses of wine.
"I kind of like this, sitting behind a table," he told the crowd that filled a banquet hall at Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria in Greenwood. "It's kind of like a fireside chat."
Hall spoke of the accomplishments of the United Way during the past year, despite a poor economy and the flood in June. Nancy Plake, executive director of the United Way, credited the success of the United Way campaign to the community and the volunteers who worked on the fundraising campaign.
"We just worked very hard to make sure we didn't leave any stones unturned," Plake said.
Volunteers put more emphasis on getting donations from individuals than they have in previous years, said Brown, a campaign chairman.
For instance, the campaign expanded its one-day telethon to include individual residents instead of just companies and businesses, he said.
Instead of taking no for an answer, volunteers sometimes asked for donations a second or third time, Brown said.
"We're not at all disappointed," he said. "When you look at it in the context of all that's happened in the past 12 months, with the economy and the flood, to come within 2 percent of our goal, we're proud."
The campaign was delayed for about six weeks because of the flood in June, Plake said.
After the flood, the United Way had to regroup and make raising money for the disaster a part of its campaign.
Donors had the option to give flood relief money to the United Way when they contributed to the annual campaign, but flood-relief dollars were not included in the campaign total of $1.29 million, she said.