Live United campaign also emphasizes volunteering

As Grand Valley's annual United Way campaign approaches, organizers  are emphasizing a theme of interconnectedness through the national Live United campaign. That campaign encourages people to not only give money, but also volunteer and advocate -- to be an active part of the change they want to see in the community.

Grand Valley’s United Way campaign runs October 1-15. United Way impacts the community through the work of agencies that provide direct services to people. It also works to influence the community through supporting education, income and health.

Campaign co-chair Jon Jellema spoke about what the Live United theme means to him. “As a youngster I was taught to give some of what I had to others who had less,” he said. “That childhood lesson makes even more sense as I’ve grown older and become more conscious of the needs in our community. I support United Way because it is a responsible, accountable agency addressing some of our community needs in an organized, targeted, efficient way.”

Marlene Kowalski-Braun, the campaign’s other chair, said she Lives United by working on the annual United Way campaign. “I know that the there are many needs that go unmet and unheard in our community,” she said. “In response, United Way finds ways to better coordinate services and to distribute funds where they are needed most. Without the campaign, there are many agencies that could not operate.”

Kowalski-Braun added that United Way’s community investment fund “allows a group of committed citizens to look at the needs in our community and make wise decisions on where dollars are allocated.  United Way helps us to look at the community more holistically and distribute money where it is needed most.”

One way that United Way is able to look at the community is through calls to its 211 service. In 2007, Heart of West Michigan’s 211 service received 67,000 calls. Among the most common requested services were housing and shelter, food, health care, volunteer opportunities, utilities, free tax preparation, services for people with disabilities, substance abuse services, after-school programs, child abuse and neglect, senior services, and more.

Nationally the Live United campaign is geared toward advancing the common good and changing systems to the benefit of all — helping children succeed in school, helping make families financially stable and helping improve people’s health. United Way’s goal is to create long-lasting changes by addressing the underlying causes of these problems.

“It is increasingly apparent that the basic building blocks of a good life — a quality education, stable income and good health – are beyond the reach of too many individuals and families,” said Brian A. Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way. “We need to ignite a new social movement and begin to develop new partnerships and strategies which will create opportunities for a better life for all people.”