Lake United Way Misses Fundraising Goal

Published: Friday, April 3, 2009

David S. Glasier
DGlasier@News-Herald.com

By Nick Carrabine
NCarrabine@News-Herald.com

United Way of Lake County's 2008 fundraising campaign began with a bang, but when the economy faltered so did contributions.

The organization announced on Thursday it had raised $3.46 million, which about $500,000 below its goal, breaking a nine-year run of upping its donations from the previous year.

The sting of the lagging fundraising was lessened thanks to a $440,000 grant three weeks ago by Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A. of Painesville, who was this year's recipient of the 2009 Legacy Award. But the grant cannot be counted toward the official fundraising.

Hopes were high last August when the organization started with its strongest campaign ever, raising 22 percent of its goal right off the bat.

Read more from The News-Herald.