Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 22, 1993 TAG: 9301220292
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
UNITED WAY DECLARES CAMPAIGN SUCCESS
The United Way of Roanoke Valley is calling its 1992 campaign a success, though the final results remain far from certain.Campaign Chairman Richard L. Popp announced Thursday that the United Way's fall campaign is expected to raise $4.65 million - the same total reached in 1991.
Popp said the agency did well to maintain the status quo in a year of economic woes and job layoffs.
"Not to have experienced a loss this year should be considered a successful campaign," Popp told more than 200 volunteers at the United Way annual meeting at the Tanglewood Holiday Inn.
Many United Way agencies across the nation are reporting losses of 2 percent to 5 percent on average, Popp said.
It's possible, however, that United Way of Roanoke Valley could join the list of agencies with less money to donate to health and human service providers.
The United Way has lowered expectations in recent months. In mid-November, Popp still was saying he was confident the campaign would reach its 1992 goal of $4.76 million.
Then came news that two United Way stalwarts - Dominion Bankshares and Gardner-Denver Mining and Construction - would lay off 850 and 400 workers, respectively, in the coming year.
By Thursday, Popp was saying that success would be measured by keeping pace with the 1991 campaign total of $4.65 million.
The United Way has received donations and pledges of $4.63 million for the fall 1992 campaign, and Popp said additional contributions are expected to trickle in.
But that scenario does not take into account the effect of 1,250 layoffs. The 1992 campaign pledges will be collected through December 1993, mainly through payroll deductions. When jobs disappear, payroll deductions stop.
As a precaution, the United Way of Roanoke Valley has increased the anticipated "pledge loss" from 6 percent to 8 percent in 1993, according to spokeswoman Linda L. Holsinger.
"We don't know how that will end up," she said, "but we're prepared for a loss of up to 8 percent." Popp, president of FiberCom, said the campaign would seek to compensate for some of the loss by soliciting new employees who are hired during the year by participating companies.
The actual results of the fall 1992 campaign will not be known until sometime in 1994.
In anticipation of uncollectible pledges, the United Way has reduced the general pool of money for its 26 member agencies by 5 percent, from about $3 million in 1992 to $2,867,000 this year, Holsinger said.
Another reason behind the decrease in the general allocation pool was that more contributors designated money for specific agencies, she said.