The United Way Board of Directors approved funding for 18 Funded Agencies at its 2014 February 26 Board meeting. A total of $753,250 was allocated to provide core funding for these human service agencies which align with United Way’s three focus areas: All that kids can be, From poverty to possibility and Strong communities.
Tony Walsh, the board president for the United Way of Chatham-Kent, said “it was a tough year
“We are grateful for the folks in C-K that donated. We have a lot of folks in need of the funded agencies and not a lot of people that are able to give,” he said.
United Way’s Community Investment Chair, Tim Weller, said, “The process was especially difficult this year. The campaign fell $200,000 short of last year’s outcome, which meant we had fewer dollars in the Community Fund to invest in our local programs and services that make such a difference in people’s lives.
Many agencies may struggle to support their clients at the same level as they have previously. The volunteers did the best they could with the dollars that were available.”
When notified of their funding for 2014-2015 program year, Lori Gall at the New Beginnings, ABI and Stroke Recovery Association stated, “We were prepared for a decrease in funding, knowing the shortfall in the campaign was significant. We will tighten our belts, and make the very best of the funding from United Way that we can. Going forward, we will increase our efforts to tell our clients, their families and our networks how important United Way funding is to our organization, in fact all of the agencies in the United Way family, and encourage them to support the 2014 campaign.”
United Way has exercised due diligence in preparing for fundraising challenges in a difficult economy.
Walsh said, “In the past, when we have had successful campaigns, the Board set aside funds to help in a campaign shortfall. It made sense to draw out funds this year to make up some of the difference between what agencies received in 2013-2014, what they requested for 2014 2015 and what our fundraising campaign had to allocate. As difficult as this allocation process was, we are very grateful to those donors who continue to believe in the work of United Way.”
“With combined fundraising and administration costs representing approximately 20% of the overall campaign achievement of $1,850,000, the balance of funds have been earmarked for United Way programs focused on poverty reduction, youth engagement and community building initiatives within the three focus areas,” said Walsh. “In addition, these programs include support for the Tilbury Information and HELP Centre, Wallaceburg Information and HELP Centre, Volunteer and Information Chatham-Kent, “The 425” Centre for Community Innovation … and dozens of non-member charities named through United Way’s Donor Choice Program. A complete breakdown of these costs will be outlined in the organization’s audited financial statements – to be presented at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 2014 APR 30.”
Approved agency funding is as follows:
- AIDS Support Chatham-Kent $ 34,350.00
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chatham-Kent $ 92,600.00
- New Beginnings, ABI and Stroke Recovery Association $ 31,350.00
- C.N.I.B. $ 40,000.00
- Canadian Hearing Society $ 24,350.00
- Canadian Mental Health Association $ 29,350.00
- Chatham-Kent Block Parent Program Inc. $ 29,600.00
- Chatham-Kent Family Y.M.C.A. $ 19,350.00
- Chatham-Kent Student Nutrition Program $ 29,150.00
- Chatham-Kent Children’s Services $ 37,350.00
- Epilepsy Support Centre $ 16,000.00
- Family Service Kent $122,350.00
- Learning Disabilities Association $ 89,350.00
- Restorative Justice Chatham-Kent $ 26,525.00
- Sidestreets Youth Drop-In Centre $ 27,625.00
- The Solid Rock Café Youth Centre $ 39,600.00
- VON Chatham-Kent $ 64,350.00
