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Board chairman Steve Stockwell said he hopes the United Way can go above the shortfall amount through Season's Giving, which began Monday.
A national survey conducted by Harris Interactive was right on the money when it showed that there has been less giving to charities this holiday season, according to United Way of Lancaster County.
The local United Way's fundraising campaign is down 5 percent from funds pledged at this time last year, "despite the exceptional efforts of our campaign volunteers and the generosity of thousands of individual donors and corporations," said 2009 campaign chair Greg Lefever.
"But these are not numbers we're necessarily accepting. We're working hard running campaigns in businesses and the community," Stockwell said.
"With thousands out of work and thousands more whose hours and wages have been reduced, the need is greater than ever," said Susan Eckert, president of United Way of Lancaster County.
Because the demand hasn't stopped for needed funding by the programs the United Way supports, "we're in full-court press for the next 30 days," Stockwell said.
The Season's Givings program has made it easy to get something for that person who has everything or for that last-minute hostess gift, Eckert said.
Season's Givings has packaged the services of each of United Way's five priority areas — housing, early care and education, lifelong learning and high school completion, primary and preventive health and safety net for vulnerable populations — into honorarium gifts.
Eckert said the 15 gifts — five each at three price points — offer something for everyone.
"In honor of your child's teacher, a $20 contribution buys one week of nutritious lunches and snacks for a toddler in child care. In honor of your mother, a $50 contribution purchases a day of high quality respite care for a child with special needs and his or her family," Eckert said.
The honorarium gifts are available at United Way of Lancaster County's Web site, www.uwlanc.org. Within a 48-hour turnaround for confirmation of a contribution, United Way will e-mail a personalized certificate for presentation to a recipient.
"With 35 percent of Americans during the holiday season thinking of giving to philanthropic organizations … that's a significant market and a heck of an opportunity, which is why we remain bullish for the campaign," Stockwell said.
Thinking further ahead, Stockwell said the honorarium gifts also can be purchased to honor someone's birthday, anniversary, graduation, wedding and Easter.
"We can continue to roll with it throughout the fiscal year," he said.
Contributions to the Season's Givings program also would be considered as new contributions and would qualify for matching funds, "virtually doubling their money," Stockwell said.
For instance, Stockwell said, as an Armstrong retiree, a $1,000 gift would be matched by Armstrong so that United Way would be $2,000 ahead.
"That's why I feel bullish of the efforts. I think it will help us get closer and closer to our goal," he said. "When asked, Lancastrians are willing to step up. This is another opportunity."
Even though contributions are currently down, participation in the campaign is actually up, said Dave Lewis, vice president of United Way of Lancaster County. A couple of companies have 100 percent participation, and a couple have increased participation by as much as 40 percent to 60 percent, he said.
"The giving power within Lancaster County is phenomenal," Lewis said.
