‘Some of our most vulnerable populations are at risk.’
By: Jennifer Potash
Faced with a financial shortfall, the United Way of Greater Mercer County may cut grants to community organizations unless a last-minute financial appeal covers the deficit.
The funds for unrestricted gifts which provide grants for homeless families, substance-abuse treatment and children’s services are short by $500,000 this year, said Craig Lafferty, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Mercer County, at a news conference Thursday at the Lawrence Township headquarters.
Among the municipalities served by the United Way chapter are Princeton Borough, Princeton Township, Montgomery, Rocky Hill, West Windsor and Plainsboro.
"We’re asking the community to dig deeper into their pockets and make a gift based on what their situation will allow," Mr. Lafferty said. "Some of our most vulnerable populations are at risk."
The campaign will end May 15.
The United Way has notified grant recipients the organization may not be able to provide the grants when the new fiscal year begins July 1.
At a recent meeting, the United Way’s board of trustees made the unprecedented decision of cutting $273,000 from the second year of three-year grants, said Chairman Israel Maldonado. The trustees did take $270,000 out of a reserve fund to keep all programs solvent until the end of the fiscal year, June 30.
Elaine Moorin, a United Way volunteer and chairwoman of Resource Investment Cabinet, said the organization is committed to maintaining grants to nonprofits and other groups that provide services to meet basic human needs such as food and shelter.
The priorities are grants for mental-health and substance-abuse programs as well as support services for the disabled, elderly, mentally ill and at-risk youth.
Child care, after-school and prevention programs will face reduced funding, Ms. Moorin said. There are other funding streams available and the United Way will work with those organizations to find alternative funds, she said.
The annual fund-raising campaign which kicked off Sept. 10 was hampered by the existing soft economy and restructuring among companies and corporations, Mr. Lafferty said. Coupled with the "giant splash effect" the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks had on the economy, the annual campaign suffered a dramatic decline, he said.
Among 24 nonprofits slated to lose funding are Family & Children’s Services of Central New Jersey for its family mentor program and Trinity Counseling Service for the violence intervention in the school system program.
To donate to the Community Campaign or for more information, call the United Way at (609) 637-4900 or visit the Web site at www.uwgmc.org.