Jellema said he hopes Grand Valley donors make a unified effort, noting that in 2004, Heart of West Michigan United Way investments generated an additional $11.7 million from federal, state and local resources. That means ever dollar that was invested last year helped to generate $1.45 in additional resources.
"As an academic community that is part of a larger community, we can make a significant impact," he said. "That's what United Way allows us to do." Jellema is co-chair of the campaign, working with Marlene Kowalski-Braun, director of the Women's Center. Grand Valley faculty and staff will have the opportunity to give to United Way during the annual campaign, which this year runs October 3-14.
Jellema said that donations to United Way are then funneled to the best community service organizations.
"United Way screens the agencies that apply for funds," Jellema said. "Agencies need to demonstrate that they have a solid program that ties in to the community needs. If you pass that screening and get the money, you are held accountable at the end of it."
By giving to United Way, Grand Valley donors can be assured that their gifts will have a huge impact in the local community, Jellema said. And for people concerned about the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the United Way has set up a response fund. Donations to that fund will be allocated for both front-line disaster relief and long-term recovery needs as determined by local United Ways in affected areas.
United Way partners with organizations like the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army and focuses much effort on disaster preparedness and response. Grand Valley employees will be able to designate donations directly to the Katrina Response Fund through convenient payroll deduction. The Heart of West Michigan United Way based in Grand Rapids has set aside $20,000 for the Katrina relief effort.
"People in West Michigan tend to be very generous people. They're generous with their time and they're generous with their money, so long as they know that it's going toward a specific good," Jellema said.
Jellema came to Grand Valley in 1972 as a visiting professor of English education and has held a variety of different academic and administrative responsibilities at the university. For six years, he worked in the state Legislature as a representative, and when he returned to Grand Valley he served as dean of the Arts and Humanities division.
Jellema has a long history of public service. While serving as the president of the school board in Grand Haven, he discovered how difficult it was to get assistance for people in need.
"At times it was difficult to get help to kids who needed it," Jellema said. "The kid might need shoes, and that same kid might need dental work and the same kid might have a family that needs counseling."
To help with that, Jellema founded an organization called North Ottawa Area Community Coalition that coordinated agencies to work cooperatively and to make it possible for families to receive the help.
Jellema also served on the board of the Greater Ottawa County United Way, spearheading a county-wide needs assessment survey.
