Giving falls short at a time when needs are greatest

Giving falls short at a time when needs are greatest

The cruel irony of charitable fund raising is that when the economy is in trouble, the need for donations goes up, but the ability and willingness of donors to contribute goes down.

And so it was this year that the Youngstown-Mahoning Valley United Way, which provides vital support to dozens of area charities, fell well short of its fund-raising goal.

When the drive officially ended this week, United Way anticipated clearing about $2.2 million, not even 80 percent of its goal.

The losers are twofold: those people who could have afforded to make a pledge, however small, and didn’t bother, and, of course, the thousands of people, many of them children, who depend on the broad range of UW social service agencies.

There will be less help for kids who whose families can’t afford Scouting programs, fewer youngsters will get to go to day camps sponsored by the Associated Neighborhood Center and there will be less support for senior citizen programs provided by Catholic Charities and aid to the visually impaired provided by Goodwill Industries.

Other worthy programs will also face cutbacks or, at best have to make do at last year’s levels.

More irony

One of the most painful cuts will come in family counseling services. Again, the irony is that at the very time the bad economy increases tensions in hard-pressed families, there is less money to support programs designed to help.

And, of course, the loss of operating funds for many agencies will have an effect of its own on the economy, because one of the ways agencies cut costs is to eliminate jobs.

It is a sad, vicious circle.

Fifty years ago, when the Mahoning Valley was an industrial powerhouse, the community wide charity campaign also fell short, by about $50,000. But consider this: The campaign raised $1.3 million. That’s about half of what was raised this year, but adjusted for inflation, $1.3 million in 1959 dollars would be almost $8 million today.

Many things have changed in those 50 years. Campaigns then received major support from corporate headquarters that were located here, both in manpower lent to the cause and in dollars pledged. It was a different society, one in which fraternal organizations were a strong presence in the community, providing networks that made fund raising easier. And, of course, the economy was stronger and the community more prosperous.

Raising more than $1 million then was taken for granted, Raising the equivalent $8 million today is unthinkable. But falling short of what was a relatively modest goal this year — less than $10 per person in the county — is unfortunate. And it will prove painful for many.

The only bright spot is that people who are financially able still have time to step up as individuals and provide support for those charities in which they believe.