United Way of Butler County was justified in celebrating its 2005 fund-raising campaign, even though the campaign fell $150,000 short of its $1.5 million goal.

The cause for celebration was not only that the campaign collected $1.35 million - the most ever raised by a United Way campaign in this county - but the fact that the latest campaign reached out via money-raising initiatives that never before had been tried. One of those new ideas, a Services Auction in which members of the Butler County United Labor Council and Building and Construction Trades gave their time and skills to the highest bidder, collected $10,000 for the campaign.

The positive results of such initiatives will provide United Way with a base for pursuing new, innovative fund-raising options in future campaigns, while expanding on at least some of what already has been tried.

Meanwhile, it would be wrong not to acknowledge the aggressive goal that was set for this campaign.

Having raised $1.25 million during the 2004 campaign and $1.11 million during 2003, it could have been easy for the United Way to set the 2005 target figure at $1.4 million, $1.375 million, or even $1.35 million, to make a campaign goal more within reach. That United Way officials chose to set their sights on a more lofty figure displayed a sense of vigor, as well as courage, that should continue to be employed in years ahead.

Despite the campaign's success, it cannot be ignored that Butler County has the capacity to produce much more than $1.35 million or $1.5 million for such a worthy endeavor. With the county's ongoing growth, a United Way campaign here should be able to raise $2 million or $2.5 million without much difficulty.

But it appears for that to happen, many more companies will have to agree to implement United Way payroll deducations for their employees. Why so many companies have chosen not to offer and encourage that option is both puzzling and troubling.

United Way helps to fund numerous agencies that provide important, valuable help services to thousands of people in the county. The existence of United Way reduces the number of individual fund-raising efforts to which county residents are asked to contribute.

Giving to United Way exhibits pride and dedication, and confidence in what the future holds. The 2005 campaign result showed there currently is a healthy amount of all three - but it also exposed a window for more improvement.

What was learned via the 2005 campaign will be invaluable for success next year.