Women's community, the Salvation Army, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are all just a few of the organizations that depend on the united way for financial assistance.
For Wausau's Big Brothers and Big Sisters, that assistance makes up a third of their budget.
"It is the most important funding that we have," said Kathryn Gutknecht, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, "Since we only have one major fundraiser each year."
And it appears that at least in Marathon County, that funding will be there.
The United Way in Marathon County says they are about $10,000 short, but with a goal of nearly $3 million, that's only a drop in the bucket and won't affect their mission.
But that's not the case in other counties.
"I've heard United Ways are suffering," said Joanne Kelly, Executive Director of the Marathon County United Way, "and of course when the economy's tight, the need goes up, too. So then, the money's needed more than ever."
Kelly says cuts to government programs have also raised the need for money from the united way; a need that at least for organizations in Marathon County will be fulfilled.
The United Way is still accepting donations, you can stop in, call, or have it deducted directly from paycheck.
