The figures are in, and United Way of Story County has good reason for celebrating the results of its annual campaign.

“The United Way’s goal of $800,000 was surpassed the day after the campaign closed, on Dec. 1,” said John McGuire, interim executive director of United Way. “All of us at the United Way were very excited.”

More money is expected to come in, above the $831,050 reported at the Dec. 7 meeting. Some citizens and businesses that have not contributed yet but were planning to will be added to the total, McGuire said.

McGuire said the goal was reached “because of the support of the citizens and businesses in Story County. They all recognize the value of contributing money for the goods and services the United Way provides throughout the county.”

Last year, United Way of Story County raised $785,054.

“The campaign was so well-organized, and all involved were very committed to the cause and meeting the goal that was set this year,” said Scott Berscheid, member of the Board of Directors of the United Way. “The goal for the United Way is increased every year, and a goal of $800,000 is no little feat.

“I felt we might have been pushing ourselves a little this year, yet felt it was a very obtainable goal. The success this year is attributed to people who were involved in the campaign,” he said.

The campaign, which started in mid-September, will have its closing ceremonies and officially end Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. in the Memorial Union.

This year, both United Way and Habitat for Humanity combined fund-raising efforts and campaigned together, exceeding their goals.

“The two groups usually do two separate mailings a few months apart from one another as fund-raisers,” said Berscheid, junior in pre-business, “but this year the two decided to combine forces and put both fund-raising efforts at same time, linking them together.”

Berscheid said the reason for this change is because people felt they were being hit up for money all the time.

If a contributor specified his or her money to go to one cause, the money went to that cause, but the total money raised went toward the goal, Berscheid said.