Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
UNITED IN NEED
United Way of Southern Chester County to distribute $800,000 to 22 local nonprofits
KENNETT SQUARE >> United Way of Southern Chester County has raised more than $1 million in cash and pledges, but still needs $71,000 by August to meet its commitment to fund the many local nonprofits that rely on the agency.
That was the message given earlier this week at UWSCC annual board of directors meeting.
“We have successfully distributed more than 10 million dollars to the community over the last 10 years, but we are experiencing major shifts in charitable giving,” said Carrie Freeman, CEO of United Way of Southern Chester County. “The landscape of charitable giving in the United States is in dynamic change as a result of shifts in political, economic, and technological advancements.”
UWSCC hopes to allocate $800,000 in funding. A full 30 percent, or $239,000, will go toward Transitioning to Independence through Education, 45 percent, or $357,000, to Crisis Intervention, and 25 percent, or $203,000, to Promoting Stability.
Some of the 22 nonprofit agencies targeted for funding are the Adult Liberace Program at Kennett Library ($38,540), the Garage Community and youth Center ($88,820), Kennett Middle’s After The Bell ($24,820), La Comunidad Hispana ($67,740), Tick Tock Early Learning Center ($87,180), Domestic Violence of Chester County ($45,680), Young Moms ($31,660), Family Promise of Southern Chester County (($21,700), and Kennett Area Community Service ($88,540).
John Moriarty, president of the board, said UWSCC has distributed $10 million in funding over the past 10 years.
“We see a growing demand for services and are working hard to keep up with that demand,” he said. “We have implemented new strategic marketing initiatives, but our ability to grow fundraising has been hampered by several factors . This year, our Outof-Area campaign from corporate giving is off nearly $170,000 per year versus 2015, a 24 percent reduction.”
Community members involved in the UWSCC’s allocation process had the difficult task of shaving 21 percent from the total
funding requests for these vital programs.
“We are experiencing major shifts in charitable giving,” Freeman said. “The landscape of charitable giving in the United States is in dynamic change as a result of shifts in political, economic, and technological advancements.”
Traditional United Way
channels to solicit contributions through large corporate campaigns have become less effective as employee careers are increasingly mobile. Additionally, corporate campaigns are evolving from traditional annual corporate events to year-round giving platforms. These changes have created the need to focus on strengthening relationships directly with individual donors as well as local businesses and community organizations. The use of technology and
social media platforms has become more important and an increased emphasis for UWSCC.
“The ‘needs’ in our local community have continued to grow,” said Rick Bond, UWSCC’s incoming Board President. “Chester County is one of the most expensive places to live in Pennsylvania, and our lower-income families struggle to afford local housing and other basic needs. These people turn to our local agencies for help, and those agencies
turn to United Way to fund their programs. We are asking the local community, both individuals and businesses, to join the challenge and help meet these growing needs.”
“In order to achieve our mission of moving people from crisis to independence, we need full engagement of the caring power and resources of the community,” Ms. Freeman says. “We thank those supporting the community today and hope to make participation
and donation easier for those interested in making southern Chester County a great place to live for all its residents.
“Sign up at our website (www.unitedwayscc.org) to receive inspirational monthly videos on local people being helped through our wonderful nonprofit agencies,” said. Freeman. “Learn about our community and its needs on our FacebookTM page (unitedwayscc). Look for us, like us, and definitely donate. You
can give online at www.unitedwayscc/give or mail us at 106 West State St, Kennett Square, PA 19348.”
UWSCC serves the needs of residents living in four school districts: Avon Grove, Kennett, Oxford, and Unionville-Chadds Ford. More than 18,000 people received support from UWSCC last year through 26 programs from 18 local nonprofits. “Together, as a giving community,” said Freeman, “we can accomplish things that no one person could.”