United Good Neighbors $33,000 short of goal despite corporate gifts

Published 5:06 am Monday, March 10, 2008

PORT TOWNSEND — United Good Neighbors of Jefferson County has received several corporate donations that have driven up contributions, but the social services program is still running short of its 2007-2008 goal.

“Just the businesses are rolling in,” Lizanne Coker group’s campaign director said.

“It has been so hard for them, and with gas prices and everything. . .”

United Good Neighbors, now in its 50th year of fundraising to help the county’s needy, has collected about $242,000, or about 87 percent of its goal of $275,000.

“We’re now waiting on confirmation next week, but we believe we will be getting a $10,000 contribution” from another corporate sponsor, Coker said.

Recent corporate contributions have included $28,805 from Port Townsend Paper Corp., $5,377 from Enclume Design Products Inc. in Port Hadlock, and $12,000 from Edensaw Woods of Port Townsend.

Coker said it is expected that the campaign contribution collection period will end June 30 at $255,000 this year — still short of its goal.

Last year, United Good Neighbors raised $272,000 from about 1,100 different donors.

The smaller amount raised this year likely will drive down the goal for 2008-2009, Coker said.