Local United Way doles out additional funds to 14 agencies

[January 14, 2011]  Lois Leonard, the administrative director of the United Way of Logan County, has issued a statement saying that 14 local agencies are in for a bit of a financial surprise later this month. The agency, which sets an annual goal, usually remits funds to each approved agency quarterly.

"What we do is send 20 percent of the approved annual amount to each agency quarterly," Leonard said. "In the event we reach our annual goal, which has been $90,000, we then remit the final 20 percent. In the past several years we haven't met our annual goal, and thus agencies received 80 percent of the approved amounts. But the board in a recent meeting has decided to send out the remaining 20 percent for the year 2010 anyway."

Leonard went on to explain that the agency is having an excellent pledge year thus far for 2011, and coupled with a bank balance that will allow an additional $14,500 to be sent out, the board decided that is the thing to do.

"Our job is to get money into the hands of agencies so they can continue to do their good work throughout the community. We have the money without jeopardizing next year's annual requests, so the board authorized the remittances," she said.

The 14 agencies that received help from United Way of Logan County and will be receiving an extra check this month are the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America/W.D. Boyce Council, Catholic Charities, Christian Child Care, Community Action/Nutrition, Community Action/Transportation, Epilepsy Resource Center, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Lincoln Pastoral Counseling Services, Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center, The Oasis Senior Center, T.O.U.C.H., United Cerebral Palsy and the Lincoln Area YMCA.

For additional information, Leonard can be contacted at the United Way of Logan County, P.O. Box 684, Lincoln, IL 62656; or by telephone at 217-735-4499.

[Text from file received]