The United Way is all of us working together. We have contributors, caregiving groups, and the people they help. We join forces to support basic healthcare and community services through donations. Each year, more than 500 volunteers help raise money for these agencies. This saves the costs of separate fundraisers and allows us to provide important services.

The United Way is governed by a Board of Directors who oversees the general operation of United Way by establishing and maintaining appropriate policies and procedures. Each member is a resident of our community.

Working with the United Way eliminates waste by combining appeals for agencies in one efficient campaign, freeing more of your dollars for human care services. It saves volunteer time both in raising and administering funds. It relieves trained agency personnel of fund-raising responsibilities, enabling them to devote full time to rendering human care services. It provides donors an opportunity to budget their giving by requesting only one contribution a year. It distributes funds fairly and properly in accordance with needs.

• The ill.
• The homeless.
• The handicapped.
• The abused.
• The elderly.
• The neglected.
• The young.
• The disadvantaged.

Such occurrences are rare, and no one in need is intentionally turned away from United Way-sponsored agencies. If you hear a complaint about a United Way agency, please report it to our headquarters, and we’ll thoroughly investigate and provide a report. United Way values transparency and accountability to our generous contributors. If someone needs help and doesn’t know which agency to contact, have them call our office at 723-9113, and we’ll guide them to the right agency and ensure they receive assistance.

This year our Campaign and Administrative Expenses are approximately 16 cents of every dollar. Your United Way Board of Contributors is your guarantee that your dollar will go further. By comparison, the national average for fundraising costs is 30 cents on the dollar.

All United Way luncheons are funded by the attendees themselves or through sponsorship from community-minded businesses. United Way volunteers do not receive payment; their sole reward is the knowledge that they’ve contributed to improving our community’s quality of life.

Access to services from a United Way agency should never be denied due to financial constraints. While some agencies may request those who are able to contribute towards the direct costs of the services they receive, this approach maximizes the impact of your United Way donations, making assistance available to a broader spectrum of people.

Some believe they can raise more funds independently. Certain organizations are not affiliated with United Way due to national agency policies. All United Way agencies meet strict membership standards. Occasionally, agencies apply for membership, but we may lack funds to support them. Greater contributions from all would allow us to include more agencies.

The United Way respects your personal choice in giving. Donations should always be voluntary and based on your individual financial capacity and sense of community responsibility. The Suggested Giving Guide merely offers insight into what others contribute, serving as a reference to help you decide your own contribution amount.

Your decision to give can be a personal expression of your values and a way to contribute positively to your community, irrespective of your spouse’s contributions. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in a way that aligns with your own beliefs and financial situation.

Yes, bank draft or credit card. Call the United Way office for more information.

Yes, you have the option to specify where your donation goes within the United Way network. If there are particular agencies or causes you prefer to support, you can designate your contribution to ensure your money goes to the agencies you like. This way, you can align your donation with your specific preferences and priorities.

That’s wonderful. Many people are concerned about the same problem, as well as other serious problems in our country and around the world. However, we have problems right here at home, and the United Way is helping many of our friends and neighbors receive the services they so desperately need. If we don’t take care of our own problems, who do you think should or will?

Please feel free to call Ms. Peggy Duncan, Executive Director, at (956) 723-9113 or any member of the Executive Committee.