Bay City, Michigan 48706
Front Page 03/28/2024 16:45 About us
www.mybaycity.com March 26, 2009
(Prior Story)   Community ArTicle 3696   (Next Story)

United Way Allocates Nearly $800,000 to Help Local Residents

Volunteer Panels Recommend Funding for 36 Programs of Agencies

March 26, 2009       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

Printer Friendly Story View

The United Way Board funded 36 programs based upon the recommendations made by seven panels of volunteers.
 

The United Way of Bay County Board of Directors has allocated nearly $800,000 to support programs that benefit local youth, people needing assistance with basic needs, and improve the community's health and wellness.

The Board funded 36 programs based upon the recommendations made by seven panels of volunteers totaling some 50 members of the community. Volunteers spent over 20 hours over two months to develop recommendations based on identified community needs.

"Volunteers are very thorough on reviewing the funding requests. They fund programs that can demonstrate results," said Darren McAllister, chair of United Way's community investment process.

The community investment process is a program-driven approach to how to invest the maximum amount of resources to measurably help the most people. Priority areas chosen by United Way are developed using community data, analysis of where gaps in services exist, and surveys.

"Each year United Way scrutinizes our investment amounts to ensure we are responsive to Bay County needs," explained Mike Hanisko of Weinlander Fitzhugh, Board President. "We have made essential changes to our investment strategy to ensure we care for our neighbors."

For example, United Way increased its investment in basic needs programs by more than $28,000 due to increasing demand for services and recorded gaps in programs, resulting in $146,209 for programs such as food, clothing and utility assistance, compared to $117,704 the previous year.

Among programs receiving funding are the American Dream Initiative that provides any Bay County family with a child in elementary school the support they need in health and nutrition, budgeting, and in removing barriers to employment. The board approved $40,200 in funding to the Initiative supporting services at the Literacy Council of Bay County and Lutheran Child & Family Service.

"This Initiative has already produced results for nearly 30 families last year," explained Ellen Talbott of Bay Regional Medical Center, chair of the Women's Initiative Cabinet for United Way. "It is putting people back to work and helping their children succeed in school. I am proud to be a supporter of this program."

Overall investment allocations to agencies decreased by 8 percent from previous year. However, revenue collected for the American Dream Initiative has dramatically increased, as has directed designations to partner agencies. The cumulative effect on local agencies will be a reduction of only 2 percent in support for community programs, mirroring the decrease of the fall campaign.

Local agencies also will receive $44,900 in designations from individual donors through United Way's fall campaign that successfully raised $1.3 million dollars. The dollars raised are invested in local, state and national agencies and United Way of Bay County volunteer and community service programs, including the Bay Arenac Call Center that connects over 3,600 people to health and human service agencies each year.

###

Printer Friendly Story View
Prior Article

February 10, 2020
by: Rachel Reh
Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
Next Article

February 2, 2020
by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews
MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should
Agree? or Disagree?


Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

More from Dave Rogers

Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
Printer-Friendly Story View


--- Advertisments ---
     


0200 Nd: 03-24-2024 d 4 cpr 0






12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm

SPONSORED LINKS



12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm


Designed at OJ Advertising, Inc. (V3) (v3) Software by Mid-Michigan Computer Consultants
Bay City, Michigan USA
All Photographs and Content Copyright © 1998 - 2024 by OJA/MMCC. They may be used by permission only.
P3V3-0200 (1) 0   ID:Default   UserID:Default   Type:reader   R:x   PubID:mbC   NewspaperID:noPaperID
  pid:1560   pd:11-18-2012   nd:2024-03-24   ax:2024-03-28   Site:5   ArticleID:3696   MaxA: 999999   MaxAA: 999999
claudebot