By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – This year’s United Way of McLean County campaign is focusing less on numbers and more on impact.
Community impact is the theme of the 2016 fundraising effort being headed up by Bloomington-Normal Jimmy John’s franchisee Mary Strack and Bridgetone employee Sean Fagan.
“I would certainly hate for someone not to help simply because they weren’t asked,” Fagan said. “While he don’t have a financial goal we have definite goal in mind and that is to help as many people as possible.”
Last year’s campaign fell short of its goal, raising about $3.5 million for local social service programs. The campaign brought in $4.2 million in 2014.
Strack said the campaign also plans to reach out more to small businesses this year.
“We’ve always targeted certain sized businesses,” Strack said. “The staff has developed a much larger small business (plan).”
Strack added the campaign plans to use media, direct mail and ambassadors who will be calling on local businesses to raise money.
This year’s campaign runs through January.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
