The United Way of McLean County announced its 2014 campaign results Friday night in Uptown Normal. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The United Way of McLean County fell short of its 2014 campaign goal, but not by much.

The organization announced Friday night it was able to bring in $4,261,683 during the campaign, which launched in August 2014 with a goal of $4.5 million.

Falling short of the campaign goal did not stop United Way president David Taylor from being pleased.

"We're looking at about six percent higher campaign revenue this year than last year," said Taylor. "Last year in, kind of, April-May time frame we had to make some funding reductions to a number of our partner programs and that was kind of difficult position to be in."

The 2013 campaign rose just over $4 million. Taylor said because of this year's success the United Way's partner programs will not only keep their level of funding, but many will actually see an increase.

"When we set the $4.5 million goal we used the term 'realistic, yet aspirational.' So we recognized that hitting that goal may be difficult, but at the same time we wanted to be bold and we wanted to go for it, knowing that the community would respond," Taylor said.

Campaign chair Ed Quijano was also pleased with the results and said it's difficult to explain why the campaign was more successful this year.

"What we tried to do is to make sure that people gave not out of obligation, but out of joy; and I think that makes a difference," said Quijano. "We don't want people to give because they feel like they have to give; we want people to give because they want to give."

The annual campaign provides resources to over 60 partner programs managed by more than 30 local nonprofit organizations.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].