DECEMBER 22, 2009 ISSUE
High Country United Way Encourages Residents to Make Honorary Gifts this Holiday Season
2009-10 Campaign at 32 Percent of Goal
As local nonprofits deal with the ongoing “catch-22” situation of increased clientele and decreased funding spawned by difficult economic times, High Country United Way Executive Director Linda Slade encourages residents to “dig a little deeper” to help their neighbors this holiday season.
For those who find themselves at a loss for a gift idea for someone, Slade suggested making honorary gifts—donating to High Country United Way in honor of someone.
“A gift to feed a hungry child is great,” she said. “We get $5 gifts and $5,000 gifts. They’re all critical for our success in the community.”
Slade said she has received numerous calls and in-person visits from community members who—hesitantly and somewhat embarrassedly—admit to her that, for the first time, they need and are asking for financial help.
Slade directs everyone to agencies that might be able to help them, but she has noticed an alarming pattern.
“I’ve been talking to agency [representatives] from other nonprofits [and] everyone is seeing the need explode,” she said, adding that all the local nonprofits are stretching their limited finances as far as they possibly can.
High Country United Way is no exception. In the past, the organization typically set aside some money for emergency situations, but in 2008, when the economy began to worsen, “we dipped into our reserve,” Slade said.
“We knew so many people were in crisis,” she explained, adding that the nonprofit’s reserved funding went to organizations providing food and shelter for those in need.
This year, High Country United Way did not even set aside emergency funds.
“We gave everything we could possibly give to agencies this year,” Slade said.
High Country United Way holds an annual campaign that runs from April to March of the following year, with the biggest push to raise funds in the fall, Slade said.
Where 2008-09 Campaign Funding Went
The $250,000 raised from the April 2008 to March 2009 campaign was allocated in May and June and distributed to help fund 36 area programs, beginning in July.
The programs are grouped into four main categories, Slade said.
Twelve programs centered on “Caring for People in Crisis,” received a total of $100,000; $10,000 went to five programs focused on “Promoting Health and Well Being;” $85,000 went to nine programs geared toward “Strengthening Individuals and Families;” and $55,000 went to 10 programs that all share the purpose of “Investing in Children and Youth.”
Slade noted that the monies raised by High Country United Way not only help feed the hungry, but also help adults build their job skills and provide after school programs for kids—which is beneficial to both kids and adults, because such programs allow adults to get jobs, Slade said.
Gifts to the organization are more far-reaching than donations to support “just one group,” Slade said. “It’s everything that goes on to make our community healthy.”
High Country United Way is also unique in that community members who are experts in their fields, not the nonprofit’s board members, decide where the campaign funds go, Slade said.
State of the 2009-10 Campaign
“The money we’re raising now will fund programs beginning in July 2010,” Slade said, adding that the bulk of the campaign funds will be raised in between now and the end of January.
So far, this campaign has been characterized by many of the regular High Country United Way donors continuing to give to the organization, but in smaller amounts, she said.
“We’re currently at $190,000 of our $600,000 goal, [which is] about 32 percent of our goal,” Slade said. “It’s time to step up, dig a little deeper [and] do without that extra cup of coffee or happy meal and make that somebody else’s meal,” Slade said.
“We have had new companies coming on board to help us out,” she said, and expressed gratitude for all those who have given, both new and regular donors.
Slade understands that “everyone is cautious,” but added that “everyone can feel comfortable making a gift to this organization [because] the money is going to organizations that are truly making a difference in our community.
“To be as small a United Way as we are up here, everything we’re doing is amazing,” Slade said.
In her former position with the United Way in Gastonia, a campaign would raise $3 million in one year and the organization would be able to give a single agency $250,000, she said.
“What I notice with the nonprofits here is their ability to do a lot with a little,” she added.
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