United Way soars past community fundraising goal - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

United Way officials said the real winners of their fundraising efforts were the citizens of Marshall County that their agencies serve.

Despite tough economic times, many were giving to United Way to help them exceed their goal.

With a goal last year of $710,000, officials set the bar a little lower this year at $700,000, amid concerns people would not be so giving. Instead, close to $720,000 was raised.

United Way of Marshall County is the fundraising arm for many county agencies which help those in need. From the 4H Club to the Red Cross, Boy Scouts and the Salvation Army, the list is long of agencies that receive funding from United Way to help their community.

Now with fundraising over, it's time to decide allocation of those funds to the agencies.

"We're just about ready to begin our process for allocations for our agencies, and so we're hoping that our pool is going to be just a little bit larger this year and we'll be able to help folks out the way that they need us to," said Jeannie Lyle, director of Marshall County United Way.

Lyle said money is allocated to the agencies beginning in January 2014. 

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