MANSFIELD — Richland County’s United Way kicked off its 2016 financial campaign Tuesday morning, touting nearly $310,000 already donated to the cause by pacesetter companies.
Executive Director Dan Varn said nine local companies opted to raise money for United Way before the campaign officially kicked off to set the pace for the upcoming fundraising year.
The pacesetter company fundraising represents 29 percent of the nonprofit’s goal, said United Way board of directors co-chair Alan Koser from the Renaissance Theater stage, which ignited applause from the audience in attendance.
Jean Halpin, board of directors co-chair announced the nonprofit’s campaign goal Tuesday as $1.55 million, a goal she said will be challenging, but attainable.
“When we decided on our goal we wanted to challenge ourselves and challenge the community to work with us so we can support 56 vital programs throughout Richland County,” Halpin said.
Through partner agencies with other nonprofit entities and services, United Way works to mobilize efforts to foster a healthier community. According to their website, United Way is committed to cutting the national 1.2 million dropouts in half, help 1.9 million families achieve financial stability and increase by one-third the amount of youth and adults that are healthy.
Varn, who has served as executive director for two-and-half years, said the fundraising campaign kickoff event is an annual occurrence that represents to him a community rally to support United Way.
“This is the second time we’ve done this at the Renaissance,” Varn said. “And as you can see, we’ve started to outgrow this space.”
Round tables filled the downtown theater’s lobby area, where area business leaders and employees sat for a catered breakfast from Ed Pickens’s Café on Main. The guests filed into the theater’s auditorium for the speaking part of the event.
Board of Directors President Liz Prather addressed the hundreds gathered Tuesday morning by suggesting the lights be turned on to be able to see audience members.
“On behalf of the board, I want to thank you. United Way really is made up of volunteers. We cant do this work without volunteers … But all of you in here, we really appreciate so much your time and your resources to make sure that all the programs you support are able to continue,” she said, as the audience applauded.
