Most of the people we meet or know in Southeast Alaska are passionate about living in a good community where they can work, recreate and raise their families. Many of these same folks want to get involved and help contribute toward building a strong community but may not know how. That is where the United Way can help. The United Way of Southeast Alaska advances the common good by directing efforts to the building blocks for a good life in focusing on health, education and income stability.
As the umbrella organization for 33 nonprofit agencies across Southeast Alaska, the United Way helps match up needs with agencies that can help and act as the conduit to easily and dependably donate to local charities in your neighborhoods. Your donations will fund worthwhile nonprofits of your choice that directly contribute to improving lives for our family, friends and neighbors.
In the current fiscally austere environment, now more than ever The United Way and its partner agencies need your support to continue providing essential services to those in need. These worthy social support agencies can only be effective if they have the resources to focus on their core missions.
Why should you give your valuable dollars to the United Way?
• It’s easy: Giving through payroll deduction is easy and only has to be done once a year. If you don’t have that option available you can make a donation by check or credit card.
• For impact: Donating small amounts regularly adds up to make a significant difference. One dollar per week provides meals to five individuals in a shelter; $5 per week provides a safe environment for an individual experiencing domestic violence for a month; $10 per week provides activities for five seniors.
• For confidence: There are many needs and even more “asks” United Way has a proven track record so you have confidence that your donation will reach those in need.
• It’s local: There are many national and international charities, but donating through the United Way ensures your donation goes to those in need in your community.
• For choice: You can choose one or several agencies for your donation, you can designate that United Way use the funds for an area of greatest need, or you can have your contribution spread across the community.
In Southeast Alaska, we are all very connected and interdependent on each other. When you consider that one in three people will use a United Way partner agency in their lifetime, that impact becomes very obvious and critically important. The United Way has already positively impacted countless lives of your co-workers, friends and family members but still has plenty more work to do.
The United Way is not only a distributor of funds but also organizes activities that directly benefit individuals and groups. A few notable examples is how the United Way stepped up to facilitate the conversation to bring agencies together to create the Food Coalition allowing organizations to team in providing food to those in need. The United Way also coordinated that Reading Tutors program connecting volunteers with elementary school children to improve literacy among our children. During an annual Day of Caring, The United Way orchestrated local businesses and volunteers to complete much needed projects for local organizations in Juneau and Sitka that could not achieve these results on their own.
Please consider giving to United Way because your gifts build better communities and enhance the quality of life of everyone in Southeast Alaska. We all want to live in safe, healthy and stable communities to work, recreate and raise our families. The United Way helps ensure this goal with your donation. Give today!
Please call (907) 463-5530 or visit www.UnitedWaySEAK.org for more information.
• Warren Russell and Peggy Cowan are the Co-Chairs of the annual giving campaign for United Way.
