« Back to News Archive

United Way allocating $2.3M in FY 2009 (May 20, 2008)

Staff reports

United Way of Delaware County will reinvest more than $2.3 million of donor gifts in the community in fiscal year 2009, with the oversight of trained Community Investment Teams who will ensure the funds are used wisely.

Community Investment Teams are trained volunteers who have made allocations to programs that address United Way's five Impact Areas, aimed at creating positive, sustained changes in people's lives. The allocations recommendations are made after conducting site visits and reviewing program results.

"More than 40 community members serve as volunteers, reading, reviewing, visiting agencies, debating and making recommendations for funding," said United Way President Kathy Kreuchauf. "These volunteers take their role seriously and are good stewards of donors' contributions. This process is truly a community effort."

The allocations recommended by the Community Investment Teams for the fiscal year beginning July 1, total $2,340,548. They include support to the following funding partners:

• Action for Children - $108,917 for referrals to affordable child care and technical assistance and the Family Resource Center.
• American Red Cross - $255,169 for disaster services, health/safety services, water safety training, armed services emergency assistance, blood services and community services.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Central Ohio - $105,000 for youth mentoring programs.
• Boy Scouts of America, Simon Kenton Council - $50,000 for youth development programs.
• Central Ohio Mental Health Center - $9,000 for the Door to Door transportation program helping clients get to appointments.
• Community Action Organization - $38,719 for a tax preparation assistance for low-income wage earners.
• Council for Older Adults - Home-Delivered Meals - $84,136 for meals delivered to homebound/ill/disabled Delaware County residents under the age of 60.
• Delaware General Health District - $66,521 for child obesity and childhood nutrition programs.
• Delaware Speech & Hearing Center - $220,356 for speech, language pathology and audiology services.
• Friends of Delaware County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) - $15,000 for the court-appointed special advocates program.
• Girl Scouts - Seal of Ohio Council - $45,000 for the Girl Centered Learning youth development program.
• HelpLine of Delaware & Morrow Counties - $173,682 for information and referral services, the Connections Volunteer Center, and violence prevention program.
• Heritage Day Health Centers - $40,000 for adult day care services.
• Legal Aid Society - $18,941 for civil legal assistance to low-income persons.
• Liberty Community Center - $291,500 for early childhood day care.
• Marion Shelter - $35,000 to support homeless shelters.
• People in Need - $238,760 for emergency assistance, food pantry and the Holiday Clearing House.
• Recovery & Prevention Resources of Delaware and Morrow Counties - $82,637.50 for substance abuse education and treatment; adolescent intervention programs; and prevention and community education programs.
• Salvation Army - $81,000 to support a transitional housing program.
• Senior Citizens, Inc. - $38,700 for Senior Clubs that enrich the lives of senior citizens.
• Senior Services for Independent Living - $96,000 for independent living assistance to the elderly.
• Turning Point - $90,766 for advocacy services for victims of domestic violence.

Three new agencies - Directions for Youth & Families, Maryhaven, and Concord Counseling - are among the list of supported partners for the new fiscal year, while prevention and community education programs will have a tightly targeted focus.

"We're always looking for programs that have the greatest impact on both individuals' lives and the community as a whole," Kreuchauf said. "With limited funding, we continually make tough decisions regarding how funds are used. For instance, this year in prevention and community education, only programs that specifically target at-risk populations will be supported."

"This community is so good to support the growing human and social service needs," Kreuchauf added. "Our donors understand the importance of giving, volunteering and advocating, the vital combination that we call 'Live United.'"

newsroom@delagazette.com