Having reached almost 75 percent of its goal, Iowa State is nearing the end of this year’s United Way campaign.

As of Oct. 19, the nonprofit organization has received $155, 860 in donated funds at Iowa State. This equals 72.49 percent of its goal for $215,000 from the ISU community. Funds include money contributed to both the United Way campaign and the Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build.

Shirley Knipfel, administrative assistant for veterinary medicine, is one of the volunteers with the fund-raising effort. She said the campaign will be done soon, and the celebration for its completion is planned for Nov. 29.

“We’re very, very close,” she said. “We hope to reach the goal within the next few weeks.”

She said it is difficult to compare one year to the next to determine how the campaign is going because the timing of the campaign is different each year.

“We’re positive about the campaign, and we’re positive we’re going to reach our goals,” Knipfel said.

She said United Way provides services that benefit faculty, staff and students.

“We hope that everyone will take the opportunity to make a contribution that will provide money to agencies who provide very worthwhile services to people in need,” Knipfel said. “We encourage everyone to continue to turn in their envelopes to their division leaders.”

The Memorial Union’s fund drive division exceeded its goal, reaching more than 121 percent.

“We did similar publicity and outreach activities to what we did last year,” said Lisa Kratz, co-leader of the Memorial Union division.

Kratz, assistant director of program services, said people contributing to the Blitz Build may have helped in the large donation percentage from the MU, and it will be participating in the campaign next year.

Kratz said she anticipates that the fund-raising goal will be raised during next year’s United Way drive.

“Hopefully, if we do raise the goal, we’ll be successful again,” she said.

The College of Family and Consumer Sciences division of the campaign also exceeded its goal by raising 118 percent, said Beverly Kruempel, adjunct assistant professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Kruempel is also a member of the United Way Board of Directors and division co-leader for Family and Consumer Sciences.

“We connected the campaign with our emphasis on the year of the family celebration, and families benefit a lot from the United Way money, so I think that was a good connection,” she said. “I think the excitement that we can get among all of the staff and faculty and personal contacts are important. It takes a lot of creative ways to do that.”

Kruempel said donating to the campaign is an easy way for students to help others.

“I would just like to encourage everyone to give as much as they can,” she said. “We serve 32 Story County agencies that always need resources to help in aiding the individuals and families of Story County. Every little bit helps.”