MiddletownJournal.com

The Butler County United Way announced Monday, Dec. 1 plans to lay off two employees.

The cuts will reduce operating costs for the agency, which saw a shortfall in donations during the 2007 and 2008 campaigns.

The layoffs were announced through an e-mail from Director Maureen Noe to United Way employees and their supporters.

The two laid off employees are United Way Chief Operating Officer Theressa Griggs and Communications Specialist Chelsea Kaiser.

No one was available at the United Way on Monday to discuss the employees' salaries.

Griggs' departure was effective immediately and she was offered a severance package through Jan. 30, 2009.

"Her tenure with United Way has been a significant asset to the Butler County United Way and her contributions will be a loss,'' Noe wrote.

Kaiser will leave the agency in January.

Noe wrote in the e-mail that Kaiser and Griggs would be "greatly missed.''

This year the United Way raised more than $2.1 million of its $2.6 million goal.

Last year, it raised $2.5 million of its $3 million target.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2180 or tlatta@coxohio.com.