United Way may fall short of goal

By James Gonser
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Aloha United Way expects donations to fall $480,000 short of its goal this year, but the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has agreed to match all community donations up to $240,000 through Jan. 17.

Carol Ai May, AUW campaign co-chairwoman, said it was expected that fund-raising would be especially tough this year and therefore the group's goal was cut by 15 percent from 2001.

Many companies have downsized or left Hawai'i this year because of financial struggles, May said. Donations for political campaigns left fewer dollars available for charitable giving, and the stock market decline and tough economy have left many foundations, trusts and individuals with less money to give.

If the fund-raising goal is not met in 2002, AUW expects those cuts will remain in effect or possibly be increased, according to Susan Doyle, vice president of community building at AUW.

"The economy is still not fully perked up to where it was pre-Sept. 11 last year," said AUW president Irving Lauber. "The Japanese economy is still not well and that affects our tourism rate. Things on the Mainland are not great, (and) that affects our tourism rate. Tourism has a lot to do with how everything else is going on."

Lauber said after the terrorist attacks, there was a great outpouring of support for charities, but that need continues.

"Although people in Hawai'i continue to be extraordinarily generous, between the pressures on the economy and concerns about the future, I think people might be a little more cautious this year," Lauber said.

Last year the AUW exceeded its fund-raising goal of $13.6 million by $700,000 after a last-minute plea for help. As of Dec. 16, 2001, the campaign had collected $11.8 million in pledges.

One year later, only $10.8 million in pledges has come in so far. The projected $480,000 shortfall takes into account the donations that AUW expects to bring in from its regular business donors.

The last time the charitable organization did not reach its goal was in 1999 when $13.4 million was collected in a $13.8 million campaign.

The Weinberg matching donation could really make a difference for needy families, Lauber said.

"Calls are up to our referral number in the area of shelter needs, and the resources simply aren't available," he said. "Food continues to be a major issue and people are still hurting. That has not gone away.

"If we have the full amount of the goal we would be able to increase giving to the agencies by a small amount, but that would be positive. The money simply translates into programs and services for people in need."

The Hawai'i-based Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is the nation's 22nd-largest charitable foundation, with assets of $2 billion.

Earlier this year, AUW received $61,000 in interest income from an endowment created by the Weinberg Foundation.