Tuesday, September 12, 2006 was the official start of United Way of Central Virginia’s 2006 Campaign. This year’s campaign marks United Way’s 85th year of caring for the community’s most critical human services needs and the beginning of a shift in focus from a primarily fundraising organization providing funding to local non-profits to an organization actively involved in evaluating community needs and defining and bridging the gap between funds raised and needs that remain unmet.

Additionally, United Way is bringing local agencies and partners together to discuss the problems of the community through roundtable discussions centered on data collected in United Way’s Community Needs Assessment. This assessment addresses United Way’s four Community Focus Areas: Successful Children and Youth; Strengthened Families and Individuals; Independent and Healthy Individuals; People in Crisis Receive Help. Discussions are currently underway with the goal of painting a clear picture of the state of our community’s needs and determining the most effective ways to meet these needs.

While United Way’s 2005 Campaign was a great success, having raised $3.5 million and serving over 100,000 people, we were still unable to meet the needs of thousands more children, families, adults, and seniors in Central Virginia. It is due to this fact that United Way of Central Virginia has chosen to shift the focus of its 2006 Campaign from dollars raised to the number of people who will receive much needed help thanks to the support of the community. By raising public awareness of the gap between what is raised and what needs remain unmet, United Way hopes to provide additional funding to local non-profits, thus serving more people.

The 2006 Campaign Goal has been set at $3.7 million. Currently, United Way helps fund 62 regional human service programs at 31 non-profit organizations, enabling them to provide safe, affordable, and effective care for families, children, and individuals in the cities of Bedford and Lynchburg and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell. But the need to expand services in order to help more people is great, and funding is a major challenge that hinders such growth.

It is critically important that we keep our community informed of the large gap that exists between what United Way is able to fund and what human service needs remain unmet. To bridge this gap we must appeal to every citizen in Central Virginia for their financial support as well as provide them with more giving options–in addition to our annual campaign–in order to better meet their philanthropic goals. One such option is our ability to take donations online through United Way’s Click ‘n’ Give service.

- Marc Jordan, President & CEO

In recognition of United Way of Central Virginia’s 85th anniversary, special giving opportunities are available for people who wish to further support the human service needs of Central Virginians, in addition to contributions made to the annual campaign. Such opportunities include an Endowment Fund and Special Anniversary Gifts. For more information on these giving options, please contact Marc Jordan at (434) 455-6901.

For campaign highlights and progress, click here.

Funding Statistics

• In 2005, 1 out of every 2.2 people in Central Virginia received help from a United Way Member Agency, however only 1 out of every 9.6 people employed in Central Virginia gave to United Way.

• 5% of Central Virginia’s population supports many, but not all, of the critical human service needs of 46% of the population.

• $5 per week ($260/year) provides 73 low-income individuals with dental assistance.

• $10 per week ($520/year) provides a healthy daily meal and companionship for 14 older adults.

• $20 per week ($1,040/year) provides 63 children with quality child care allowing low income adults to work toward self sufficiency