News-Miner Editorial
Living the united way
Campaign seeks $1.4 million
Published Thursday, September 4, 2008
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Stumble It!Fairbanks enters this fall as the riches of the state’s oil wealth rain down in $3,200 checks for all. Families with just a few kids will collect more than $10,000 before taxes. We seem so lucky, so wealthy.
Not all of us.
Now — just more than a week away from the distribution of those checks — would be a good time to think about our neighbors for whom life’s challenges far overshadow a stack of 3,200 dollar bills.
We can help those folks by contributing to the local United Way of the Tanana Valley, which begins its a $1.3 million fundraising drive on Tuesday.
The state’s Permanent Fund Dividend, with its one-time resource rebate attached this year, will miss many of our less fortunate neighbors or will have little effect on their situations. They are the young families who have arrived in Alaska during the past 18 months and so are ineligible for the money. They are the folks who have judgments against them for whatever reason and so never see the money. They are the families struggling to pay for enormous medical bills or to recover from disasters such as fire or flood. They are the people who struggle daily with disabilities that prevent them from achieving an independent life.
Those of us who are blessed enough not to need the dividend and resource rebate should offer some to those who do, and the United Way offers a method that is convenient, responsible and locally overseen.
The United Way supports services that help people with immediate needs for food, shelter and clothing, through organizations such as the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.
Some of the United Way aid goes toward local nonprofits that help people so they can help themselves, groups such as Alaska Community Services, the Alaska Center for Children and Adults, the Fairbanks Resource Agency, Access Alaska, the Literacy Council of Alaska, the Resource Center for Parents and Children, the Presbyterian Hospitality House, Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption, the Interior Center for Non-Violent Living and Fort Wainwright Army Community Services.
Other United Way agencies focus on making life fun and rewarding for kids — organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Midnight Sun Council of Boy Scouts, the Farthest North Council of Girl Scouts, Camp Fire USA Alaska Council, the Boys and Girls Club and the Eielson Air Force Base Youth Center. The United Way also supports child care services at Eielson and Fort Wainwright.
The United Way helps Hospice of the Tanana Valley provide comforting end-of-life care. It provides funding for the North Star Youth Court, where first-time juvenile criminal offenders can be judged by their peers.
This would be a far different town without these organizations to offer helping hands to those who need them. We should all help extend those hands another year by donating to the United Way.
Community Discussion
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I would like to know what United Ways oporation budget is?
I too am curious, what percentage of the donations goes towards administrative and opperational costs?
From UWTV website: We’re proud of our effectiveness. Ninety percent of your gift goes to help fund community building activities including the services of our 23 member agencies and the collaborative community services provided by United Way. Ten percent of your donation helps to pay for the fund-raising and administration costs at United Way. Thanks to the work of hundreds of volunteers and the generosity of many sponsors, United Way of the Tanana Valley is able to keep our costs extremely low.
The United Way has a small staff who accomplish a lot of work. They also have a dedicated and professional Board of Directors. Good people...good agency...good cause...all for our community here at home.
Why was the United Way singled out for this editorial? There are many worthwile charities in the area. Red Cross, Food Bank, Rescue Mission, just to name a few.
It makes sense to editorialize this annual fundraiser for the United Way. It's a large, meaningful fund raiser that helps a lot of Fairbanks families. The United Way funds 23 member agencies, listed here: http://www.unitedwaytv.com/members.html.
And doesn't the News-Miner provide coverage of other non-profit fundraisers? If you make a polite request, you can usually get news coverage for a community event.
Thanks Rockee, I appreciate your help!
I'll be honest... with so many scams in the world today... I'd like to really be satisfied knowing what i donate actually GOES to the needy and not in the pockets of the people who have the money to live on but are just working for the United Way.
Can anyone prove to me that if I give $100 ..that $100 will go to feed /clothe/pay a bill for a family? until I know that I cannot give what I barely have myself.
JustMe,
As a nonprofit, the United Way is audited and would get into deep (and very public) trouble if there was any wrongdoing. $90 per every $100 goes to nonprofits helping people in our community.
I understand barely having enough. Another way of helping is to volunteer. The United Way has a Volunteer Action Center, and many nonprofits are grateful for the services volunteers provide.
I have been a passionate UW supporter and anonymous donor for over 25 years. I have never regretted supporting our local agency and the people served. I trust its leadership.
Rockee.. thankyou for sharing the info.
I appreciate that very much
I agree with Big Mike.
Furthermore, everything I see printed by the DNM, is suspect. I'm thinking...hmmm, how much of this is actually true?
When I make my decision on how I'll support the "United Way" this year, I'll get my facts from a more reliable source.
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