How United Way volunteers split the money raised during the 2014 campaign
January 26, 2015
For a complete line-by-line breakdown of United Way’s 2015 allocations, please view the PDF file by
CLICKING
HERE or on the graphic above.
“What would you do with a million dollars?”
United Way volunteers got to answer that question to determine how to best spend donor dollars after a record-setting fall campaign. The result is record-level support for its Funded Partners. United Way’s Board of Trustees approved $755, 945 at its January meeting for use in 2015. The money will be split among 44 programs of 29 local agencies.
With the 2014-15 campaign projecting out to a 6% increase over last year, allocations are also up 6% from 2014. 19 programs will receive increased funding.
“This is incredibly rewarding, as many of these increases were to our most critical programs that meet the needs of food and shelter,” said Mike Rose, who served both as the Campaign Chair and a Community Investment Committee volunteer this year. “So many individuals and businesses ‘get it,’ recognizing the role United Way plays to meet the needs of the people of Union County. Without your support, this record-setting year would not have been possible.”
Donor dollars to United Way will reach six area pantries, two shelters, four senior centers, an after-school youth center, a homeless prevention program, rent and utility assistance, disaster relief, prescription medication, hospice care, cancer support, youth activities, and more. Additional funds will be set aside for grant requests that arise throughout the year.
The Salvation Army will be United Way’s top-funded Partner Agency for the sixth straight year. It will receive $145,000 (a 10% increase) to administer a trio of programs for residents facing the most critical of basic needs. These include two highly effective programs that prevent and address homelessness and the coordination of the local Food Pantry Network that encompasses its own pantry and those in Richwood, Plain City, and Milford Center. Last year, The Salvation Army’s local funds were exhausted after a fire ripped through the Windsor Hi-Rise apartments, leaving more than two dozen households homeless.
Maryhaven, Union County’s provider for mental health consumers this past summer, will continue to operate the North Star Center, an after-school youth center in Richwood, as well as additional activities that encourage positive, drug-free choices among area youth. It will receive $52,500 (an 11% increase).
$44,500 will go to the American Red Cross Union County Chapter. $32,000 of that will cover disaster response for wide-spread community emergency preparation and individual families who suffer a house fires or floods. The rest is earmarked for Red Cross’s service to local military families and bloodmobiles.
Memorial Hospital of Union County will receive $43,500. $38,500 will be used for Memorial Meals to provide delivery of fresh, healthy, prepared meals to shut-ins and those who congregate at three gathering sites in Union County. $5,000 is headed to Speech & Language Department for patients who cannot afford the cost of therapy.
Loving Care Hospice will receive $31,000 to provide its in-home health care to terminally ill patients for services not covered by insurance.
A complete line-by-line breakdown of United Way’s 2015 allocations is available HERE.
The United Way’s Community Investment Committee consists of 18 volunteers who recently concluded the five-month process to review the 44 program applications. This process includes face-to-face agency interviews along with a review of the written applications and financial data for each applicant. Each volunteer team submits a written evaluation of their assessment for the entire committee’s review and discussion. Once committee consensus is reached, a funding recommendation is compiled for submission to the United Way Board of Trustees. Using this process, the volunteers determine the higher priorities for funding and ensure that Partner Agencies are well managed.
“The tough decisions come into play when we cannot award a dollar amount requested, but must decrease that amount to ensure we are doing the greater good,” said Tricia Clayton, a Nurse Manager at Memorial Health and a Community Investment Committee volunteer. “We consider various factors, such as the agency’s budget and how well controlled their spending is. We also look at the timeliness of submitting quarterly reports back to the United Way. They are encouraged to attend the various training sessions provided by the United Way each year, which assists them in meeting all of requirements. All of these factors are considered, as agencies are held accountable to the standards set forth by United Way.”
“Every year, it is tough to choose how to fund each program,” said Sherri Coleman, a United Way Board Member. “We review all of the information collected during agency visits. We discuss how the agencies are utilizing the money from United Way and how the Community is benefiting from those services. The Committee also looks at what type of services are being provided in regard to the four United Way areas of impact. The programs that provide services dealing with basic human needs like food and shelter are given first priority. Luckily this year we were able to meet a majority of the requests due to the generous donations.”
Final results of United Way’s 2014-15 campaign will be announced in March. The organization’s fundraising and administrative budget for 2015 is set at $194,036.33 (only a 3.8% increase). An additional $50,000 has been allocated to “Pledge Loss” in anticipation that 5 percent of the money pledged by donors during the fall campaign will not actually be paid in 2015.
United Way works to bring neighbors and resources together to improve lives in Union County. United Way of Union County has raised more than $19 million for local needs since it was established in 1958. More than just a fundraiser, United Way collaborates with local businesses, government, and non-profit organizations to solve pressing social service issues large and small.
United Way funding supports Emergency & Basic Needs in Union County, including six area pantries, such as the Plain City Food Pantry.
United Way funding ensures that children are not left on the sidelines. Here, a youth teeball game takes place at the Union County Family YMCA, where United Way dollars support the scholarship fund.
Windsor & Community Seniors volunteers Edith Lemaster and Linda Nierman greet attendees at a recent social function. United Way funding supports four senior centers in Union County.
Mental health consumers work in the shop at the Wings Enrichment Center, gaining confidence and job skills on the road to recovery. United Way supports 10 community partners in the area of Health & Human Services.
For more information, please visit www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org.
