September 19, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
A majority of United Ways raised more money in 2006 than in the previous year, with donations totaling $4.14-billion — a 2.7-percent increase, according to numbers released by United Way of America.
The results marked the second consecutive year in which giving to United Ways increased.
Brian A. Gallagher, president of United Way of America, in Alexandria Va., said he was pleased with the numbers, but would like to see the charity’s future growth in the 4- to 6-percent range.
Of the 1,294 United Ways nationwide, 60 percent increased their donations last year, compared with 56 percent in 2005.
For the seventh year the United Way of King County, in Seattle, topped the list of the United Ways that raised the most, with more than $123.5-million raised, a 25.3-percent increase over the previous year. United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta was second, at $104-million raised, followed by Greater Twin Cities United Way, in Minneapolis, with donations of $88.8-million.
United Way of the Capital Region, in Enola, Pa., reported the largest percentage increase, up 51 percent, for a total of $14.6-million. The United Way in Seattle was second, followed by Mile High United Way, in Denver, with $34.7-million raised, for an increase of 22.9 percent.
Among the groups that declined, Orange County United Way, in Irvine, Calif., saw the biggest drop, down 20.5 percent, followed by United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona (down 19 percent) and the United Way in Baton Rouge, La. (down 16.3 pecent).
