Four new Funded Agencies highlight allocations process
Donor dollars from last fall’s United Way campaign will touch four new agencies in 2016 as overall community support in Logan County tops last year’s totals by more than $25,000.
Volunteers recently completed the allocations process to divide money raised during the fall campaign. 26 programs of 21 local agencies will receive at least $463,175. An additional $76,825 has been set aside for use throughout the coming year. The $540,000 earmarked for direct services to Logan County residents betters last year’s total by $25,090.
Community Action Organization, LifeCare Alliance, Logan County Neighborhood Outreach Centers, and Transportation Logan County are new United Way agencies. Low-income residents will be able to receive free help preparing their income taxes to maximize returns they are rightfully owed via Community Action’s VITA program. Shut-in will receive daily visits and food through LifeCare Alliance’s meals-on-wheels service. Children will have access to summer lunches and back-to-school supplies at the Neighborhood Outreach Centers in Bellefontaine, Russells Point, Chippewa, and DeGraff. And seniors can get a free ride to and from doctors’ appointments, shopping, or other errands via Transportation Logan County.
“It is always a challenge to be good stewards of the donors’ money and prioritize where those funds should go when so many agencies are doing good work, particularly when we have years that we have not been able to provide all of the funding an agency requests,” said Krista Adelsberger, Principal at Bellefontaine Intermediate School and a United Way Allocations volunteer.
Such was the case this year, as funding requests were 31.8% higher than what was allocated a year ago. The fall campaign has generated $701,000 to date (97.3% of the $720,000 goal), meaning tough decisions had to be made. 16 of the 23 agencies requesting funding in the annual allocations cycle were granted their full funding request.
Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio, United Way’s top-funded agency in 2016, received its request of $80,000 to administer a pair of critical programs. The Helping Hands project provides up to $300 per year for financial emergencies such as rent or utility assistance. The Second Harvest Food Bank provides food for 11 food pantries throughout Logan County and brings its mobile pantry to additional locations four times a month.
Universal Home Health and Hospice received its request of $40,000 to conduct its Caring Hearts program, providing free in-home health care to terminally ill patients and their families.
Warm Clothes for Kids received its $40,000 request to outfit school-aged children in grades K-8.
The Our Daily Bread soup kitchen of Lutheran Community Services received its $35,000 request to provide a free, warm meal Mondays through Fridays to anyone who shows up at its 223 Oakland Square location.
Logan County Cancer Society received its $30,000 request to provide direct financial assistance to cancer patients.
United Way’s Allocations Committee volunteers interviewed representatives from each agency requesting donor dollars in November, reviewed pages of documentation and engaged in extensive discussion before making its recommendation to the United Way Board.
“We have committee members with expertise in finances, law, and the workings of various social service agencies,” said Bill Montgomery, an attorney with Smith Smith Montgomery and Chamberlain and a longtime Allocations Committee volunteer. “This enables us to take a critical look at the effectiveness of our agencies so that we can make certain that they are using the funds wisely and precisely for the programs that we have authorized.
“Also, we have taken a very positive step over the last few years by basing the use of United Way dollars on how the agencies address the real deficiencies in our community. Instead of having the committee members decide these, we have actually used the broad-based Community Needs Assessment completed in 2012 and 2015 with input from all segments of society so that we can more effectively serve the true needs of our community.”
Final results of United Way’s 2015-16 campaign will be announced in February.
Organizations wishing to access United Way dollars available through the Community Impact Fund for new projects and initiatives to serve unmet needs in Logan County in 2016 may do so by contacting United Way for an application. $66,825 has been set aside for these opportunities. An additional $10,000 was earmarked for United Way’s Youth Allocations process administered by high school juniors and seniors participating in the organization’s year-long leadership development program.
It’s the mission of United Way of Logan County to facilitate successful agency partnerships that enable a safe, healthy, and caring community. More than just a fundraiser, United Way collaborates with businesses, non-profits, government, and civic organizations to help meet the social service needs of the community.
For more information, visit www.uwlogan.org or call (937) 592-2886.
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Volunteers from United Way’s Allocations Committee oversaw a four-month process to determine how tovbest spend donations given during the 2015-16 campaign. From left to right: David Willoby, Heidi Reser, Emily Krieger, Bill Montgomery, Tim O’Rielley (Committee Chair), Janet Siders, Karey Thompson, Krista Adelsberger, Nita Wilkinson, and Scott Elliott. (PHOTO | UNITED WAY) |
