United Way of Bartholomew County President Mark Stewart welcomes guests to the United Way of Bartholomew County annual meeting at The Commons in Columbus on Tuesday.
While allowing themselves a few moments Tuesday afternoon to celebrate a $4.17 million fundraising campaign that again topped the state in per-capita giving and also landed the organization among the nation’s best in that category, United Way of Bartholomew County leaders already have launched a new campaign.
They want to lift 1,000 local families out of poverty in the next 2,000 days.
United Way President Mark Stewart called the idea “a bold goal” and made the announcement at the end of the nonprofit’s annual meeting in front of an estimated 300 people at The Commons in downtown Columbus. As usual, the crowd consisted of leaders and volunteers from nearly every sector of the community.
United Way’s role is especially significant locally because its 15 certified agencies operating 32 programs reach nearly one-third of county residents each year, according to the organization’s figures.
“Poverty is a root cause of so many community challenges that we face,” Stewart said. “Poverty impacts our schools, our health care system, our workforce, our quality of life. Make no mistake, it is well documented — poverty causes trauma for everyone it touches. And most critically, poverty robs our community’s children of their ability to reach their full potential.”
One example that Stewart cited: stats showing that 400 Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation children are homeless.
“Can you imagine trying to do well in school while not knowing if you will have a roof over your head tonight?” Stewart asked.
Poverty and financial stability have been among the focuses of United Way for the past four years. As part of that focus, the organization has hosted several poverty simulations in which community leaders have immersed themselves in role-playing exercises as struggling single parents and others pushing to make ends meet.
Stewart said that in those four years, “we have elevated hundreds of families out of poverty to a living wage. … These families are now out of the social service delivery system and reaching their full potential. And boy, are they happy about that.”
Stewart said the past four years naturally have highlighted some concepts that have failed to properly attack poverty.
“However, more importantly, we have learned many things that do work,” Stewart said.
One example has been United Way’s Avenues to Opportunity program. Two years ago, it was being featured as a case study for Economic Mobility Pathways. What is known by the acronym EMPath is a Boston-based nonprofit that seeks to move people out of poverty and into financial stability by working with nonprofit agencies in communities across the United States.
“Everyone wants to succeed,” Stewart said. “Some of us just have more barriers to that success than others. We have also learned that when families have hope and see a path forward, their grit and determination to achieve self-sufficiency is significantly amplified.”
Stewart acknowledged that this project goal is more than challenging in the aftermath of a United Way campaign that fell $300,000 short of its goal. But he reminded the audience that the organization’s chief function is to address social ills and basic community needs linked to quality of life. He mentioned that United Way is well equipped to do that working in tandem with a wide variety of businesses, corporations and agencies.
For instance, in recent months, United Way helped a Columbus woman working two jobs finally buy a home — even after interest rates soared during the final stages of the home purchase process. It helped secure a Women United grant that provided an extra $500 the woman needed before closing.
The United Way also prepared free tax returns for 968 qualified local residents, thereby putting more than $1 million back into the local economy. Plus, it worked with its member agencies to provide holiday help for 1,452 children with a variety of holiday assistance.
United Way honors
Winners at Tuesday’s annual meeting were:
- Give Award: First Financial Bank
- Individual Advocate Award: Veronica Prevost
- Corporate Advocate Award: Centra Credit Union
- Volunteer Award (organization): Mission Indiana
- Volunteer of the Year Award (individual): Avril Schutte
- Live United Award: Roger Lang
The top 10 campaigns
1. Cummins Inc.
2. Toyota Material Handling
3. Centra Credit Union
4. Enkei America
5. Columbus Regional Health
6. Master Power Transmission
7. First Financial Bank
8. Reams Asset Management
9. Elwood Staffing Services
10. Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.
