County Employees Step Up Charity Donations : Aid: Contributions by government workers to the United Way increased substantially this year, despite the bad economy.

In a year when tight economic times have depressed charitable giving nationally, Orange County government workers dramatically stepped up their contributions to the United Way, giving a record $808,321 to the organization, county officials announced Friday.

That money will help pay for charitable causes of all kinds, including child abuse services, substance abuse programs and local child care centers. Organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Salvation Army and Children’s Hospital of Orange County are also beneficiaries.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Gaddi H. Vasquez, who headed the county’s contribution campaign this year, announced the results of the effort during a press conference. He called it a “tremendous success” and pledged to lead an effort to urge other county residents to give more to charities.

“Independent of the bad economy, Orange County has had the unfortunate distinction of giving relatively little to charitable causes,” Vasquez said. “We’ve got to turn that around. People here have not given what they could and what they should.”

County employees, however, dug deeper this year than ever before. More employees contributed, and those who did gave more money than they had in previous years.

In fact, Orange County government employees increased their giving this year by more than 30% and gave more per capita than government workers in any other California county. More than half of the county’s 16,341 employees contributed something, and those who gave contributed, on average, more than $90 each.

“It’s no secret that these are tough times,” said Merritt Johnson, president of the United Way, Orange County. “This shows we can help in a time of crisis, and that’s what this community is experiencing.”

Vasquez and his staff spearheaded this year’s United Way campaign along with County Clerk Gary L. Granville, the campaign coordinator. All won praise from top county officials and members of the Board of Supervisors.

“Strong congratulations go to Gaddi and his staff,” Supervisor Thomas F. Riley said. “They were very innovative about getting employees to give.”

In addition to traditional contributions deducted from employees’ paychecks, several special events enlivened this year’s county campaign. A fair, bake sales and book sales were among the campaign’s special festivities, and those events raised more than $41,000.

Leaders of organizations such as the Salvation Army and Children’s Hospital of Orange County praised the aggressive campaign, as well as county workers for their generosity.

“We’re thrilled with the good news,” said Lee Lescano, a Salvation Army lieutenant who attended the press conference. “We are acutely aware of the increased need out there.”

For the charitable groups that are funded by the United Way, increased contributions by the county workers are especially important now, as many social service organizations are experiencing a booming demand. The Salvation Army, for instance, is handling nearly twice as many cases this year as it did during the same period last year, Lescano said.

And yet that demand comes as many of Orange County’s leading givers are scaling back their charitable contributions. Vasquez noted that the building industry, whose members contributed huge sums to many Orange County causes, is being forced to defer its donations this year until the recession eases.

Worker Donations Orange County government employees gave record amounts to the United Way this year, contributing more money per worker than any other major California county. Contributions per employee, by county Orange: $49.47 Los Angeles: $31.24 San Diego: $30.35 San Francisco*: $23.00 Santa Clara: $15.86

No.of County employees Total Orange County 16,341 $808,321 Los Angeles 82,900 $2,590,000 San Diego 17,136 $520,000 San Francisco* 25,000 $575,000 Santa Clara 15,000 $238,000

* city /county Source: United Way