Campaign goal: $280,000

Campaign deadline: March 31st, 2010.

Goal Reached: 80%

After a few years on hiatus, the United Way thermometer is back and currently located in Hutchinson’s Library Square. For decades United Ways across America have used the tool as a community focal point to gauge their annual fall campaigns. Recently however, United Ways began to debate the use of thermometers, as they moved away from a strictly fundraising function to that of community impact. The thought was United Ways do not want to be seen as an organization that covets your money, but instead be known for the lasting partnerships they have built and the good work coming from those relations. (more…)

United Way of McLeod County Board President Jennifer Grimsley announced today that due to the current economic realities, the regional non-profit has extended its current “Fall Campaign” to March 31, 2010. After meeting with its partner agencies in May, the UWMC established a $280,000 county-wide campaign need this fall. Thus far in 2009, the campaign has received pledges of $168,000, or roughly 60% of the goal. Historically, the United Way campaign has ended with each calendar year.  (more…)

A variety of programs work around the clock, every day of the year to assist friends and neighbors with far more than crisis situations, in every segment of our community. Education and prevention are keys to breaking negative cycles, creating lasting changes and taking care of the whole person. Here is a brief look at United Way donor dollars in action on an average day.  (more…)

When I became Executive Director of the Hutchinson Area United Way in November 2006, I had friends who I’d grown up with in town express they were unsure as to United Way’s function, or even local existence. Those statements are not meant to disparage any of the civic-minded people who have volunteered their precious time serving on the organization’s board, or helping with the annual fall campaign dating back to 1962. It’s simply a reality, that despite a lot of people’s best efforts over five decades, a percentage of the region’s population knows little about United Way’s work. That’s not to say their lives have not been affected by our organization, they may just not realize it.

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