Hello United Way Supporters!
As 2017 comes to a close, many of us take pause to reflect on events of the past year and look forward to what the next year will bring. As I just concluded my first year at United Way, I see clearly how 2017 has been a year filled with change, challenge, and champions for me personally but also for United Way. I wanted to share a bit about those with the community of supporters we rely on to help impact over 50,000 lives in our tri-state community.
Change can be hard for many because heading into uncharted territories means you need to accept the fear and move through it-not around it. You've heard it, right? "
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
." I love that because to always be better and do better, we need to push ourselves, our colleagues, our community to do just that. Raise the bar. Get uncomfortable for a moment. It will spark change and light a fire within you to be a part of making that happen. Are you OK knowing our community members are struggling with homelessness, food scarcity issues, lack of positive role models and meaningful connections with youth? No? Then let's not only talk about it-Let's do something about it!
Challenge is something that can inspire or defeat you. Let's choose INSPIRE! Let's choose to embrace the challenges and work together toward our vision of a stronger, safer and thriving community. Let's brave this challenge together. Impact 50,000 lives? Check. Support health, education and income funding for 40 programs across 26 organizations? Check. Increase awareness of the benefits of United Way programs, initiatives, and partnerships? Check. Raise nearly 1.8M to begin to address some of the needs of the most vulnerable populations in the tri-states? Che.....well, we are working on that one yet, but I know with your help, we will get there.
Champions-where would any of us be without them? Champions are people who believe in our organization and our mission of
connecting people and resources to advance the health, education and income of those in need in our community
. Champions ask the hard questions. They listen. They plan, and they ACT. We are lucky enough to have many champions within United Way. Our amazing staff, the incredible Board of Directors, our campaign co-chairs and campaign cabinet members, our marketing committee, Women United, our volunteer reception center volunteers-not to mention the donors who help support health, education and income through generous contributions-everyone is a part of making this happen for our community! I would be remiss not to mention our funded partners that are yet another group of champions we are grateful for. They work together with us to address some of our communities most critical issues and they represent over 50,000 people in the tri-states who access their much-needed, quality services, so they are not left to fight their battles alone.
What a year it has been, and it isn't over yet. If you would to give a year end gift for 2017, please click
here to give.
Thank you to each of you who has joined us in our work to Give, Advocate, and Volunteer. I know 2018 will bring with it new changes, challenges and champions and we are ready! Let's do this together. #UnitedWeWin
Danielle Peterson,
President/CEO
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