The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
United Fund aims to improve quality of life
Norwalk Area United Fund, a non-profit in downtown Norwalk, is getting ready to fundraise for another year of supporting folks in need in the city and surrounding areas.
“We serve three primary areas — Monroeville, Norwalk and Wakeman,” said United Fund Executive Director Pat Krause. “We serve the northern part of Huron County, but many of the services we provide, through our partner organizations and our first-call resources, are county-wide. We don’t discriminate with that.”
Krause said United Fund’s passion for helping others can be traced back to its roots.
“We began back in 1877 as the Lady’s Union Aid Society,” she said. “It was a group of women who saw a need at that time to help local families get through the winter. They collected firewood and food, and they distributed those things. That type of giving and helping the community has extended to the current day.”
Krause said the United Fund seeks to help organizations with their programs.
“Our primary purpose is to fundraise to help our 15 organizations put on 23 programs,” she said. “A lot of the organizations that the community supports through donations are small, and they don’t have the ability to raise those funds. So, that is why the United Fund steps in.
“We are very similar to the United Way, except we don’t pay dues; everything that is raised in this community, stays in this community, which, you know, in small towns is a significant endeavor,” she added. “We have the ability because of our board and volunteers have the opportunity to vet the organizations to make sure they are meeting the needs that have been identified, not just doing a program for the sake of doing the program.”
Krause said the United Fund can really help donors and organizations through its years of expertise.
“A lot of donors want to give, and a lot of people want to support a great cause; this community is incredibly generous,” she said. “But, they don’t always have the time or expertise to really dive into an organization and program and really understand how their money is going to be spent.
“I think that enables donors to get the most bang for their buck,’ she added. “The other thing we do is we really promote a sense of collaboration among our organizations and among the community.”
Krause said their mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities they serve.
“That mission is for everybody; the kid who needs a preschool slot to the elderly person who needs assistance and everyone in between,” she said. “It helps those who don’t have any clout at the table.”
Krause said United Fund has not started fundraising for this year yet.
“We are mailing out information in September for our fundraising to kick off,” she said. “Our calendar year really runs February through January. So, the funds in the spring, we ask the community to come to us and tell us what their needs are. So new organizations to make a large pledge and and existing organizations pay over the course of the that we fund, all year. Our campaign officially non profit, send in an application starts in September, and we vet them. We so that is when we would make recommendations to start that billing process. our board and set the goal “Payroll deduction is also for the year. a part of it...it’s not a mainstay
“In May, we met with all anymore, but many of these folks and determined corporations will still do we needed to retain payroll deduction and then our goal of $390,000 in order the company pays us directly. to provide that service So, there are a lot of and so now we begin the ways to give.” fundraising for that.” Krause said the Unite
Krause said there are Fund also provides first call multiple ways for people to resources. donate. “Part of our function is to
“They can donate online connect people with the resources on our website (www.norwalkareaunitedfund.org),” they need,” she said. “We implemented this program; she said. “On our website, in Lorain County, we have the Paypal connection you have 211. If you call there. They can mail the 211 for Huron County, their checks to the United we have the best handle on Fund office here in Norwalk the various and different resources (2 E. Seminary St., Norwalk that anyone in Huron 44857). County would need, so
“They can also talk with those are all on our website. their financial institution “You can track that stuff about making automatic there or call us (419-6680269) transfers,” she added. “We to learn more about will bill them if they want those services.”
“That mission is for everybody. The kid who needs a preschool slot to the elderly person who needs assistance and everyone in between.”
While a school psychologist often works behind the scenes in all school districts, Ratiba Stillman said the position is more involved than some people may realize.
A psychologist with Norwalk City Schools, she said the position is more than working with special needs students, paperwork and conducting evaluations.
“I’m able to build relationships with the kids and their parents, and that’s probably my favorite part of the job,” Stillman said.
That additional work can include running intervention assistance teams, tending to the mental health needs of students and assisting with academic needs, such as difficulty with reading.
— Pat Krause