News & Photos
United Way Sets 2009-2010 Fundraising Goal of $16.8 million, A Five Percent Increase.
October 07, 2009Goal Announced at Rally Launching City’s “Largest Annual Fundraising Effort”
NASHVILLE, TN, September 30, 2009—United Way of Metropolitan Nashville has kicked off its 88th annual community-wide fundraising campaign with the announcement of its goal to raise $16.8 million, a 5-percent increase over last year, to meet unprecedented health and human service needs. Campaign Chair Gregg Morton, president AT&T Tennessee, launched the campaign and announced the goal at an early-morning community rally at United Way’s MetroCenter offices in Nashville. Many nonprofits around the country are lowering their expectations in the current economy, but Morton said he believes the increased goal is both necessary and realistic. “Our strategy is to get more people to participate, regardless of the size of their gift,” Morton stated. “We know that many are feeling the pinch of economic hard times, but people are never more compassionate than when they see their neighbors suffering. Certainly, the needs of our community are greater than ever, and everyone is working hard just to make ends meet. But United Way remains the best way to help the most people in need in our community and we believe Nashvillians will respond to this challenge before us,” Morton said.
United Way of Metropolitan Nashville funds 133 programs run by 63 different agencies giving it the broadest reach of any single non-governmental health and human services organization. More than 40,000 individuals make gifts each year during the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville campaign, making it also the largest annual nonprofit fundraising effort in the city. The funds pledged in this campaign will be invested beginning July 1, 2010.
In response to increasing requests for food assistance and in tandem with the campaign goal announcement at the kick-off rally, United Way’s September Day of Action brought together 300 volunteers on September 10th and 11th to sort, package and deliver 600 boxes of food supplies to 23 United Way partner agencies. More than 70 local companies and organization supported the volunteer event.
