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The United Way of Cecil County will likely meet its 2005 pledge goal of $326,000 after failing collect to larger amount the year before, officials say.

Robin Spurdle, executive director of the United Way of Cecil County, said Monday that the charitable organization has received $250,539 in contributions as of December, or about 77 percent of the $326,366 pledged by contributors.

“I am optimistic that we will receive most of the remaining funds in the next few months as corporations make their final payments for the year,” said United Way President Ken Lewis. The deadline for meeting the 2005 goal is June 30.

United Way’s annual fund drive raises money for 32 health and human services organizations in Cecil County, including the Delmarva Red Cross, the Cecil County Men’s Shelter, Special Olympics, the Fair Hill Nature Center, the Generation Station youth center and others.

Steve Miller, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Cecil County, said his organization receives between $20,000 and $25,000 from the United Way chapter each year. Those funds and other public contributions have allowed 2,000 children to become members at the group’s four locations for a small annual fee of $5, he said.

“Their contribution is critically important to us and our ability to offer after-school and summer programs,” Miller said.

According to Spurdle, most of United Way’s contributions to local service agencies come from charitable payroll deductions that dozens of businesses offer their employees. The program allows workers at those companies to set a specific annual donation. A portion is then automatically deducted from each paycheck.

This year, 18 private companies and public entities each donated more than $1,000, including Acme Markets, ATK Elkton, Giant Food Stores, W.L. Gore, McCrone Inc., Wal-Mart, Williams Chevrolet, Cecil County government, the local school system and local libraries, among others.

Despite support from those companies and their employees, United Way failed to meet its pledge goal in fiscal 2004.

Spurdle said United Way received pledges totaling $355,575, but only collected $344,366 by the end of the fiscal year.

“It’s the first time in many years that’s happened,” Spurdle said. “It’s something we attribute to corporate downsizing and a poor economy.”

To overcome those hurdles, UWCC this year began a concerted effort to reach out to new businesses. A new Web site is also expected to be launched in the coming months, Spurdle said.

Anyone interested in donating to the United Way or receiving more information about the agency’s payroll deduction program can reach the organization via e-mail at unitedwaycecil@verizon.net or by calling 410-398-7572.