The United Way of the Midlands today will announce a plan that will save the organization more than $600,000 — but will leave about 65 of its member agencies trying to figure out how to get by with less funding.

Additionally, more than 300 nonmember agencies no longer will receive United Way funds, allowing United Way to save on administrative, as well as operational, costs.

A rash of disasters dating from Sept. 11 and most recently Hurricane Katrina, has stunted the growth of local giving and forced the agency to dip into its emergency savings to avoid cuts.

This announcement comes on the heels of the United Way's decision to shift to funding specific needs rather than disbursing funds to agencies.But the United Way has decided to put off new funding until next year, which it estimates will save more than $400,000. United Way leaders hope to resume the program after a year.

Under the restructuring proposal, 10 agencies lost funding. Among them was the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands, which received $100,000 less last year.

While Clark said that in the past the club has been able to raise money through additional fundraising, he might have to end some of the program's services.

"If (funding) won't come from United Way, then we either have to cut programs — which we don't want to have to do — or find funding elsewhere."

"The timing of it means all of the agencies will be scrambling to make up for the cuts at the same time," said Deborah Bower, executive director of Senior Resource.

United Way funding, which Bower says totals about $124,000 annually, is mainly used for matching funds to qualify Senior Resource for federal grant money.

United Way officials said making the cuts was a difficult decision. But having no reserve money, which would be used locally in case of a natural disaster here, put them in an uncomfortable position.

"I think our full community needs to recognize that our organizations, like Boys and Girls Club, are very important to the community — and they don't fund themselves."

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