State College Firm Agrees to Match United Way Contributions

UPDATE @ 7:58 a.m. Jan. 18: The State College-based McQuaide Blasko law firm has agreed to match — dollar for dollar — every contribution up to $10,000 that’s made to the Centre County United Way through Jan. 31, the firm has announced.

The community challenge is meant to help the local United Way overcome a fundraising shortfall. (The shortfall is detailed in the earlier report below.)

‘When we heard the news that Centre County United Way was in jeopardy of not meeting the $2.2 million goal, we knew we had to do something to help,’ McQuaide Blasko Managing Partner James Horne said in a news release. ‘We understand how important the 40 United Way partner agencies are to our community and to those who need their help. …

‘We want to encourage our neighbors to give, as well,’ he went on. ‘What better way to do this than by matching the community’s efforts with our own corporate gift?’

The United Way also has mailed an appeal to county residents. If the fundraising shortfall isn’t overcome, organizers have said, effects could include cuts to local library hours and Bookmobile stops; grief counseling for children; Easter Seals; and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

‘To witness the generosity of McQuaide Blasko is overwhelming but not surprising,’ United Way campaign Chairman Ted McDowell said in the news release. ‘This is a group of people who care about our community and who consistently find creative ways to demonstrate that care.’

United Way contributions may be made via the Centre County United Way website, or conventional checks may be mailed to CCUW, 2790 W. College Ave., Suite 7, State College, PA 16801.

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Earlier report, posted @ 7:38 a.m. Jan. 6:

For the second consecutive year, the Centre County United Way is at risk of missing its annual fundraising goal, the philanthropic group has announced.

The United Way set a $2.2 million objective for 2010 — money that helps support 40 health and human-service agencies in the county. The goal is based on an assessment of the agencies’ upcoming programmatic and service needs.

But the United Way ended the 2010 calendar year with a projected campaign shortfall of $100,000, Executive Director Tammy Gentzel said Wednesday. She said the 2010 campaign has been extended through the end of January to help fill the gap.

‘There are more and more families who are stepping forward with multiple needs’ during the economic downturn, Gentzel said. ‘ … We need everybody’s help right now, or we won’t make it. The goal is important not because we’ve set it, but because it’s helping people.’

In 2009, the United Way set a $2.15 million fundraising goal for that year’s Centre County campaign. That campaign, too, was extended beyond its initial deadline so it could meet the objective.

This past year, Gentzel said, she senses that several local factors may have made residents hesitant to donate. For one thing, Penn State employees and others enrolled with Highmark Blue Shield waited to see if their coverage for Geisinger care would continue — and how their finances might be affected.

Others may have been concerned about whether their taxes would increase, Gentzel said.

And, on another front, some companies that run employee-contribution campaigns for the United Way have shrunken their workforces through attrition. That’s left fewer employees who may contribute to the organization, Gentzel said.

‘Really, I feel like people were holding their breath and not making decisions about giving’ until some financial questions were resolved, she said.

More than 300 business and well in excess of 5,000 people help support the local United Way every year. Gentzel said 2010 saw the addition of more than 1,000 new individual donors and more than 42 new businesses.

But those gains have been offset by a dip in contributions from prior donors, she said.

If the United Way doesn’t make up the $100,000 shortfall, according to a news release, services that stretch across the county could suffer.  Those include care for people with limited life expectancies; the Bookmobile; after-school programming in Philipsburg, Snow Shoe and Bellefonte; Big Brothers Big Sisters; job training and housing for the homeless; adoption and foster-care programs; and other efforts.

‘The fact is,’ Gentzel said, ‘that the recipients of services are going to suffer’ if more money isn’t raised.

Gentzel said the majority of Centre County United Way donors give relatively modest amounts — $100 or less. The organization accepts contributions through its website — www.ccunitedway.org — and via checks sent by mail. They can be sent to the Centre County United Way, 2790 W. College Ave., Suite 7, State College, Pa. 16801.

People also can call the United Way at (814) 238-8283.