United Way in Push to Reach Goal

United Way of Ventura County announced it has raised $5.35 million in this year’s fund-raising campaign, about $344,000 short of its goal.

Officials are optimistic that their $5.7-million goal can be reached before the final campaign report is released in July.

The Camarillo-based nonprofit group was behind at this time last year but ended up exceeding its goal of $5.5 million by about $70,000, United Way President Sheryl Wiley Solomon said. Last year the agency exceeded its annual goal for the first time in five years.

“We are already about $36,000 over where we were at this time last year,” Solomon said. “I am extremely optimistic and very encouraged by the first and second quarters of this year and I am very encouraged that we will reach our goal this year.”

Solomon said she instituted the 83-day blitz campaign to get a more accurate projection of funds raised from its 500 accounts.

Many companies have not launched their fund-raising campaigns, while others are still in progress. Those companies are being encouraged to ask employees to increase donations.

United Way is implementing three strategies to reach its goal: Get more donors to give $1,000 or more; encourage the growing number of small- and medium-size businesses to hold campaigns, and encourage more participation by private donors.

“Our ability to grow is dependent on reaching out to the small businesses in the county and we need to fine-tune our efforts in that area,” Solomon said. “This is new territory for us. It’s a hard market to tap.”

United Way provides funds to support 53 nonprofit social service agencies in the county.