Gregg Houck

Director of Community Impact

Community impact, that’s what it’s all about. At the end of the day, our local United Way is striving to convene, empower, and advocate for the resources that will move the needle in a positive direction across the most critical areas of need faced by the people of Tompkins County. And when we say Tompkins County, we mean that! We work to support our whole community from Groton to Ulysses to Caroline to Newfield and everywhere in between. Each segment of this greater community has unique needs but there are universal challenges that we are all facing: food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, gaps in childcare and youth opportunities, health disparities, addiction, and a mental health crisis. At our United Way we are constantly evaluating these challenges and opportunities; equitably delivering the financial resources, that you as a donor have entrusted to us, to the programs and services that our community volunteers have identified as having the greatest potential for impact. 

In my role as Director of Community Impact, I get to see and hear from the folks that you are supporting on a regular basis, and I can say without hesitation that we are making a difference together. You probably don’t realize it, but there is a pretty good chance that you have a friend, neighbor, or colleague that has benefitted from a United Way funded program. It might be the single parent that works for the local community center that needed help catching up on rent or the young man who injured his back at work and is fighting to overcome an addiction to prescription pain killers or the elderly couple that can no longer get out and about who need nutritious meals and someone to check in on them. These are the folks that United Way refuses to leave behind. We believe that Tompkins County can be a just, equitable community where everyone receives what they need to live a full, healthy life.

None of this is possible without you. As we approach the final weeks of our annual Community Campaign, I hope you will consider supporting the transformational work United Way makes possible by participating in our upcoming fundraising events such as the Wine and Dine Radiothon on February 10^th or our Mardi Gras Celebration at Coltivare on February 21^st. The proceeds from these events will specifically support the Community Care Fund, our largest community grant, which funds the life-changing work being done through over 60 different programs and services across the county. You can also make a gift directly through our website at www.uwtc.org/give. Please help us spread the word so that we can continue fighting the good fight.



In Gratitude,

Gregg Houck

Director of Community Impact

Scroll Down to See Our Mardi Gras 2023

Celebrity Bartenders!

Join us at Coltivare on February 21st from 5pm-8pm and enjoy beer, wine and cocktails served by local officials and celebrities as they battle for tips! All tips support the Community Care Fund, and the winning bartenders get bragging rights! There will also be representation from all three of Tompkins County’s higher education institutions.

Dave Ashton

Lite Rock 97.3 “Dave and Jen Morning Show” Co-host

Laura Lewis

City of Ithaca Mayor

Martha Pollack

Cornell University President

Gail Belokur

UWTC Interim CEO

Anna Kelles

New York State Assemblymember

Deb Mohlenhoff

UWTC Campaign Co-chair

Cal Walker

UWTC Relationship

Liaison

Your Hosts:



Quincy Davidson

Ithaca College Interim Vice President of Philanthropy and Engagement

Amy Kremenek

Tompkins Cortland Community College President

Ducson Nguyen

UWTC Campaign Co-chair

Lea Webb

New York State Senator

Scott Keenan

UWTC Board Chair

If you can't join us for one of our upcoming events you can still make a pledge or give today by visiting uwtc.org/give