Western-Star.com

All four United Way agencies — covering Warren and Butler counties, greater Cincinnati and greater Dayton — remain in talks on whether to merge into one regional agency.

Representatives for the United Ways met April 29 in West Chester Twp., and the Southwest Ohio Regional United Way Planning Task Force members plan to meet again May 22.

The group is dealing with the issues ranging from how a regional agency would be governed to day-to-day operations.

With combined annual fundraising campaigns of about $78 million, joining forces would make the regional United Way one of the largest in the country.

The Warren County United Way fell short of its 2006 goal of $2.5 million and 2005 goal of $2.3 million. The group lowered its 2007 campaign goal to just over $2 million and surpassed it by raising more than $2.1 million.

Facilitator Michael Sage, a Butler County Common Pleas Court judge, was appointed group spokesman.

While proponents see value in having one voice regionally, those opposed to a merger — including some directors of nonprofits that receive United Way dollars in Warren and other counties — fear it could mean a loss of identity.

Mergers are becoming a more frequent practice among the more than 1,300 locally governed United Way organizations. There have been 84 since 2004.

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