United Way Volunteers Make Investment
Decision
May 26, 2004 - At its May 26, 2005
meeting the Greater Ottawa County United Way Board of
Directors approved the Community Investment Panels recommendations
for 2005/06 funding of health and human service programs
in our community. During United Way’s unique community
volunteer driven process, local volunteers decided that
65 programs at 40 local health and human service agencies
are to be funded by the local United Way this year.
“Every year United Way’s Board confidently
relies on these dedicated volunteers to make the difficult
decisions regarding funding of health and human service
programs in Ottawa County,” says George Smart,
Vice President of Finance for Zeeland Community Hospital
and Board Chair for Greater Ottawa County United Way.
“The Board is aware of the outstanding work that
the Community Investment volunteers completed by evaluating
60 plus programs that requested funds. It is not an
easy task; we applaud them for their dedication.”
Nearly 50 volunteers from throughout the community
spent almost 400 hours visiting agencies, reviewing
programs, financial reports, and assessing the impact
that programs have on our community. Volunteers represent
the community where they live and/or work and sat on
panels of their choice based on focuses of United Way
funded programs. Funded programs range in focus from
Helping Kids Succeed and Strengthening Families, to
Fostering Self-Sufficiency, Empowering the Disabled
and Promoting Independence for Seniors. United Way funds
programs within an agency, not the entire agencies themselves.
This allows for more targeted results and measurement
of service.
“On behalf of Greater Ottawa County United Way
and the 65 funded programs, we can’t thank the
Community Investment Volunteers enough for their insightfulness
and commitment to our community,” says Sylvia
Geisler, President of Greater Ottawa County United Way.
“One of the most unique pieces of United Way is
the volunteer driven Community Investment Process. United
Way is only able to be the community driven organization
that it is because of our dedicated volunteers and investors,
thank you.”
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