United Way donations hit $400K

By Crystal Tatum (2725)
crystal.tatum@newtoncitizen.com

Friday, December 24, 2010
© Copyright 2013 Newton Citizen

Photo by Corinne Nicholson

COVINGTON -- It seems Santa is looking out for Covington-Newton County United Way.

An additional $25,000 in donations over and above what was projected have brought the organization's fundraising total to $400,000, said Executive Director Doris Strickland. The organization will still fall short of its $475,000 goal, but Strickland is thankful for the boost, courtesy of campaigns by several national companies, such as AT&T and UPS. Total contributions for those companies had not been calculated when Strickland announced United Way would be $100,000 short of goal several weeks ago.

"Four hundred thousand dollars is something Newton County can be proud of with economics the way they are right now and the median salary being what it is here," she said. "I'm proud we did that good, I really am."

Companies participate in the United Way campaign through a voluntary deduction from employees' paychecks, and Strickland surmised that reductions in force could have contributed to the decline in donations this year. Individual donations are also accepted.

The funds will be allocated in early 2011, and Strickland said she believes all 22 nonprofit agencies under the United Way umbrella will still get money, but it might be less this year.

Contributions are still being accepted and can be mailed to P.O. Box 1344, Covington, GA 30015, with checks made payable to United Way. For more information, call 770-786-7638.

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