United Way KFL&A surpasses 2021 annual campaign goal with $3.8M raised

The United Way KFL&A announced today, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, that their annual campaign has raised a record $3.8 million, surpassing their goal of $3.6 million.

This is a remarkable achievement by the community in this pandemic year, the United Way said in a media release. The total was announced by Campaign Chair Daren Dougall today, during a virtual campaign touchdown event with more than a hundred and twenty-five community members tuning in from various workplaces and sectors throughout the KFL&A region.

“The KFL&A community continues to step up and show their support, especially when it is most needed,” said 2021 Campaign Chair Daren Dougall. “Thank you to all those who donated this year and to workplace volunteers who came up with new and innovative ways to make their campaigns a success. This achievement will enable agencies to continue to do the important and essential work that is needed in these challenging times.”

The United way said that this year’s campaign received a boost from generous matching grants from RDR Wealth Management in support of the COVID-19 Response Fund earlier this year and then Jim and Julie Parker, with the Leadership Challenge Grant and Jessica Bayne Hogan and the Women United Leadership Challenge Grant. The generous Leadership support matched new leadership donors (giving $1,200 or more) and boosted leaders who increased their gifts during the campaign, according to the release.

“This year’s Leadership Challenge Grants continue to demonstrate the Local Love that is so alive in the KFL&A community,” said Dougall. “Ray and Paul, Jim, Julie, and Jessica, continue to demonstrate an amazing level of commitment to the United Way through their leadership, volunteering and financial contributions. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

The funds raised through the campaign will be distributed to local agencies immediately, according to the agency. Volunteers have been hard at work on the allocations process and United Way KFL&A continues to build on its strong foundation to address the increased demands on social services, working closely with local partners to tackle immediate needs and continue helping members of the community in vulnerable situations.

“Like all of us, agencies are facing fatigue, working hard to ensure they can continue to serve residents. Thank you to all the agencies for their hard work, dedication and support during the campaign and beyond,” added Dougall. “And thank you to all the staff and volunteers, our campaign cabinet and committees; all those who support and continue to support United Way. There is still significant need in our community and these needs will continue for the duration of the pandemic and well after it is over, but with the support and local love of this amazing community we can get through it together.”