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The United Way of Douglas County’s 2015 fundraising campaign brought in $1.5 million to help its 33 community partners improve more lives in the county, the agency announced Wednesday at its annual business meeting.

The campaign’s goal was to equal the 2014 total of $1.68 million. Nonetheless, Erika Dvorske, United Way chapter CEO and president, said she was pleased with the fundraising total.

“The money helps our community partners do more with every dollar,” she said. “Our goal was to improve more lives through education, health and financial security. We need money to make that happen. We’re always in awe of how the community steps up.”

Another United Way goal is to recruit 6,000 local volunteers and donors to help the agency succeed. Dvorske said the number of volunteers checked in at 5,500.

“We’re going to keep on pushing to get to that number,” she said. “We still want to get it to 6,000. That is the need.”

The event marked the end of Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson and West Middle School assistant principal Kathy Branson’s year as campaign co-chairs. It was the shortest as well as longest year he has experienced, Charles Branson said.

“The thing that really blew us away was how big a community effort a United Way campaign is,” he said. “Hundreds pulled together to make it happen and will again this year.”

The Bransons’ final act as co-chairs was to introduce Jamie and Bonnie Lowe as co-chairs of the 2016 campaign.

As a United Way of Douglas County Board member for another two years, Kathy Branson would have the opportunity to share advice and insights with the Lowes and their successors, she said.

“My biggest advice is they need to make it fun,” she said. “It’s not easy to ask for money or always to talk about what the money is needed for, but everybody responds to smiles and laughter.”

The meeting also served as an award ceremony. Gloria Eberle was recognized with the 2015 Galluzzi Volunteer Award, named in honor of former Haskell University president and 1983 United Way campaign chairman Wallace Galluzzi. Douglas County CASA and Meritrust Bank shared a traveling trophy for their 100 percent employee participation rate in the campaign, and Hallmark Cards, the Rice Foundations and an anonymous donor were recognized with the Trailblazer Award for gifts of $30,000 or more.