United Way Sets Record for Donations

Orange County gave a record $24 million last year to the United Way, up nearly 11% from the record set a year earlier, organization officials said Wednesday.

The total marks the fourth straight year a record has been set by the Orange County United Way, officials said. The charity raised $21.5 million in the 1998 campaign, $19.5 million in 1997 and $18.4 million in 1996.

The rate of charitable giving in Orange County for years has been lower than metropolitan areas of comparable size, officials said. An Urban Institute study last year showed that based on size, household income and civic involvement the county should be in the top 10% of metropolitan areas in philanthropic giving--but is not.

“We still have a long way to go, but this is a great trend. Let’s see how long it lasts,” said United Way spokesman Dan Pittman, noting that many less-affluent counties donate more per resident than Orange County. “It’s been a matter of working harder and smarter and making it as simple as possible for people to give.”

Among factors contributing to the record tally, Pittman said, are a booming economy and increased donations from affluent people. Also, membership in the United Way grew by about 35%.

Organization officials said the United Way also did a better job explaining the county’s needs to potential donors.

The money will give the organization unprecedented opportunities to address some of Orange County’s most pressing needs, officials said. These include supporting after-school and mentoring programs, improving affordable health care access, fighting child abuse, helping the working poor and finding transitional housing for the homeless and people with disabilities.