United Way of Crawford County (UWCC) has a fundraising goal of $315,000 for its 2014 campaign: “It’s time to LIVE UNITED.” The money raised this year will provide the funding in 2015 for a number of programs in Galion, Bucyrus, Crestline, and the rest of Crawford County.
Just a few of the UWCC partner agencies and their programs include Big Brothers/Big Sisters (youth mentorship), Community Counseling (heroin addiction treatment and other programs), CONTACT Crawford County (24/7 assistance hotline), Galion Golden Age Center (senior programs), Goodwill Industries (job readiness), Red Cross (blood & emergency services), Salvation Army (short-term & youth assistance), Scouting scholarships, Turning Point (domestic violence), and food pantries.
Although UWCC programs assist a diverse range of the county’s population, one of the hopes of its director, Amber Wertman, is that UWCC will help to alleviate some of the causes and symptoms of generational poverty in Crawford County.
“If people want help, we’re here to build a relationship…” Wertman asserts. “Our role is in connecting people with services that will benefit them.”
Part of the challenge of her job, Wertman says, is giving people more choices without duplicating services – and informing the public about what’s happening. “Our main focus is awareness,” she states.
During Wertman’s leadership, she has seen a change in allocation of funding. Previously, United Way simply provided funding and partner agencies would implement the allocation, Wertman informs. “Now, we focus more now on how the money is allocated… There is an application that requires partner agencies to share their budget and describe their program, and also to project their long-term impact on the community,” she said.
Wertman points out that local money that is raised for UWCC stays local. “We get no state, federal, or United Way Worldwide funding,” she emphasizes. “And the money given here is used here, not sent to United Way Worldwide administrators.”
“Our United Way Campaign officially ‘kicks off’ on September 2nd and will run through December 31st,” Wertman announces. Some of the events people can attend in support of UWCC include Bob Evans of Bucyrus hosting “Dine to Donate” on Sept. 3 and 4. Attendees must have a flyer.
