Tulsa Area United Way coming up short of $25-million goal

The Tulsa Area United Way is dedicated to helping others, but now the service agency needs your help. <br><br>News on Six anchor Scott Thompson the United Way is coming up short on their $25-million campaign.

Thursday, November 7th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Tulsa Area United Way is dedicated to helping others, but now the service agency needs your help.

News on Six anchor Scott Thompson the United Way is coming up short on their $25-million campaign. But a major contributor has got a challenge for Tulsans that may bring the agency closer to its goal.

It seems like every year around this time Tulsa's helping hand comes up a little short. Kathleen Coan, Tulsa Area United Way President, "We not only have a tendency we have a tradition to set really aggressive goals to try to meet the needs of the community as closely as we possibly can and so therefore every year is a stretch."

United Way organizers say this year is different. "We've been you know in this situation before but never to the degree where we already have identified this $900,000 piece is really missing." That missing piece may seem small.

But when every cent of the $25 million goal is already spoken for by various United Way agencies, fewer dollars can make a big difference. Especially when other sources of money are drying up. "And so if they lose from the United Way also that's the core funding that really supports their programs and to lose a piece of that would be, would be really catastrophic."

Stan Lybarger, BOK President & CEO, "And now more than ever we need to insure that those needs are met." Now, the Bank of Oklahoma is stepping up with a $250,000 challenge grant. "We offer this challenge to encourage Tulsans to go the extra mile to achieve this year's campaign goal."

Coan says the United Way is short almost a million dollars.