On the heels of a successful 2013-2014 campaign, the United Way of the Lowcountry has once again met its goal of $2.4 million to fund its programs and services. The campaign formally kicked off last April and announced a $100,000 increase over the previous year’s goal. On March 24th the campaign received donations that met and exceeded the goal, with funding currently standing at $2,404,746.00.

[caption id="attachment_22103" align="alignright" width="199"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/COVER-UNITED-WAY-Tina-Gentry-President-CEO-United-Way-of-the-Lowcountry.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-22103" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/COVER-UNITED-WAY-Tina-Gentry-President-CEO-United-Way-of-the-Lowcountry-199x300.jpg" alt="Tina Gentry, President &amp; CEO, United Way of the Lowcountry" width="199" height="300" /></a> Tina Gentry, President &amp; CEO, United Way of the Lowcountry[/caption]

“Following success with success is never easy, but I’m proud of the way the community pulled together to make goal again,” said Ashley Twombley, United Way Board Chairman. “We have a dedicated group of volunteers who work to raise money on behalf of the programs we fund and I’m glad to see their hard work pay off for the benefit of those in need.”

The United Way of the Lowcountry will fund 48 programs through 33 non-profit partner agencies in Beaufort and Jasper Counties in 2015. Reaching goal allows the United Way to expand to cover four new programs run by four partner agencies new to the United Way fold this cycle. The $2.4 million also helps fund the United Way’s Early Grade Reading Program, currently employing over 200 volunteer tutors in eight local schools, as well as the United Way Helpline for those in need of both direct and referral services.