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 The following are answers to the questions we're most often asked. If you don't find the information you need on this page, please Contact Us .
What is the United Way of Western Orleans County? The United Way of Western Orleans County (United Way of Western Orleans County) is a local, nonprofit organization that has been supporting health and human service programs in our community since 1963. This support is provided with funds raised through an annual community-wide fund-raising campaign that responds to an annual volunteer-driven assessment of problems our community faces. The United Way of Western Orleans County is governed by a local volunteer board of directors. Several hundred other volunteers serve in a variety of programs and activities. The United Way of Western Orleans County is independent of all other United Ways. All decisions are made by the local United Way and money raised in our community stays in our community. What makes the United Way of Western Orleans County so effective? Few organizations are as effective with your contributions as the United Way of Western Orleans County. By working with business, labor, government and human services organizations, the United Way of Western Orleans County is uniquely positioned to have the greatest possible impact on our community's most pressing needs. The United Way of Western Orleans County combines your dollars, your volunteer hours and your best ideas - and focuses them on opportunities to make our community stronger and safer. What's more, because of our extensive use of talented volunteers, more than 85 cents of every dollar you contribute goes directly to help people in need - making United Way of Western Orleans County one of the most cost-effective organizations in the community. At the same time, United Way volunteers encourage agencies to combine their resources to avoid duplication of efforts and provide the best services possible. No other organization gathers the information, does the research, or follows-up as efficiently and effectively as the United Way of Western Orleans County. So when you support the United Way of Western Orleans County, you know that your contributions are making the greatest difference possible - right here in our community. Why give to the United Way of Western Orleans County campaign? You can be sure when you give to the United Way of Western Orleans County that your contribution, when combined with the gifts of others, is working to help solve a wide range of local health and human service problems. United Way of Western Orleans County invests in quality programs that improve the quality of life for everyone in our community - people you know and others you may not know. This assurance is provided through United Way of Western Orleans County's volunteer process of determining community needs, allocating funds that support United Way of Western Orleans County member agencies, and making sure that programs are working as intended. No single charitable contribution can do more to make your community stronger and safer. How much of my contribution stays in the Western Orleans area? United Way of Western Orleans County receives support and provides help in Medina, Lyndonville, Shelby, and Knowlesville of Western Orleans County. So your gift goes far, but not far away. In fact, more than 85 cents of every dollar stays right here in Orleans County. What does the United Way of Western Orleans County do besides raise money? The United Way of Western Orleans County works closely with service providers, governments and other funders to identify health and human service problems in our communities and develops plans to address them. United Way of Western Orleans County also assists nonprofit agencies in recruiting and training volunteers and provides volunteer resources in the area of management and technical assistance, training and board leadership. In addition, United Way of Western Orleans County lobbies for supportive health and human services policies, and it helps create collaborative partnerships to improve the community's capacity to solve problems. If I want to volunteer, who do I call? United Way of Western Orleans County helps the Orleans County Ares. Our Center will try to match your skills with a community project so you can help make a difference. Call (716) 798-5210 to volunteer today. If I need services, where can I get help? United Way of Western Orleans County; Help Line at (716) 798-5210. Who decides what the United Way of Western Orleans County goal should be? Our volunteers. Community needs drive the campaign. Before a campaign goal is set, nearly 100 volunteers research specific needs and requests from our agencies. Even in good economic times, need in the Orleans County Area continues to grow. In fact, our agencies could very efficiently and effectively spend much more than is allocated to them by the United Way. As long as needs continue to increase, the United Way of Western Orleans County will attempt to raise every dollar possible to meet those needs. Does the United Way endorse pressure in its company campaigns? No. It is the position of the United Way of Western Orleans County that contributing is a personal matter. Any semblance of pressure - whether real, implied, or perceived - is contradictory to United Way operating standards. While pressure may produce short-term gains, it invariably results in long-term losses. Does the United Way of Western Orleans County take a stand on abortion? No. The United Way of Western Orleans County is neutral on abortion, and it does not fund agencies involved in this area of service. Planned Parenthood receives some funding from the United Way of Western Orleans County for counseling, HIV, Aids Testing and Rape Crisis Intervention. How much of my contribution actually goes to help people? More than 85 cents of every dollar contributed goes directly to those in need. Administrative cost for the United Way of Western Orleans County are only 9 cents per dollar, which makes the United Way one of the most efficient charitable organizations in our community. The Better Business Bureau standard is 30 cents of administrative costs per dollar raised. The watchdog group National Charities Information Bureau considers no more than 40% of funds raised to be an acceptable level of administrative cost for charitable organizations. The United Way of Western Orleans County is one of the most cost-efficient United Ways in the countries. We can achieve this efficiency because of the commitment of a broad base of individuals and corporations. More than 100 volunteers dedicate their time and skills to the United Way each year. Does the United Way fund the Boy Scouts? Yes. The relationship between the United Way of Western Orleans County and the Boy Scouts of America continues to be strong. The Scouts provide an invaluable service to young people in our community. The United Way does not get involved in setting specific policies of its member agencies, but leaves that to the agencies' volunteer board of directors. What is United Way of America? United Way of America is a national service and training center for local United Ways, much like a trade association in any other industry. Its purpose is to help local United Ways accomplish their mission by doing things which local United Ways cannot do on their own, such as the donated TV spots from the National Football League. Why should I give to to the United Way instead of giving to a single agency? The strength of the United Way system is that one contribution helps programs in 20 vital pre-screened local agencies. Many programs are designed to work together to solve overriding problems that one agency acting alone cannot address properly. Your dollar is strengthened by leveraging many programs to work together to solve larger issues. While it is possible for individuals to direct their contributions to a specific United Way agency, this practice is not encouraged. Who runs the United Way of Western Orleans County? Community volunteers from all walks of life actually run the United Way of Western Orleans County. Their roles vary. The 21 members of the board of directors establish and monitor policy. Nearly 200 marketing volunteers orchestrate advertising, marketing, public relations and special events. Nearly 100 fund distribution volunteers visit agencies and review their programs and budgets before making funding recommendations. About 500 campaign volunteers raise the money. Many others oversee the programs of the 20 agencies. What is United Way of Western Orleans County's relationship with the United Way of America and other United Ways across the country? Our United Way of Western Orleans County is independent of United Way of America and other local United Ways. Our organization is governed by our local volunteers, and decisions made by other United Ways have no impact on decisions made in this area. The United Way of Western Orleans County's relationship remains strong, and the services it provides are very valuable to us. Each year, the United Way of Western Orleans County spends under one percent of its campaign total on various services from the United Way of America.
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