United Way giving down 6-plus percent

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February 4, 2010

By JOHN CANNON - The Independent The Daily Independent Thu Feb 04, 2010, 11:09 PM EST

ASHLAND — With the downturn in the economy on both the local and national levels, Traci Rothenstine said she knew she faced challenges as chairwoman of the 2009 campaign for the United Way of Northeastern Kentucky.

While giving to the United Way campaign in Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence and Elliott counties fell by more than 6 percent from a year ago, Rothenstine praised those attending Thursday night’s annual United Way volunteer appreciation banquet for helping to raise more than $725,000 to help fund 80 organizations in the five counties, including 40 in Boyd and Greenup counties.

“While we want to be known as more than just a fundraiser, United Way exists primarily to mobilize the caring power of our community through contributions,” said Rothenstine, an employee of the Ashland Credit Union. “With your help, this community truly opened its heart this year despite the difficult economic times.”

Rothenstine thanked the scores of volunteers “for their hard work and diligence in taking the United Way message to the employees at the work site. Without them, we could not have a campaign, and with them, we are able to help hundreds of people in our community.”

The 6 percent decline in giving does not include the two large gifts that helped boost the 2008 United Way campaign to go well above its goal, said Steve Towler, United Way executive director. With some gifts still coming in, Towler said it is possible the latest campaign still will reach its goal of $750,000, “but at this point, that’s really doubtful.”

It will mark the first time in a number of years the annual campaign has failed to meet its goal.

Towler said he remains optimistic about future United Way campaigns.

“You can look at the glass as being half empty like the pessimist does, or you can look it was being half full like the optimist does,” Towler said. “I choose to be the optimist, and I think everyone in this room also is an optimist. I’m looking forward to the economy improving this year and I really believe things will be much better in 2010.”

Rothenstine did mention eight area employers who “have gone beyond the call of duty.”

King’s Daughters Medical Center had “the largest employee contribution ever in 2009,” with the hospital and nearly 4,000 employees accounting for more than a quarter of all the funds pledged to the campaign, Rothenstine said.

The campaign chairwoman also praised Marathon Oil for being the second largest contributor “with a strong showing of employee giving that was augmented by a successful golf tournament” and AK Steel for a “strong showing from both the employees and the AK Foundation” based in Middletown, Ohio.

Also singled out for praise by Rothenstine were Community Trust Bank, Kentucky Farmers Bank, Kentucky Power, the Boyd County School District, DuPont Corp. in Wurtland and UPS.

“As we all know, our economy is hopefully on the mend,” Rothenstine said. “We had a rough second half of 2008 and 2009 did not recover like many of us hoped it would. However, many folks still keep other people in their priorities and believe United Way can help most people in the most ways.”

JOHN CANNON can be reached at jcannon@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2549.

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