Aloha United Way heads
into annual campaign

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By Lisa Asato
lasato@starbulletin.com

When Aloha United Way officially kicks off its $13.6 million general campaign on Wednesday, it will be on a high note.

The nonprofit agency is coming off a successful Pacesetter Campaign, during which it raised $1.88 million in six weeks and beat its goal by more than $100,000. AUW President Irving Lauber sees that as a good sign.

"That's why we call it Pacesetter. It's supposed to literally set the pace," Lauber said. "Our experience has been that if the Pacesetter Campaign does well, the general campaign should do well. It gives us a little more optimism."

AUW has increased its goal by $100,000 a year for the past two years. The goal is based on several factors including need, economic conditions and consumer confidence, Lauber said.

"It's not science, it's an art," he said, adding that Aloha United Way funds 65 health and human service agencies. "If we were strictly pinpointing the goal based on needs, we would have a $20 million campaign."

The general campaign started Aug. 30 and runs through Oct. 12 but officially launches Wednesday with a "Day of Caring" involving more than 1,000 volunteers and 50 projects.

Some will beautify the Liliuokalani Botanical Garden and clear debris from Nuuanu Stream. Others will pack emergency food boxes for hungry families. Still others, such as the group of service members from Hickam Air Force Base, will scrape and paint playground equipment at Waipahu Elementary School.

Lauber said the event gets work done that agencies may not be able to do themselves, as well as giving volunteers "a very clear picture of what happens to money they donate," he said.