Butler County United Way accomplished something it hasn’t been able to do in six years — meet its campaign goal and exceed the previous year’s donation pledges.

That’s good news for nonprofits throughout the county funded by the United Way.

Butler County United Way covers the entire county except Middletown and Oxford, which have their own United Way groups. The Butler nonprofit’s 2012 campaign has raised $1,901,698.97 so far in pledges of donations, nearly $1,700 over the goal amount of $1.9 million, according to the organization.

Last year’s campaign raised about $1.8 million.

With more funds, the United Way can help more people like Melissa Beckett of Middletown, a client of Supports to Encourage Low-Income Families, Butler County’s nonprofit community action agency.

Each year United Way conducts campaigns to raise money through workplace giving. The pledges are collected by direct donations, designations from other United Ways or set aside from donors’ paychecks during the year.

On July 1, Butler County United Way allocates funds to programs aligned with its mission of helping youths become successful adults and helping adults become self-sufficient. SELF receives funding for its home repair, Getting Ahead and Individual Development Account programs.

Beckett is a hospice nurse who has a personal goal of becoming a Registered Nurse, which requires more education. Life got in the way. Her husband is seriously ill, and her disabled mother lives at home with them. They have to take care of two young boys.

She went to SELF for help last year to pay utility bills, and learned about the Individual Development Account program, a savings program. It helps people eligible save money for school, to buy their first house or start a small business. They learn financial literacy through classes.

Through the program, SELF matched Beckett’s savings, which she’s using to help pay for her nursing education. She said becoming a Registered Nurse opens more doors.

“I can’t get financial aid anymore, so the IDA program was an awesome thing to help me work towards getting my RN,” Beckett said. “This is something I’ve longed for, for 21 years…Without the IDA program, I wouldn’t be able to do it because education isn’t exactly cheap.”

Dr. Kevin Joseph, president and chief executive officer of West Chester Hospital, was the cabinet chair of this year’s Butler County United Way campaign.

“Whether it’s a good economy or bad economy, there’s still going to be individuals in need of assistance. In a bad economy, there’s going to be more people in need of assistance,” Joseph said. “More people need it in this economy, but also those who are giving in this economy feel fortunate they are able to do so.”

During the campaign, he met with Tom Urban and Jennifer Swenson, the presidents of Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital and Fort Hamilton Hospital. They challenged each other to see which hospital could increase the percentage of the staff giving to the United Way the most. The number of West Chester Hospital staff members giving to Butler County United Way increased 20 percent.

“It truly is affecting people’s lives,” Joseph said.

Donations to Butler County United Way have dropped off from approximately $2.6 million in 2005 and 2006.

Contributions increased this campaign to more than $1.9 million from $1.8 million in 2011 because “people just really started to step up,” said Mitchell Willis, director of resource development for United Way. “I think the economy’s just coming back. I think people are feeling a little more comfortable with giving, and new giving.”

The director of Mercy Health St. Raphael, the Hamilton social service agency on High Street, said he’s optimistic about the future.

The cuts have impacted St. Raphael in the past. This fiscal year, July 1 to June 30, 2013, the Hamilton nonprofit received $81,000 from United Way for financial assistance and medical outreach, said Terry Perdue, executive director of St. Raphael. The financial assistance program prevents people from being evicted from their homes for nonpayment. The medical outreach provides health services for people who are uninsured, typically families without children, and people who aren’t old enough to qualify for Medicare.

The funding from United Way was slightly less this fiscal year than it was before, Perdue said. And St. Raphael chose not to apply for funding for its food pantry this grant cycle for fear of not getting funded, he said. Two years ago, St. Raphael’s emergency family shelter was no longer funded by United Way, even though it had been funded in previous years, he said.

“I’m optimistic with the new leadership at United Way. I see them more present in the community. I see them involving more community partners like us…I think because of those things I am optimistic they’ll continue to meet and achieve their goals,” he said.