Local Issues, Local Leadership

A Catalyst for Change - Many people think United Way is nothing more than a fund-raising organization, but - in reality - we are a vehicle the community uses to improve itself.

Under the direction of an all volunteer Board of Trustees drawn from Marion County's public and private sectors, we are a separately incorporated 501(c)3 charity that operates independently of other United Way chapters found throughout the United States. This enables us to identify and address issues that matter most to the people of Marion County.

Raising Funds simply gives us tools to effect the changes our donors and volunteers wish to see in the community. Our primary aim is to make the most of the resources contributors entrust to us.

Locally, there are many worthwhile and competing causes. Needs always seem greater than funds available to meet them. A panel of United Way volunteers - the Community Investment Committee - reviews individual program costs and benefits with each of our agency partners, weighs competing requests and recommends how to divide up contributions to achieve the greatest impact. This recommendation serves as the basis for our annual campaign goal and outlines how proceeds from the fund drive will be used in the coming year.

At Work Year 'Round, United Way of Marion County bills and collects pledge payments, disburses and tracks funds, assesses needs of the community and partner agencies, and seeks to ensure that services are not duplicated within our family of agencies.

Your United Way serves as the local administrative agent for FEMA. Plus, we participate in Marion County's Family & Children First Council, and EnVISIONing the 21st Century.

Historically, Marion's County-Wide Campaign dates back to Depression times. It started in 1936 when, despite financial hardships, the people of Marion County pulled together as "The Crusade Foundation" to raise money on behalf of the Salvation Army, as well as local Boy and Girl Scout programs. This tradition has since been handed down across several generations. Over time, the organization has been known by other names, such as United War Chest, Community Chest, United Appeals and United Community Services, before becoming United Way of Marion County in 1972. The list of agency partners has grown from three to twenty, but the basic concept has remained the same; together, UNITED, we can inspire hope and create opportunites for a better tomorrow. That's what it means to LIVE UNITED.