Pledges to United Way Drive Are Up for 1st Time in 5 Years

Donations to the United Way’s annual campaign have increased for the first time in five years, a sign that one economist said may indicate the region is continuing to pull out its economic slump.

As of Friday, the United Way had received $5.25 million in pledges from a fund-raising drive that began in September, said Donna Richards, the group’s director of marketing.

Last-minute donations--including a $50,000 matching grant donated by Blue Cross of Southern California on Friday morning--are projected to push the final tally to $5.375 million in coming weeks, Richards said.

That is $25,000 above this year’s $5.35-million goal, Richards said. More significant, she said, it marks the first time since 1989 that donations have increased over the previous year.

John Katch, chairman of the 1994-95 campaign, said the numbers may reflect that residents feel enough confidence in the local economy to dig a little deeper into their wallets.

“Exceeding our goal is a tremendous statement about the (economic) health of our community,” Katch said. “The generosity and strong volunteer efforts of everyone involved in this year’s campaign is what has made it such a success.”

Although the campaign officially ended March 31, donations will continue to trickle in for about four weeks, Richards said. United Way officials held a dinner at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Friday night to honor all volunteers and contributors to this year’s campaign, she said.

The theme was “A Time to Remember and Celebrate,” in commemoration of the charity’s 50th anniversary in Ventura County. When the organization was formed April 2, 1945, it was called the Ventura County War Chest.

The name was changed to the United Way of Ventura County in 1975. In keeping with the anniversary theme, several participants at Friday’s party donned World War II-era clothing.

The last-minute donation by Blue Cross is expected to draw more contributions because it is a matching grant, pledging $1 for every dollar raised elsewhere, up to $50,000.

The health insurance giant announced last year it was consolidating much of its regional operations and moving to Camarillo.

“With our recent land purchase in Camarillo, we are more committed than ever to this area,” said D. Mark Weinberg, an executive vice president at Blue Cross.

The local United Way chapter has struggled in recent years with its fund-raising drive as the deepening recession and a scandal at the organization’s national headquarters led to a drop in donations.

The decline locally started after the 1989-90 drive, when United Way raised $5.9 million.

The following year, the charity tallied $5.82 in contributions. In 1991-92, donations were $5.81 million, in 1992-93, the organization raised $5.32 million and last year contributions reached their lowest level at $5.1 million.

Anticipating that the decline would continue, United Way organizers lowered their annual goal from a high of $6.6 million in 1991-92 to $5.3 million in 1993-94. This year’s success may be an indication that higher goals can again be set--and reached--in future campaigns, said Mark Schniepp, a professor with the Economic Forecast Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

“This year’s results could mean that businesses are starting to grow and have more discretionary income to put back into the community,” Schniepp said.

But, Schniepp added, the increase this year also could be the result of a more aggressive marketing campaign by United Way. The Ventura County chapter was able to exceed its goal, he said, in the same week that William Aramony, the former head of United Way of America, was convicted of embezzling thousands of dollars of the charity’s money.

Ali Akbari, an economist at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, said donations are soft indicators of an economy’s vigor.

“I personally don’t think it is an indicator of good times to come,” Akbari said.

Earlier this year, the United Way announced it would focus its efforts on the prevention of child abuse, neglect, juvenile delinquency and gang activity.

The Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark is among the 59 nonprofit agencies the group helps.

“Moorpark has the fastest-growing population of children,” club director Toni Carbone-Sarcinella said. A funding increase “would enable us to expand our program offerings.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

United Way Campaign Percent of county goals reached to date. The campaign ended March 31. Projected campaign total was 100.47% *

Camarillo: 105% Goals: $520,000 *

Conejo Valley: 102% Goals: 1,494,000 *

Moorpark: 104% Goals: 62,000 *

Ojai: 89% Goals: 41,000 *

Oxnard / Port Hueneme: 95% Goals: 650,000 *

Santa Paula / Fillmore: 87% Goals: 75,000 *

Simi Valley: 102% Goals: 350,000 *

Ventura: 93% Goals: 600,000 *

Other*: 95% Goals: 1,558,000 *

Friday’s campaign total: 98% Goals: 5,350,000 * Includes donations from utilities, govervment agencies and individuals.