Share Your Thoughts with Your United Way

Shaping the Future

Last month we announced the first steps of a re-engineering of our local United Way. Increasing two-way communication is a core element of the re-engineering, and we are launching that effort today. Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Your input will be shared with a community advisory council this spring to solidify the goals and strategies for your new United Way.

Greater need in our community magnifies the necessity of a strong United Way. Referrals to services by United Way’s HelpLink 2-1-1 have increased 150% over the past two years. More than 260,000 people turned to the partner agencies for help last year alone. Another essential element of the re-engineering must be a successful conclusion to the 2009 Campaign.

Meeting the Need

Unfortunately, at this point, contributions are still nearly one million dollars short of last year. The loss of NCR left half of this gap, the remainder reflects the continuing economic challenges in the region. A shortfall seriously harms our community’s ability to meet local needs – at a time when demand is at an all-time high.

We have begun an all-out push to fill the gap under the leadership of an exceptional community leader, Vince Corrado of Shook Construction. Based on the promising results to date, we are extending the annual campaign to raise the necessary dollars. We ask all of you who can to consider another gift in these difficult times.

If you haven’t already given or can give a little more, please make a gift today by clicking here or mailing a check to United Way Campaign, 184 Salem Avenue, Dayton, OH 45406.

Ensuring Accountability

Any and all resources that come into the community are precious. That leads us to a recent issue we are working to resolve.

First, the SCLC is not a United Way agency and your United Way dollars are not in question.

The current FBI investigation of the SCLC threatens to undermine faith in many local institutions, with ramifications that could hurt the whole community. According to reports, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds at SCLC are being investigated. We will continue to work with FEMA and the FBI on the SCLC investigation until things are made right.

FEMA established the Emergency Food and Shelter Program with highly-respected partners including United Way Worldwide, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and national faith-based charities. United Way of the Greater Dayton Area convenes the meetings of the Local Emergency Shelter Policy Board – comprised of mandated representatives of the national partner agencies and other local emergency food and shelter providers. Our role is to facilitate the application and reporting process. The Local Policy Board utilized a paperwork review of required FEMA documentation for monitoring.

In retrospect, this approach was not enough. We regret this deeply. We have learned that any program – no matter the funding source – that involves our United Way in any manner must meet the same rigorous standards of the practices we use to distribute the funds we raise locally.

We look forward to hearing from you and appreciate your continued support.

Gary Auman, Board Chair and Allen Elijah, President
United Way of the Greater Dayton Area