July 7, 2010 — The Greenwich United Way Board of Directors has approved nearly $2,000,000 million in
distributions for programs in 2010-2011 to help meet the health and human service needs of the Greenwich community.
According to Greenwich United Way President Stuart Adelberg, this commitment represents the vast majority of the
funds that will be invested locally as a result of contributions made through the Greenwich United Way's 2010-2011
community-wide fund-raising campaign beginning this September. The $1,970,000 represents a slight increase of
approximately 1% more than this year.
In committing these funds in the midst of an uncertain economy, the Board continued the organization's long tradition
of generosity in helping those less fortunate, even in challenging times. Board Chair Mary Lee Kiernan spoke for all
the Greenwich United Way Directors in saying "We have just completed one of our most challenging years, yet we were
truly gratified by the response of United Way contributors. As we continue to operate in an extremely difficult
economic environment, we recognize that local agencies and those they serve need our help even more than they have in
the past. We understand that an increase in Greenwich United Way support is most critical when times are tough."
The $1.97 million will be distributed among 25 organizations to provide specific services available to the
Greenwich community. Funding levels for these particular programs were determined by twenty-five volunteers
serving on the Community Investment Committee. They spent months reviewing proposals from local agencies,
visiting program sites and deliberating on the most compelling requests and effective uses for Greenwich United Way
funds. They were guided by documentation of local needs as published in the United Way's most recent Assessment of
Human Service Needs and State of Greenwich Statistical Report. The United Way Community Planning Council is currently at work on the 2010 comprehensive study that will be released later this year.
The Community Investment Team's funding recommendations were presented to the Greenwich United Way Board for approval by Committee Chair and Board member, Sandy Herman who reported: "Our volunteers fulfilled a difficult responsibility of weighing each program and analyzing its contribution to the entire system of services to best address pressing community needs. I am confident that decisions were based on sound judgment; while all program funding requests were completely worthy, the group remained focused on effectively addressing our community's most critical needs."
The Board approved the Committee's recommended distribution of $787,375 for programs that Strengthen Children and Families. Local agencies that provide services in this category include the Boys and Girls Club, Child Guidance Center, Family Centers, the Girl Scouts, Liberation Programs, the Greenwich Family Y, and Banksville Community House.
$464,000 was approved for services that Assist Individuals in Crisis, including the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, Family Centers, the Greenwich Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Child Guidance Center, Kids in Crisis, the Shelter for the Homeless, the Sexual Assault Crisis and Education Center, and the Domestic Abuse Service of the YWCA.
$500,324 will be distributed to programs that Promote Self-Sufficiency, including Community Centers, Inc., Abilis (formerly ARC), the Transportation Association of Greenwich (TAG), Pathways, Literacy Volunteers and the Urban League.
The $153,500 allocated for services that Support Seniors will be distributed among organizations including Greenwich Adult Day Center, TAG, Jewish Family Services, Greenwich Family Y, and Lifeline.
An additional $64,000 will be invested in Core Services offered by Community Answers, Infoline/211 and the Volunteer Center of SW Fairfield County, to support around the clock information and referral and volunteer recruitment/placement/training.
Well Over $2.5 Million to be Invested in Total this Year
This round of community investment does not include approximately $500,000 in additional funds that the organization will invest locally in other ways, including the Greenwich United Way Early Childhood and Youth Services Initiatives, Agency Support Efforts, Community Impact Initiatives, Critical Needs Grants that will be distributed later in the year, and an additional sum directed to specific agencies by individual donors. In total the United Way anticipates putting well over $2.5 million to work in the community throughout the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2010.
Begun in 1933 as the Community Chest and Council, the Greenwich United Way has grown to become the largest local non-government source of funding for local health and human service programs. For over 75 years the community has relied on its leadership and expertise in researching and identifying local needs, driving planning efforts, bringing constituencies together to develop effective solutions, and raising the funds to implement them.
The United Way has initiated and/or actively supports dozens of programs provided by prominent agency partners. It is estimated that more then one third of the people living in Greenwich benefit directly from the efforts of the United Way's volunteers and donors.
Contact: Susan Ferris
Email: sferris@unitedway-greenwich.com
Phone: 203.869.2221
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