United Way thrives on Ozarks' 'caring power'

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When the United Way of the Ozarks set out to raise $3.3 million during this year's public campaign, "can't" wasn't in anyone's vocabulary.|ret||ret||tab|

Those involved with the campaign knew they could count on people in the Ozarks to come through for the United Way and its 28 member agencies. And come through, they did. Not only was the campaign goal met, but set a record with $5,938 above the goal.|ret||ret||tab|

"We had a lot of confidence," said Jack Stack, CEO of SRC Holdings Corporation who co-chaired the campaign. |ret||ret||tab|

"We put our resources in the right spots. We were just a very confident group of people, and we did not dwell on any negativity whatsoever," Stack added.|ret||ret||tab|

Tim Bellanti, vice president of Associated Wholesale Grocers, co-chaired the campaign and KYTV's Ned Reynolds served as spokesperson.|ret||ret||tab|

Campaign workers focused on the United Way member agencies who might have to make budget cuts if the campaign goal wasn't met, Stack said.|ret||ret||tab|

United Way president John Rush said he wasn't surprised with the campaign's success, which ran from Sept. 12 to Nov. 7. "We set the goal and intended to make it. We thought we would do well, and we did do well."|ret||ret||tab|

United Way groups in other cities did not fare as well as the United Way of the Ozarks, Rush said. Several United Way organizations, he said, missed their goals by a large margin.|ret||ret||tab|

Job cuts played a key role in other cities not reaching their United Way goals.|ret||ret||tab|

"When large donor companies like Sprint in Kansas City or TWA in St. Louis have layoffs, it's a big loss to the community and to the United Way," Rush said, "and we didn't experience those kinds of losses here in Springfield."|ret||ret||tab|

Corporate gifts were down in other areas, too. |ret||ret||tab|

"It's hard to give to charity when you're laying off people," Rush said.|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield is a service economy, according to Rush, so it didn't take the kinds of hits other Missouri cities did. "We're kind of an economic island," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Much of the money raised during the United Way campaign about 70 percent comes from individual giving, which includes payroll deduction. The rest comes from things like corporate giving, foundations and special events.|ret||ret||tab|

The money raised by the United Way of the Ozarks is distributed to the 28 member agencies, which include local health and human service agencies and "programs dedicated to strengthening families, nursing children and youth, fostering independence for seniors, promoting health and wellness, and increasing self-sufficiency for individuals and families," according to the United Way.|ret||ret||tab|

One organization helped by United Way funds is Boys & Girls Town of Missouri.|ret||ret||tab|

"The United Way gives us the single largest contribution for the operation of the Boys & Girls Town emergency shelter," said Trudy Pischer, director of development for Boys & Girls Town. The emergency shelter is open 24 hours and serves children who are removed from dangerous and life-threatening situations.|ret||ret||tab|

It's not easy to raise money for operations, Pischer said, "but if you don't have money for those things, you don't have a program."|ret||ret||tab|

Boys & Girls Town depends on the United Way to keep the emergency shelter program going, and to provide items such as books, toys and clothing that they otherwise might not be able to obtain, Pischer said.|ret||ret||tab|

There are two ways organizations can get money from the United Way, according to Rush. The first is through membership, which Rush said is the most common and the most consistent funding. The second is through grants, which are considered temporary funding and which are available both to members and nonmembers. For example, when Lakes Country Rehabilitation was broken into and some equipment was destroyed, the United Way gave the facility $500 to replace it.|ret||ret||tab|

The United Way of the Ozarks employs 10 people and is overseen by a local board of directors. |ret||ret||tab|

The board is independent and establishes policies and determines how resources are distributed, according to the United Way.|ret||ret||tab|

Donors are involved in the allocation of funds. Each year 160 volunteers meet in seven or eight panels, Rush said, and each panel will meet with three to five agencies. "They'll look over their budget and program and do an onsite visit."|ret||ret||tab|

The panels then make recommendations to an executive committee comprised of panel chairpersons and chair of agency relations and donations, Rush said. From there, the recommendations go to the board of directors for final approval.|ret||ret||tab|

Nationwide, the United Way system includes approximately 1,400 community-based organizations. |ret||ret||tab|

Each is independent, separately incorporated and governed by local volunteers.|ret||ret||tab|

The United Way got its start in Denver in 1887 when religious leaders founded the Charity Organizations Society, which planned and coordinated local services and conducted a single fund-raising campaign for 22 agencies.|ret||ret||tab|

The nation's first modern community chest was organized in Cleveland in 1913, where a program for allocating campaign funds was developed.|ret||ret||tab|

Five years later, executives of 12 fund-raising federations met in Chicago and formed the American Association for Community Organizations, the predecessor to United Way of America.|ret||ret||tab|

By 1948, more than 1,000 communities had established United Way organizations.|ret||ret||tab|

The United Way of the Ozarks dates back to 1930, "when a special committee of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce perfected a plan for a community chest," according to the United Way. On Oct. 13, 1930, the Springfield Community Chest Inc. elected a 28-member board of directors.|ret||ret||tab|

By 1952 the campaign was known as the Community Chest Red Cross Campaign. The name was changed to United Way of the Ozarks in 1979.|ret||ret||tab|

Rush continues to be amazed at the continued generosity of people in the Ozarks. The mission of the United Way is "to improve people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities." |ret||ret||tab|

The caring power is strong in the Ozarks, Rush said. Not only was the campaign goal exceeded, but also the United Way's annual Day of Caring this year saw an unbelievable response by volunteers. More than 1,500 people helped out for a day in member agencies. Rush said that volunteer spirit reflects on a community.|ret||ret||tab|

"One expression of how a community takes care of itself is the United Way," Rush said. "If you've got a healthy United Way, you've probably got a healthy community."|ret||ret||tab|

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