BUTLER TWP — The United Way of Butler County might not have met its $1.5 million campaign goal for the third consecutive year; however, donations are up.

Leslie Osche, United Way executive director, told volunteers and member agencies at this morning's annual breakfast meeting, the 2007-08 campaign, which began in September, raised $1.23 million.

"That's $50,000 more than in 2007," she told several hundred elected, business and community leaders who gathered in Butler County Community College's Founders Hall for the breakfast that also featured the Leadership Butler County graduation and the Red Apple Awards for outstanding teachers.

<table width="300" height="275" border="0" align="right" valign="top" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><embed src="/assets/mov/BE48588618.MOV " width="320" height="250" autostart="true" loop="false" ></embed></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/" target="_blank"><span class="style11">Requires Quicktime Media Player </a><br><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Times New Roman">Video by Brandon Gerthoffer</font></span><td></tr></table>Anne Morrison, a senior vice president of Citizens Bank and this year's United Way campaign chairwoman, worked to boost corporate campaigns as part of the fundraising effort."Volunteers made it a point to go to companies and really work with their employees and paycheck deduction donations," Osche said.Some examples of Morrison's and volunteers' efforts include:n USIS doubling its donations from $10,000 to $20,000;• Butler County employees moving from $2,500 in donations last year to $6,000 in 2008;• Butler Health System raising its employee donations, but also giving a corporate gift."Also, we worked with AKSteel, its hourly and union employees for the first time in years, and got a chance to increase their donations," Osche said.Previously, once employees signed up to give, they remained at the level until they spoke to the company to change it.The money raised through this year's campaign was divided among the United Way's 28 agencies at last year's levels."Through the strategic planning committee, we've identified three areas that need improvement within the community," Osche said.With the help of the Butler Health System and the Butler Collaborative for Families, the United Way identified these issues:• Education/early education — Help children and parents access education resources, as well as remove barriers to drug and alcohol, physical and mental health, transportation, child care and elder care.• Income and financial stability — Help individuals and families prepare for possible disasters and work to help them grow assets and savings.• Connecting people — Make sure people can access resources and help them negotiate the social services system.Osche said three councils of five to seven people will examine the issues and determine how much money is needed to meet these goals in 2009, as well as fund the United Way's core programs."Then we will have an actual number for the 2009 campaign that we will need to raise to cover those expenses," she said.In three years, the issues will be re-examined.With the number established, the campaign can then be carried out with a planned approach to raise the money needed, she said.The national issues for the national United Way are education, income and health. However, Osche said the county United Way board believes that health can be addressed under the three local issues.The United Way also received a National Performance Award from the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, D.C., for increasing the federal campaign from $77,000 in 2007 to $112,000 this year."Most of that came from the (Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center) and the Office of Personnel Management in Boyers," Osche said.