Live United by Ann Austin

The United Way campaign will soon kick off for the greater community. You will see letters in the mail and see or hear stories through local media. We strive to get the word out about the impact of local programs, but the best way is through word of mouth. If you know someone who has benefited from a local program or have a story to share, please tell others.

Our United Way has operated in Freeborn County for nearly 90 years. In that time we’ve seen many changes to our community and the world we live in. However, one thing has stayed the same — we are focused on helping our neighbors and addressing the greatest need.

We are thankful to have so many partners to work with, which includes funding 26 community programs that address the areas of education, income and health. For 2016, the need to support these programs as well as operating expenses will be $598,000.

Our United Way works to ensure community funds go where they are needed most, to fill in gaps or provide for essential programming. We focus on health and human service programs and ensure funding remains in our community. In fact, 98 percent of community contributions remain in Freeborn County. We have individuals who choose to designate their funds to another community, but we often receive more funds into Freeborn County from other United Ways than we give out.

We’ve collected a variety of stories that show the importance of programs we support in our community. These stories are available on our web site: www.unitedwayfc.org, under 2015 Campaign. Many programs work collaboratively to ensure people are receiving the highest quality care, whether it’s our children, working adults trying to make ends meet or seniors who are struggling with health and social connections.

There is other helpful information on the site, including which programs we will fund in 2016, how much funding is allocated towards programming (89 percent) and how much goes to fundraising and management expenses (11 percent) and materials that can be used to help educate others about local programs, poverty and the work our United Way is focused on.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that even though it appears someone might not have the same ideas as I do about how to accomplish a goal, we generally want the same thing. This is what we need to focus on if we want to continue to build a stronger community. Essentially, we are all partners in this work. We are so thankful to have strong, vibrant business in town as well as young entrepreneurs who are looking to the future. We are thankful to have our retired community, who offer so much wisdom and perspective, and our youth, who remind us of how simple joys can be found every day. We are thankful for newcomers who help us see our community with fresh eyes and the leaders who strive to resolve local issues.

We need each other — and at United Way, we need the greater community to step up and get engaged. Sometimes it’s as simple as a smile or asking someone to explain their thoughts; reaching out to a family of one of your children’s friends to offer support during a challenging time. Sometimes it’s stepping up to play a role in local government, or calling to voice your concerns. Sometimes it’s advocating for a program you believe in or choosing to give or volunteer to support local efforts.

However you choose to get involved, our community will be better for it!

Live United.

 

Ann Austin is the executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County.