United Way of McLeod County Board President Russ Trettin announced today that the organization delivered $76,677 in checks during May, to 35 partnering agency programs. Those checks represent the first half community investment grants for 2013 United Way funding.

“We are so thankful that we were able to distribute $76,677 in allocations following our most recent Community Investment Review,” said Trettin. “Those dollars are being used to fund worthy programs that are making a difference in so many lives in our area at this time.”

The UWMC will kick-off its 2013-14 Campaign in August with a variety of events, including a booth at the McLeod County Fair (August 14-18). UWMC supports programs in the areas of: emergency and basic needs, health and human services, child development and community development. In 2013, the UWMC is funding 35 agencies/programs that support the organization’s mission of impacting the needs of McLeod County by building stronger, healthier communities.

United Way of McLeod County Board President Russ Trettin announced today that the regional non-profit will partner with 35 programs in 2013. The organization recently completed its Community Investment Review for the 2013 funding cycle.

“Upon completing the work of our annual volunteer-led Community Investment Review, we are confident that the UWMC will again partner with outstanding programs in 2013,” said Trettin. “These agencies represent a cross-section of funded programs servicing McLeod County in emergency and basic needs, health and human services, child development and community development.”

“On behalf of the UWMC board of directors and staff, I want to thank the 35 community volunteers and the 60 agency representatives that participated in the Community Investment Review this month,” said Executive Director Paul Thompson. “Annually we see the dedication and professionalism of the agency staff members that present their programs and the sense of community shown by the county-wide volunteers during the interview process.”

Following are the 35 programs to be funded by the UWMC in 2013. Read the rest of this entry »

How you can help -
Simply leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 11, 2013. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. Local letter carriers will then collect donations from homes across the county and deliver them to the McLeod County Emergency Food Shelf.

Why we need your help -
One in eight Americans is struggling with hunger today. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 50 million Americans live in food insecure households, and approximately one in every three of these Americans is a child.

United Way of McLeod County Board President Russ Trettin announced today that the organization received pledges for $262,869 during its 2012-13 campaign. That number represents 99.2% of the $265,000 campaign need. The local United Way kicked-off its fundraising efforts during the McLeod County Fair last August and officially closed the books on its most recent efforts March 31.

Of the $262,869 pledged, a percentage has been designated through donor contributions to UWMC partner agencies, other non-profits, and the organization’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. Of the monies pledged during the most recent effort, 68.2% derives from employee campaigns to be paid to the UWMC over the course of 2013.

“Thanks and gratitude from our board of directors and staff goes out to the individuals, families, small businesses and corporations that gave of themselves in these challenging economic times,” said Trettin. “The 2012-13 campaign proved once again the tremendous generosity of people in this region.”

The $262,869 pledged amount marks the highest total raised in a single campaign since the organization began its work in the area in 1962. In 2011, UWMC partner agencies provided 33,000 units of service to individuals in McLeod County. In the last six years, UWMC campaigns have provided nearly $1,000,000 in community investment to 40-plus agencies providing services and programs in the area.

“While we fell a few thousand dollars shy of the community need in 2012-13, we still met our strategic three-year goal of $775,000 ($257,015 in 2010-11 and $255,500 in 2011-12),” said UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson. “That is great news, knowing that we will be able to continue to fund our partner agencies/programs at the level we had planned.”

United Way of McLeod County Board President Russ Trettin announced today that the 2013 Community Investment Grant application/contracts for non-profit 501c3 organizations will be made available beginning Monday, February 18, and ending Thursday, February 28.

Requests for the 2013 UWMC Community Investment Grant application/contract to be sent electronically can be made via e-mail to unitedw@hutchtel.net.

Additionally, the application & contract may be downloaded below:

2013 Funding Application

2013 Funding Contract

Agencies without access to e-mail or the internet may pick up a copy of the funding application/contract during regular business hours (Monday-Friday between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) at the UWMC office located at 218 Main Street South, Suite 124 in Hutchinson (Hope Center).

All agency Community Investment Grant application/contracts are to be completed and either delivered or mailed back to the UWMC (218 Main Street South, Suite 124, PO Box 504, Hutchinson, MN 55350) no later than Friday, March 29. Applications received after that date will not be considered for 2013 funding. The 2013 UWMC Community Investment Review will be held at the Hutchinson Middle School on Thursday, April 18. Agencies considered for 2013 funding will receive an electronic invitation to the event.

“As an organization, we take seriously the responsibility of allocating donor dollars,” said Trettin. “The application/contract and Community Investment Review processes ensures us that the funds people have entrusted to us, are being used to support appropriate agencies and programs that service all residents of the region.”