Paying it forward with United Way
A brief sample of how United Way of Greater Kansas City operates:
Its donations to Literacy Kansas City provided a tutor to a 57-year-old dyslexic woman who couldn’t read. She persevered, now has a GED, and is enrolled in college to become a teacher.
Its help brought a Visiting Nurses Association contact to a hospitalized mother of a critically ill child. That mother is now an a major fundraiser for United Way.
Its donations help domestic violence shelters, low-income health clinics and financial literacy classes for urban teens.
United Way again is counting on the giving nature of this community to prevail over the challenges of lingering high unemployment and a sputtering economic recovery.
The annual fundraising campaign was launched Tuesday at a packed luncheon. Sprint chief executive Dan Hesse and Jay Lind, financial secretary/treasurer for Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 2, co-chair this year’s campaign. It runs through Nov. 15.
Last year’s effort raised $36.2 million, a 3.1 percent increase over the previous year. For the fourth consecutive year, given the economy and anemic consumer confidence, United Way officials set no monetary goal.
Instead they are challenging donors to increase contributions by 5 percent and asking companies to increase the number of donors by 5 percent. The plan worked last year, and it makes good sense to try it again.
“It’s amazing what 5 percent will do to help somebody,” Lind said.
The United Way distributes funds to 142 agencies, which provide 320 programs to improve the health, income and education of people in this community. Donors can count on the United Way to magnify the gifts with an army of volunteers and matching grants.
For information visit unitedwaygkc.org online. Give generously to support needed services.
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