Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Routt County United Way’s $10K Day fundraising efforts have been a success.

Consider the numbers: In two years, the four single-day events — two each in 2009 and 2010 — have brought in more than $106,000. As the name implies, Routt County United Way set out to raise $10,000 during those four events for a total of $40,000.

During the second $10K Day for United Way event last year, the organization raised $47,667.

“As a campaign strategy, it has really worked well for us,” Routt County United Way Executive Director Kelly Stanford said. “Because we are so individual-donation driven, it has turned out to be a great way to connect with donors.”

Routt County United Way is kicking off its 29th annual giving campaign during the $10K Day for United Way event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Yampa Valley Bank. The event takes place during that time, but donations will be accepted all day. This year’s annual goal is $510,000.

Stanford said Yampa Valley Bank will match Thursday’s fundraising total up to $5,000.

Proceeds from the annual giving campaign, which runs through Nov. 15, support more than 40 local health and human service organizations, Stanford said. She said that last year, the United Way met its goal of raising $500,000.

The organizations will apply for funding in December for assistance in 2012. A United Way allocation committee reviews the applications in January and makes decisions about what to fund for programs, not operations, at the end of the month. Funding is disbursed quarterly.

Stanford said that despite the economy, she’s optimistic that United Way will raise $510,000.

“We’re hopeful. Some indicators in the economy are up,” she said, citing year-to-date sales tax revenues, which are about 3 percent higher than this time last year. “We adjusted our goal based on some of those economic indicators, and we’re hopeful we’ll be able to reach that goal.”

She added that the $10K Day fundraising events attracted 47 new donors last year, which is important because the United Way relies more on individual giving instead of the workplace giving program.

Workplace giving campaigns also will start Thursday, Stanford said. She said all donors could make contributions from automatic bank or credit card payments, which are new options this year.

Thursday’s $10K Day will include food from Ciao Gelato and Qdoba Mexican Grill, low-cost flu shots and other vaccinations from the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association and a live broadcast from KBCR, all from the Yampa Valley Bank parking lot.

Those who can’t make it to Yampa Valley Bank can contribute online by clicking “Give Now!” at www.routtcountyunitedway.org or by calling Stanford at 970-819-9482.

— To reach Jack Weinstein, call 970-871-4203 or email jweinstein@SteamboatToday.com