I want to add a rousing “amen” to the views expressed in the editorial, “Reach out with United Way” (Sept. 11). I worked as a loaned executive on the last two campaigns, calling on companies in search of corporate gifts and helping them run their campaigns. I also was able to see our local United Way at work from the inside and to learn about and visit some of the 450-plus agencies that receive United Way allocations.
The thing that impressed me most was the good work being done by small agencies I’d never heard of. Some of these lesser known agencies don’t have the dollars or the staff to run big fund-raisers. They depend on small groups of supporters and the dollars from United Way to round out their slim budgets.
It’s become commonplace in recent years to put down the communitywide “united” or combined appeals. People want to make sure the money is really “doing good.” That’s great, but don’t let it boomerang on the small, well-run agencies.
If you really want to know where your United Way contributions are going, wait until the campaign is over and call United Way. Ask if they can arrange a self-guided tour of some of the agencies you’ve never heard of that provide services in which you are interested.
