United Way raises half a million dollars in one day - KOTA Territory News

United Way raises half a million dollars in one day

The United Way kicks off its first major fundraising event Thursday. The goal: raise $2.3 million dollars in just three months.

A third of that goal is typically collected on Thursday's media blitz day.

Businesses and organizations put on quite a show as they dropped off their employee donations, dropping off checks ranging in the tens of thousands.

They came with morocca's, fire engines and even a vintage sheriffs car to drop off their giant checks.

The latest figures show the United Way has collected $595,000.

The funds go directly to more than 50 local charities providing youth, elderly and domestic violence services right here in the Black Hills.
 
"One that we work with in particular on a daily basis, is W.A.V.I, the woman's shelter. And that's near and dear to us because without them we couldn't provide the services for the victims of domestic violence in this community," said Kevin Thom, Sheriff of Pennington county.
 
"The vast majority of what we get is through payroll deductions. But we also see a lot of individual contributors as well," said Renee Parker, Executive Director of the United Way of the Black Hills.

Thursday's biggest donation was over $200,000 from Black Hills Power.