By Eric O'Connor
Buffalo, NY – The United Way of Buffalo and Erie County announced its plans Wednesday for distributing the $11.5 million in undesignated donations it received in its most recent campaign.
Officials say donations decreased by $500,000 this time around, forcing them to reduce funding for some of the programs the agency funds.
United Way Chairman Jeremy Jacobs, Jr. said donations are especially needed in times of economic instability.
"If there's a message I would give to the Buffalo community is, really, we need to step up in an even greater level," Jacobs said. "In this current economic environment, in this current job market, we need to do everything we can because we may run a successful campaign, but this community still needs more than we can give."
Despite the decrease in donations, nearly two-thirds of the United Way's programs will see the same amount of funding while six will have their funding increased.
The 2004 campaign is set to start this summer on August 18.