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Jennifer Mitchell, left, coverage specialist, and Denise Rogers, office coordinator, work Tuesday afternoon at Craig Mental Health. The agency was allocated $25,000 by Moffat County United Way for 2009.

Craig — The common mission among the nonprofit groups at the top of Moffat County United Way's allocation list is to provide health and human services for the local community.

All told, Moffat County residents and businesses pledged about $502,000 during the 2009 fundraising campaign - the highest mark in the local United Way branch's history - to help local nonprofits.

The more than 50 agencies that are slated to receive funding from the campaign recently were notified about the funding levels they will receive in 2009.

The first of four allocation payments will be distributed April 15.

"We're proud of what we can do to help the community," United Way executive director Corrie Ponikvar said.

She added, "99 percent of the money we give out stays here to provide services in Moffat County."

Ten of the 23 agencies that applied for funding will receive $10,000 or more, United Way reported. An allocation committee made recommendations to the United Way board on the funding applications.

Jeanine Vallejos, United Way board president and a member of the allocation committee, said the group considered how it could best help the community when making its decision.

"We tried to help the most people, and I felt like we made the right decision," Vallejos said.

At the top of the funding list is the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, which will receive $55,000, followed by the Northwest Colorado Dental Coalition, slated to receive $30,000.

Craig Mental Health and Horizons Specialized Services will each receive $25,000, and the Boys & Girls Club of Craig will get $24,000.

Rounding out the agencies that will receive the most funding are Advocates-Crisis Support Services ($20,000), Human Services Volunteers ($19,500), Interfaith Food Bank ($15,500), nurturing parenting program ($11,000), the lifeline and infant hearing screening program ($10,000) and Northwest Colorado Legal Services ($10,000).

Vallejos said the decisions about funding totals weren't easy.

"They're all trying to do what's best for the community, and you only have so many dollars to work with," she said. "There are some awesome agencies out there."

United Way allocated $301,150 to the 23 agencies applying for funding. Remaining money was allocated to donor-designated groups, and figures those agencies will receive ranged from $60 to upward of $9,000.