Thursday, November 20, 1997 The University Daily Kansan Section A·Page 3 Stable economy helps United Way Lawrence chapter continues to benefit By Gwen Olson golson@kansan.com Kansas staff writer A donor crisis is impacting the United Way of America with a decrease in donations, but the Douglas County United Way has not experienced these effects. According to a Nov. 9 article in "The New York Times," the United Way has lost 20 percent of its donors during the last five years. Although donations to charities nationwide have increased by 9 percent since 1991, donations to United Way have decreased 11 percent, the article said. Despite this, the Douglas County United Way is experiencing continuing success from its donors and volunteers. It collected $1,151,834 during its fall 1996 fund-raising campaign, and that number is expected to increase this year. "I think that we're not impacted as much as other chapters," said Barb Reavis, director of the Douglas County United Way. "This year's campaign shows that we should have more than a 3 percent increase over last year's campaign." Since 1991, donations to the Douglas County chapter have increased 14 percent. The "Times" associated the nationwide decrease in donations with a scandal involving the United Way's former national president. He was charged in 1992 with using charity money for himself. Reavis credited the success of the Douglas County chapter with the stability of the economy and the willingness of the community to donate time and money. "Another reason we are not impacted may also be because the community is between Topeka and Kansas City," she said. "People stay in the community because it is not hard to commute to another city for a job." Reavis said that the stability of "Although there may be a shortage of qualified workers, I have talked to many employers who said they can't fill their jobs." Barb Reavis douglas county united way director the economy in Douglas County could be seen through the need for more employees in area businesses. "Although there may be a shortage of qualified workers, I have talked to many employers who said they can't fill their jobs," she said. "This means to me that there are more jobs than there are people." A stable economy leads to more donations and more volunteers, Reavis said. Amy Griggs, director of the Roger Hill Volunteer Center, a division of the United Way, said the center assists at least 1,000 volunteers each year. United Way The United Way of America ■ Raised $3,148 billion in 1995 ■ Contributions support more than 45,000 agencies The United Way of Douglas County Pledge donations have increased Since 1991, the United Way has lost 4.5 million individual donors, and individual contributions are down $400 million 14 percent during the past five years, from $1,007,000 in 1991 to $1,151,834 in 1996 A 3 percent increase is expected in 1997 More than 1,000 people volunteer each year through the Roger Hill Volunteer Center in Lawrence For more information about tions or volunteering, contact the Douglas County United Way, 2518 Ridge Court, Lawrence "I do about six individual volunteer referrals each week and about 312 individuals each year." Griggs said. "We also help Rock Chalk [Revue] groups to do projects, as well as classes at KU." THE HARBOUR LIGHTS 1031 Mass Street 841-1960 any Schlotzsky's Pizza and Med. 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