Commitment has carried the United Way of Southeast Arkansas to success again. The men and women who volunteered their time and skills to help their fellow citizens during the 2011 fall campaign raised $1.28 million in cash and pledges.
Exceeding the campaign’s $1.275 million goal during these hard economic times is a major accomplishment. Of course, we have learned to expect the unexpected from the United Way volunteers. During the past seven consecutive years they have reached or exceeded crusade goals.
United Way of Southeast Arkansas is simply the most stable organization of its kind in the state. For that to happen year after year, leadership and financial support are crucial.
During the past seven years we have compared the United Way of Southeast Arkansas to United Way organizations in Joplin, Mo., and Jonesboro. We selected those towns because of their populations and economies.
Joplin is slightly larger than Pine Bluff, while Jonesboro’s population count in 2010 exceeded Pine Bluff by some 17,000. Joplin was hit by a killer tornado in 2011, so will be missing from the comparison this year.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Jonesboro set a construction record in 2011 and the unemployment rate the last time we checked was 6.7 percent. They are doing something right.
However, the United Way in Jonesboro can’t top the United Way of Southeast Arkansas. Each of the past seven years our United Way volunteers have simply brought in more contributions to aid the needy.
It would be easy to explain the disparity away by saying there is a greater need here. Perhaps a more accurate observation is simply our neighbors have perfected caring and compassion to a very high level.
The former director of the Jonesboro United Way suggested several years ago that we end the comparisons. She didn’t say it, but we were left with the impression that the comparison was unwelcome in the northeast corner of the state. She later moved to Alabama.
“Since 2007, when this recession began, people here have contributed $6.3 million to help the less fortunate among us,” observed 2011 fall campaign Chairman Scott Pittillo.
The fall 2010 campaign goal was $1.25 million, with contributions and pledges totaling $1,253,700. Campaign Chairman Lee Hardman described the campaign results as “awesome.”
The fall 2009 campaign generated $1,253,000, or $3,000 above the goal. The 2008 campaign topped its goal of $1.25 million by $2,500.
While we may have our economic problems, the successful campaigns speak volumes about a community that is always willing to step forward to extend a hand to the less fortunate.
Pat Anderson, 2009 campaign chairman, acknowledged the goal that year was a “high target,” particularly because of local economic conditions. However, 70 percent of the donations came from individuals, not corporations.
Julie Bridgforth, Pine Bluff’s campaign chairman in 2008, described the local United Way organization as a “well-oiled machine.”
United Way’s 26 partner agencies here strengthen the region with their services. That part of the answer to that string of successful campaigns.
Those faithful contributors always seem ready to respond to any real need, from helping the Red Cross feed and shelter hurricane survivors to victims of spousal abuse.
“Pine Bluff has a strong sense of caring for others,” Pittillo said in expressing his gratitude.
We believe that many other United Way campaigns would love to be as successful as that of Southeast Arkansas. However, it is difficult to duplicate that “sense of caring for others.”