United Way nearly meets local campaign goal

In October, Heart of Missouri United Way projected that the economic downturn might cause the organization to fall 10 percent below its goal for the annual fundraising campaign.

The local United Way started a supplemental campaign called LIVE UNITED Week in November, and the organization announced last month that it set a new record for the annual fundraising effort.

The campaign raised $3.25 million, which was 2 percent short of the 2008 goal, according to the campaign chair, Terry Coffelt, a vice president at First National Bank and Trust Co.

The Heart of Missouri United Way will use reserve funds to make up the shortfall, and Executive Director Connie Benton Wolfe informed partner agencies that the organization anticipates no funding cuts for 2009.

“This is what makes Columbia, Boone County and our entire seven county service area so very special,” Coffelt said. “We asked our community for help and they demonstrated their commitment to one cause, one community.”