United Way Drive Raises $1.47 Million

United Way of Ventura County has raised $1,479,749 toward its $5.5-million goal, officials reported.

The latest tally comes 54 days into the agency’s 90-day campaign, which officially ends Dec. 15.

“We have once again doubled the amount reported only two weeks ago,” campaign Chairman Roy Oliver said. “With 119 out of some 500 companies reporting as of today, our goal remains achievable.”

This year’s campaign aims to raise almost as much money as last year in one-third of the time. The change was made to avoid another budgetary shortfall in the spring, when United Way doles out funding to its 59 member agencies.

Last year, United Way had to cut $300,000 in funding to its members after the campaign fell $500,000 short of its goal.

While this year’s shorter campaign may contribute to more certainty in the spring, the shorter time frame presents its own challenges.

“We knew that compressing the campaign from nine months to 90 days would be a difficult challenge,” said Sheryl Wiley Solomon, president of United Way of Ventura County. “Not surprisingly, we have found that some companies, due to the nature of their businesses, are not able to shift to our schedule this year.”

For example, at least 100 county branches of national companies will not report their pledge totals until after the local campaign’s official end.