“We have seen the tremendous generosity of so many individuals, families and businesses in the region this fall, but despite that, we were not able to reach our goal in 2011 alone,” said Trettin. “We now feel it is in the best interest of our partner agencies to actively campaign through the first quarter of 2012. We do not want to have to cut community grants to agencies that are helping so many in need at this time.”

“By continuing to actively campaign in 2012, it will allow us to explore opportunities, that due to increased volume with a county-wide campaign, we haven’t had the chance to visit yet,” said UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson. “We owe it to our partner agencies and all the people who benefit from their programs and services to press on toward meeting our county-wide need.”

“Upon completing the work of our annual volunteer-led Community Investment Review, we are confident that the UWMC will again partner with outstanding agencies in 2012,” 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 in October,” 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 40 agencies/programs to be funded by the UWMC in 2012.

Emergency and Basic Needs:

The Salvation Army-Northern Division

Heartland Community Action – Emergency Housing program

McLeod Emergency Food Shelf

Common Cup – Community Meals project

Common Cup – Backpack Feeding project

Health and Human Services:

McLeod Public Health Nursing – Car Seats program

McLeod Public Health Nursing – Universal Contact program

McLeod Treatment Programs – Group Homes

McLeod Treatment Programs – Visitation Exchange

Mental Health of Minnesota – Mental Health Advocacy program

McLeod Alliance for Victims of Domestic Violence – Community Advocacy

Safe Avenues – Outreach Sexual Assault program

Safe Avenues – Emergency Safe Shelter

 Child Development:

Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education – Youth Services

Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education – Adaptive Recreation

Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education – Senior Programming

Crow River Arts – Yearly programs

Hutchinson School District – ECFE – Baby Steps program

Hutchinson School District – ECFE – Childcare Connection program

Crow River Area Youth Orchestra – Concert program

Girl Scouts of Minnesota & Wisconsin River Valleys – Leadership Experience

Northern Star Council – Boy Scouts of America – Prepared for Life

Glencoe-Silver Lake School District – Early Childhood Family Education

McLeod County 4-H – Youth Activities program

Civil Air Patrol – Cadet Program

Friendship Ventures – Residential and Creative Options program

United Way of McLeod County – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Community Development:

Crow River Habitat for Humanity

Adult Training and Habilitation Center

Courage Center – Rehabilitation Continuum

West Central Industries – Employment Services program

Compassionate Friends

The Arc United – Family Support and Advocacy program

The Arc United – Sibshop program

Parent Connection – Parenting Classes

Parent Connection – Summer Fun program

Parent Connection – In-home Skills Counseling program

Lutheran Social Services – Caregiver/Respite program

Lutheran Social Services – Senior Nutrition program

MEADA of McLeod County – Raising Teens Together project

“We are so grateful to our donors that we have been able to distribute $142,550 in community investment grants this year,” 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 is currently in the midst of its 50^th annual campaign. 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.

Click Here for Ticket

Wednesday, October 5th, from 5-9 p.m
1040 Hwy 15 South
Hutchinson, MN

“We want to thank the generous individuals and businesses that made this initiative a success,” said Sanken. “We hope that these items come in handy for the nearly 150 National Guard troops from our region.”

“After gathering the collection boxes from the 19 sites around McLeod County, it was amazing to see it all assembled in our office,” said Executive Director Paul Thompson. “It took our volunteers three days to sort through all of the items and get them prepared for mailing. In the end, we sent 51 flat rate boxes and an additional five 30-plus pound crates. Thanks to everyone who donated items, or money to off-set the shipping costs.”

Military Care Package - United Way board members Ron Johnson (left), Jes Grandgenett (right) and Bonnie Fimon (background) sort through some of the 2,900 donated items.

“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.

“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

“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. As an integral part of McLeod County, United Way advances the common good by supporting programs in the areas of: emergency and basic needs services, health and human services, child development and community development.

The UWMC is part of a network of 1,240 United Ways. Each local United Way must complete the requirements annually in order to retain its United Way Worldwide membership.

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

“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.