People listen to presenters during the United Way of Bartholomew County annual meeting at the Commons on June 18.
United Way is perhaps America’s best known umbrella organization that does well by doing good in communities nationwide, just as it has since its humble beginnings in the 1880s. Importantly, United Way relies on the giving spirit of people in the communities it serves to promote the greater good.
There are more than 1,200 United Way chapters in the US and hundreds more internationally, but it’s worth noting — and commending — the work of the Bartholomew County chapter, which has been bold in leading local efforts with a multi-year strategy to combat poverty.
The Republic’s Brian Blair reported on the local chapter’s annual meeting and captured the feeling that, indeed, something special is happening here — specifically, the chapter’s Avenues to Opportunity program that won the local chapter a national award for helping to lift nearly 100 local families out of poverty since last summer.
“Through an unprecedented engine among 20-plus certified and partner agencies, our community is setting a new standard of excellence in helping families out of poverty,” said Cathy King, United Way’s community impact director. “Other communities around the nation are taking notice and want to replicate what we are doing.”
The “we” she mentions casts a wide net that includes volunteers for the many local charitable groups that receive United Way funding. But it also includes and would not be possible without the thousands of local people who donate or contribute a small portion of their hard-earned paychecks to United Way.
So we also salute the top 10 area employers and their employees in terms of giving to United Way: Cummins, Toyota Material Handling, Centra Credit Union, Enkei America, Columbus Regional Health, First Financial Bank, Master Power Transmission, Elwood Staffing, Bartholomew County REMC and German American Bank. These organizations and others that encourage giving to United Way are helping to make a direct impact in people’s daily lives.
People donate to United Way because over time it has proven to be among the most effective and trusted charitable organizations in the world, and many donors also appreciate that they may choose to designate where they want their dollars to go. Through United Way, those collective dollars often can provide much greater benefits than a single donation in addressing pressing local needs.
And in case there is any doubt, the local needs are great. As United Way notes, 1 in 3 people in Bartholomew County do not earn enough money to meet their household budgets, and 1 in 5 people live below the federal poverty line. For an individual, that means annual income of less than $14,981. For a family of four, that means annual income of less than $31,200.
Along with its ongoing efforts to combat poverty, United Way counts among its successes in the past year these accomplishments: 7,329 children were provided mental health services, 8,885 children were served by United Way-supported programs, and 13,780 people received basic needs assistance.
To learn more about local United Way efforts, donate or learn how you can help, visit uwbarthco.org. You’ll see why so many in our community rally to the call to Live United.
