Calling the $60-million commitment a down payment to help achieve its 10-year "bold goals" program, United Way officials said they will help 78 human service agencies throughout central Ohio.

"It's a huge day for us.  This represents the primary means of which we'll go at those bold goals we identified in July," said the United Way's Rick Carrick.

The money will go to programs like Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families, which will help restore south side neighborhoods.

"To remove the blight, in other words, to get the vacant house back to a home, is beneficial not only for the person who buys the house but for the whole neighborhood," said executive director John Edgar.

Twenty of those organizations are brand new to the program, meaning some of those who used to get funding, are out.

One of those organizations is the American Heart Association, who will lose about $300,000 - or 10 percent - of its annual operating budget.

"Although we will be challenged, we will continue," said Brenda Houston. "The areas that you would see cut would be the educational programs and research dollars that we give back to the community."

While some agencies are relieved, they will get help with their funding, the United Way said the competition for those dollars continues.

"It's a three-year funding commitment, so it'll be renewed in the second and third year pending United Way campaign success and the success of those programs," said Carrick.

In total, the United Way approved more than $20 million in grants for next year, Hogan reported.

Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for additional information.

Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for additional information.

©2009 by 10TV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.