2009 Additional Allocation

PRESS RELEASE

Contact Person: Beth Latham, Executive Director River Valley United Way

Wk: 479-968-5089  Cell: 479-264-1324 

6/19/09

River Valley United Way Re-Allocates $85,889.47 to local programs. 

Nearly $86,000 in additional funds will soon be in the hands of health and human service programs all across the River Valley due to the unusually high percentage of pledges paid to the annual United Way campaign last year.

Jarrod Toland, River Valley United Way Board President states, “Each year, our board has to take into account that a percentage of pledges will not be received, we take that out from the amount we allocate to our agencies.  But this last year, we’ve seen an unprecedented amount fulfilled.” 

Add to that, the fact that many national companies now run their campaigns from their headquarters and the totals may not trickle down to the local levels until well after local allocation decisions have been made and the result is an unexpected bonus for funded programs in the River Valley. 

The funding recommendations for the agencies and programs are made by teams of volunteers and are based on the program’s application and site visit.  All the teams then work together toward a final funding amount based on funds available for that year. 

“This year we have the unique opportunity to come back to those original funding recommendations made by the allocation teams and have a real impact with some of our agencies that have struggled through the economic downturn,”  stated RVUW Executive Director Beth Latham.   

Latham adds, “It is only through the commitment of our donors that this is possible.  So many areas, even in Arkansas, are in a much different situation economically, but because of the River Valley residents’ response to need and honoring it’s commitments to the programs and services provided, that’s how we can make this happen. 

River Valley United Way for 2009 originally allocated $270,364.81 to health and human service programs in Johnson, Pope and Yell Counties. This additional allocation brings the total to $356,254.28.  For 2009, 38 programs from 25 agencies were funded in the impact areas of education, income and health.  For a full list of programs funded or for more information about River Valley United Way go to www.rivervalleyunitedway.org .