Executive Director's Message

LIVE UNITED™ - Ask. Thank. Inform. Part II

11/1/2008

Six months ago, as part of explaining our LIVE UNITED™ theme, we talked about Ask. Thank. Inform – the core values of this United Way. Much has happened in this community, this state and this world since that piece. Without adding to our collective uncertainty or diminishing our collective hope, now more than ever it is critical for us to remember these values and to LIVE UNITED™ . At the beginning of this crazy season cloaked in holiday trappings, we should not and we cannot forget that we are in this together. Nervous jokes about 401Ks that are now 201Ks aside, the Common Good of our campaign has never needed to be more “common” or more “good” since the economy is such a source of our worries. So how are we doing?

ASK. Well, we have been asking. We are two-thirds of the way through our campaign according to the calendar but only halfway there according to our banker. So we must continue to ask. We ask people who themselves are uncertain about their future. And they respond. They give because, as one of our hosts at a recent corporate presentation said, she as a single mom, could not have had the career that supports her family if it were not for the after school program that was provided for her young daughter. Now she looks back and recognizes that her daughter’s success as well as hers was made possible through a United Way-funded program. Listening to her talk with her coworkers, I was reminded of how important it is to ask so that the community does not lose those programs that are so integral to the health of our working families. So no matter what the calendar says, we will continue to ask until this community is satisfied that we have done our best.

THANK. After we ask, we get the privilege of extending our thanks. Believe it or not, we have been able to do that a great deal. This space does not afford me the opportunity to list everyone who has already helped but here is one of the local achievements. More than two dozen families will be celebrating a holiday much better than they thought because of the efforts of our local hospital and some of our businesses. Working people helping working people and in the process ensuring that a little bit less from one helps give a bit more to another. The “thank you” that this community deserves at this time goes beyond recognizing food baskets and great holiday meals. It encompasses the warmth of a person who does not simply work in this community; they do things to become a part of this community. It’s the difference between geography and presence. While we are talking about “presents,” don’t forget to stop by the Tree of Giving at your mall and take a tag and buy one extra gift for a local child. Children’s needs and wishes are not easy to ignore at this season. Helping to fulfill those serves two purposes, it takes care of an immediate need and teaches those children a lesson about their eventual responsibility as adults. That additional ASK really deserves a big THANKS.

INFORM. Well, I guess that is the point of this whole column. Keeping you informed is part of our community responsibility. That means keeping you informed of what is happening that we are thrilled with as well as reminding you of the things that still are a concern. Last month, I ended by saying that no election, no bailout, no stimulus package will make any of this go away easily. I repeat that caution and add that each of us can and should figure out our own way to LIVE UNITED™.

Helping us to finish this campaign strong is one suggestion. The rest I’ll leave to you.

Call us at 203-235-4403 for a pledge form and join us to LIVE UNITED™ .

10/8/2008
LIVE UNITED™ - The Economy
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12/1/2008
LIVE UNITED™ - Holiday Programs
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