HOLLAND (WHTC) — United Way of Greater Ottawa County’s annual fundraising campaign pulled in more than $2.23 million, 90 percent of the goal set.
Significant numbers from this year’s campaign:
– More than 7,500 employees made donations by way of 200 workplace campaigns. The average workplace gift was nearly $200.
– More than 250 individuals made donations independent of corporate efforts and on average gave more than $900.
-Last year, 8,228 people volunteered to help various United Way efforts.
More than 65 people volunteered to help analyze applications for United Way funding, said Patrick Moran, which includes interviewing agency officials and making site visits.
“We tell our agencies to ask for what they need and then we say ‘This is what we have,’” he said, adding that the number don’t always match, which makes decisions difficult.
Grand Haven residents John and Martha Gork were campaign cochairs. John Gork, a financial planner, said he and his wife, a special education teacher, wanted to volunteer because giving back to community has “always been one of my goals.”
United Way, he said, is a way to “find a true purpose in life.”
