Columbiana Co. drive runs behind

SALEM -- The 2001 campaign for United Way Services of Northern Columbiana County will fall short of its $290,000 goal.
Executive Director Ray Maurer said Wednesday officials will continue the campaign through the end of December and likely end with $240,000 to $250,000.
"We've been stuck at 75 percent and we just can't quite make it to 80 percent," he said.
Maurer said United Way campaigns everywhere suffered after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that "hurt more than I ever thought it would."
What went wrong: Maurer said negative publicity about the misuse of national 9/11 relief funds hurt local contributions.
"It just goes to show that if you want to donate, you should keep the money at home," he said.
The Northern Columbiana County United Way kicked off its 2001 fund drive Sept. 12.
County commissioners also recently agreed to permit county employees to donate through a payroll deduction, but only about 15 responded.
"That started late in the campaign and it will take a while to educate them," Maurer said.
Where aid goes: The local United Way serves 21 agencies and, statistically, one in four county residents receives help, said Roger Hack, board president.
Hack said that for checks made payable to the Salem Community Foundation for United Way, the foundation will give a 10 percent matching gift.
Donations stay in Columbiana County, with less than 15 cents of each dollar put toward administrative costs, he said.