United Way of McLeod County Board President Russ Trettin announced that the regional non-profit will have an exhibit booth at the McLeod County Fair, which takes place August 17-21 in Hutchinson. The five-day run of the fair will serve as the kick-off period to the UWMC’s 2011-12 Campaign.

“The county fair is one of the most exciting times of the year for our organization, in that we get a unique opportunity to let people know who we are and where we are going as a United Way in person,” said Trettin. “It’s important to us that people from throughout the region have a chance to stop by our booth and see the agencies and programs we are partnering with and to hear about the services they provide annually to tens of thousands of people in this area.”

“We are thrilled to have the chance to be a small part of the fair for a fifth consecutive year,” said UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson. “Each summer we have tried to do something a little bit different at our booth. This year will be no exception, as we invite preschoolers to visit our Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Reading Nook.”

Trettin announced that the organization would conduct its 2011-12 Campaign in a similar manner to the last few years. The residential, small business, public employees and major firm campaigns will be staggered in monthly increments beginning the week of August 22. McLeod County residents will begin seeing UWMC campaign materials beginning with the August 28, Hutchinson Leader Shopper. Donations to the 2011-12 Campaign can be made through March 31.

United Way of McLeod County Community Impact Committee chair Jacob Sanken announced today that the organization will collect suggested items for Military Care Packages August 12-22. The donated items will be processed and shipped to the local National Guard Unit recently deployed to Kuwait.

“We are so grateful to the men and women serving in our Armed Forces and we wanted to do something to make their deployment overseas a little more comfortable,” said Sanken. “We talked to the folks at the National Guard Armory and got a feel from them as to what soldiers would like to receive in a care package. We hope these items come in handy for the nearly 150 troops from our region making us all very proud.”

The United Way will have collection boxes decorated in white with a yellow ribbon and bow at 19 sites throughout McLeod County beginning Friday, August 12. The Military Care Package drive will continue through the McLeod County Fair, ending on Sunday, August 21. Suggested donation items and convenient collection box locations follow:

Suggested Donation List:

• Car/Air fresheners – Coffee, Coffee-mate (powder creamers) – Powder Gatorade, lemonade drink mixes – 5 x 7 note pads, black pens – Gum, hard candy – Gold Bond Powder, Glide – Wet wipes/baby wipes – Magazines (hunting, motorcycle, cars) – Shower shoes (flip flops) – Shower puffs – White tube sox – Books, DVD’s, CD’s – Humorous items – Trail Mix, granola bars (no chocolate) – Golden Graham crackers – Toilet paper (travel pack)

 Collection Box Sites:

Hutchinson: Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Cash Wise Foods, EconoFoods, Great Clips, Hutchinson Mall, Shopko, United Way of McLeod County, Wal-Mart, 3M (internal drive)

Glencoe: Coborn’s, Pamida, Security Bank & Trust (downtown), UPS (internal drive)

Winsted: Glenn’s Supervalu, Herald Journal Publishing

Lester Prairie: First Community Bank, Prairie Market

Brownton: Security Bank & Trust

Silver Lake First Community Bank

United Way of McLeod County Executive Director Paul Thompson announced today that the organization has successfully completed all of the United Way Worldwide membership requirements by their respective due dates. The requirements include Membership Requirements Certification, and the Database 2 Survey of Total Resources Generated. Over and above the annual requirements, the United Way of McLeod County completed a mandatory organizational self-assessment last November as part of this process.

“The membership requirements must be certified annually in order for us to remain a member of the United Way,” stated Thompson. “It is important for us to maintain high standards of accountability, and this is part of the process to confirm that our operations are transparent and meet or exceed United Way membership requirements.”

The board of the UWMC reviewed and approved the Membership Requirements Certification on June 14. The certification mandates completion of 13 requirements for United Way Worldwide membership along with verification of the status of 56 indicators that a United Way demonstrates the intent of the membership requirements.  (more…)

United Way of McLeod County Board President Jennifer Grimsley announced today that the 2012 Community Investment Grant application/contracts for non-profit 501c3 organizations will be made available beginning Tuesday, July 5, and ending Friday, July 15.

Requests for the 2012 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 beginning July 5, by visiting www.unitedwaymcleodcounty.org. 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, August 12. Applications received after that date will not be considered for 2012 funding. The annual UWMC Community Investment Review has not been scheduled to date, but will be held in September or October. Agencies considered for 2012 funding will receive an electronic invitation to the event.

“As an organization, we take seriously the responsibility of allocating donor dollars,” said Grimsley. “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.”

Click here to download 2012 Funding Application

Click here to download 2012 Funding Contract

United Way of McLeod County Board President Jennifer Grimsley announced today that the organization delivered $52,850 in checks during June, to 36 partnering agencies/programs. Those checks represent the second quarter community investment grants for 2011 United Way funding. An initial round of checks was delivered to agencies in January.

“We are so thankful that we have been able to distribute $97,700 in community investment grants already this year,” said Grimsley. “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 2011-12 Campaign in August with a variety of events, including a booth at the McLeod County Fair (August 17-21). UWMC supports programs in the areas of: emergency and basic needs, health and human services, child development and community development. In 2011, the UWMC is funding 36 agencies/programs that support the organization’s mission of impacting the needs of McLeod County by building stronger, healthier communities.