CRANBERRY TWP — On the same night that millions of sports fans tuned in for the start of the NFL season on television, community leaders in Butler County teamed up for another kind of kickoff.

The United Way of Butler County officially began its annual fundraising campaign Thursday night at the Pittsburgh Marriott North hotel.

The organization seeks to raise $1.425 million during the campaign, which lasts through June.

Executive director Leslie Osche said this year’s kickoff served predominantly as an awards ceremony for last year’s campaign efforts.

“Hopefully it will motivate everyone to start this campaign,” she said.

The goal for 2014-15 is a bit less than the $1.6 million goal for the 2013-14 campaign. The United Way fell about $180,000 short of that figure.

Osche said this year’s goal is a little more realistic for the organization to plan around. But that doesn’t mean the United Way won’t strive to attract as much money as possible to help the community.

“We’re hopeful to exceed that goal,” said Jen Roxbury, who was named the campaign chairman.

Roxbury, the chief operating officer at Farmers National Bank of Emlenton, is serving her third time as chairman of an annual campaign.

“I think they’re hoping I learned from the years past,” Roxbury said.

Osche said Roxbury is a dedicated member of the United Way community.

“She just finished a term on the board, and we didn’t want her to go away,” Osche said.

Roxbury said she is happy to devote her time to the organization.

“I truly believe in what they do and their mission,” she said.

This year’s campaign marks the 14th year for Osche. She reminisced about her first kickoff event, which followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, as well as the 2004 campaign that began about the time the remnants of Hurricane Ivan stormed through the county.

But it doesn’t take a catastrophic incident for the United Way to be needed in the community.

“We always have to come together,” Osche said. “We are needed every day.”

While the campaign contributions fell a little short last year, it wasn’t without great efforts from many people in the community, Osche said.

Numerous companies were honored during the evening for their efforts in fundraising in the previous campaign, including Calumet-Penreco, NexTier Bank, the Butler Eagle, Giant Eagle, Lifesteps, C.W. Howard Insurance Agency, Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Hefren-Tillotson, Indspec, Peoples TWP, as well as UWUA Local 242.

“Without those who step up, we could not do what we do on a daily basis,” Osche said.

Victor and Carolyn Rozic were honored as the United Way’s volunteers of the year, while Ken Baldauf was named the Labor Volunteer of the Year.

Osche said of the kickoff event: “It’s wonderful to have people who care about the community in one room.”

Kierston Hobaugh, the director of results and performances for United Way, said the organization’s partner agencies are vital to its goals in the county.

“Without our partner agencies, we wouldn’t have the impact on education, financial stability and health,” she said.

Hobaugh said the United Way will focus much of its education efforts on connecting schools to businesses for “real world” experiences. It also will work to improve pre-kindergarten education countywide.

“Our ultimate goal is for all 3- and 4-year-olds to have access to pre-K education,” she said.

Financial stability efforts will focus on employment and housing.

“You can’t have one without the other,” Hobaugh said.

To achieve its goals, the United Way looks to reach an even wider group of supporters and donors than in years past.

“We’re hoping to engage people who haven’t been engaged before,” Roxbury said.

One of the first opportunities to do so will be at the second annual Tricycle 500 race, which will be Sept. 17 at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA on Route 19 in Cranberry Township.

The United Way also is preparing for its annual Week of Caring, which will begin Oct. 13.