Too many state and national politicians have been revealed to excel at spending money carelessly and doing little to help other people. But the exact opposite qualities are found in people connected with the United Way of Butler County and the 46 programs it helps fund through its member agencies. These people, whether at the United Way itself or the Salvation Army, the Mental Health Association, the American Red Cross or another of the 26 member agencies excel at spending money efficiently while selflessly helping people in need.

Although the United Way and the agencies it helps fund are working every day of the year, the annual fundraising campaign, which runs from the fall through the winter, is the time when the organization receives the most attention.

While there are many local charitable organizations doing good works that are essential to many in our community, the United Way is unique in the scope of the programs it helps fund through its member agencies.

The United Way name tells part of the story — a united group of service organizations that help people in need — from emergency relief through the RedCross and Catholic Charities to early childhood education at Butler County Children's Center and Child Check screening done at Lifesteps.

Those who have not received help from a United Way agency can consider themselves lucky. But most of us are not very far removed from someone who

has been helped by the United Way, through one of the programs run by a member agency. It might be a neighbor or a friend of a friend or a co-worker or someone from church, but there are thousands among us who have been helped.Every contributor to the United Way, both large and small, can take pride in what their donations accomplish. Few donations are large enough on their own to make a difference, but smaller donations from thousands of people do make a difference in the lives of a family burned out of their house or a teenager struggling to beat drugs or a baby with developmental challenges.Every United Way contributor should feel good about what his or her donation helps to make happen.And the easiest way to give to the United Way is with a small, regular contribution through payroll deduction at work. Many employers across Butler County offer such a program, where a United Way donation can be handled through a deduction of just a couple of dollars per pay period. Such an amount, handled through payroll deduction is small enough that it is hardly missed, yet it's an amount that, when combined with thousands of other donations, can help the United Way of Butler County reach its goal of $1.5 million.You don't have to be rich to say that you provided emergency supplies to a family after their house burned down or to say that you helped a teenager join the Paul Laurence Dunbar Community Center or to say you helped a family save their home by avoiding foreclosure. You just have to be one of the many United Way contributors to know that you helped make a real difference in the lives of people in need.It's painless, it's easy and it feels good to give to people who are in a position to help so many others.The United Way has a great tradition in Butler County and it deserves support.To donate or to learn more, call 724-285-2260 or visit the website at www.butlerunitedway.org.