By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The United Way of Ellis County reached 86 percent of its goal for its 2020 campaign, raising $328,145.
However, the organization's allocation committee has decided to dip into its reserves so there will be no cuts to partner agency funding.
In fact, United Way is increasing funding to its partner agencies by a total of $10,000, said Erica Berges, United Way of Ellis County director.
The agency received both CARES Act and Payroll Protection Program funding. This, coupled with lower expenses in 2020, helped the agency continue to fund its partner agencies at the previous levels.
"The finance committee and the board knew the agencies were hurting this year. 'Let's dip into the reserves. We can afford it. That is what the money is for anyway is to help the agencies. We don't want to be sitting on it,' " Berges said.
The United Way will fund 16 agencies in 2021.
Partner agencies
American Red Cross
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Cancer Council
Catholic Charities
Center for Life Experience
Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation
CASA
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas
Early Childhood Connections
First Call for Help
Hays Area Children's Center
Hays Senior Center
Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services
Parents and Children Together
Western Kansas Association on the Concerns of the Disabled
Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center
The allocations were approved Thursday, and the partner agencies should be receiving their allocation award letters soon, Berges said.
Two partner agencies that were funded last year did not reapply for funds for 2021 — the Ellis pool project and KVC Wheatland Hospital, which applied for funding for a capacity expansion in Hays.
"We just wanted to say thank you to everyone who donated," Berges said. "It was a tough year. If you were able to donate, great. If you weren't able to this year, hopefully, you will be able to in the future."
The United Way has seen a trend of decreasing donations during the last several years.
The agency raised about $350,000 each year in 2018 and 2019. The Schmidt Foundation stepped in both years to make up what the organization needed to make its goal.
Berges attributed the decline this year in part to COVID-19. Some of the decline may have had to do with a weak economy and financial losses due to the pandemic.
The United Way was also forced to cancel in-person events because of the virus. The organization hopes to resume in-person activities this year.
"To only be $20,000 less, we thought was a good place, especially with the year 2020 was," Berges said.
More concerning is losses due to retirements. Berges said not only is the agency losing the donations from the donors, but also their companies's matching gifts.
The agency continues to try to engage younger workers, but with mixed results.
Funding already started for 2021 campaign
Fort Hays State University is already fundraising for the 2021 campaign.
The university usually does in-person events, but that has been limited by the pandemic. Instead FHSU has been engaging the university community through social media.
President Tisa Mason is challenging people to give $60 in honor of her 60th birthday.
The United Way will have a Hays Chamber Chat at 9 a.m. March 5 in the Heritage Room of the Hadley Center. Berges said she hopes FHSU will have its campaign totals by then.
United Way will also be awarding its Champion Circle trophies for the 2020 campaign at that time.