United Way OKs distribution of funds
By William K. Alcorn
YOUNGSTOWN
The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley allocated $1,802,619 to area nonprofit organizations and schools for 2011-12.
United Way’s Executive Committee approved the allocations during its meeting Tuesday.
The 2010 United Way financial campaign raised $2,504,164, exceeding its goal of $2.5 million.
A significant amount of the funding is channeled to longtime program partners of United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley, said Laura Lyden, chairwoman of the UW’s Community Impact Committee.
But also, Lyden said, “United Way commits funding to a wide variety of community initiatives that are consistent with its mission of being the driving force behind sustained improvement in the lives of all our citizens, through initiatives that promote education, income, health and community support services.”
“We have made considerable progress toward our goal of becoming an Impact-based United Way that funds according to the needs of our community. In order to achieve this goal, our funding will be directed to service providers who can best provide the programs and services that meet our community’s needs,” she said.
The United Way does not receive funding for program delivery. All funds are distributed back to community agencies and schools that implement proposed solutions to basic community needs,” said Bob Hannon, president of the local United Way.
Examples are providing funds in 2010 to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley to pilot a mobile pantry for Lake Milton. Based on the success of that pilot, Second Harvest received additional funding this year to continue and expand access to food in the western part of the county.
Also, in 2010 with start-up funding from U.S. Rep. Timothy Ryan and support from PNC, United Way implemented the Success By 6 Pre-Kindergarten Readiness Program in school districts in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Based on the success of that pilot program, United Way committed $148,700 to the program for 2011, he said.
Hannon said the $701,545 difference between the amount pledged and the money raised is explained by overhead, such as utilities and equipment, salaries and a $100,000 reserve fund, which is required by United Way World Wide for emergencies.
Also, he said uncollectable pledges were about 4 percent in 2010, which he said is good. At that rate, United Way would lose about $100,000 this year.
The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley Executive Committee approved awarding $1,802,619 to area nonprofit organizations and schools. The 2010 financial campaign raised $2,504,164. The allocations are:
Associated Neighborhood Centers: $62,752.
Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Mahoning Valley: $23,400.
Boy Scouts of America Western Reserve Council: $27,556.
Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown: $17,259.
Burdman Group’s Sojourner House: $85,000.
Catholic Charities: $94,360.
Emmanuel Community Care Center: $6,000.
Family Service Agency: $132,777.
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio: $9,728.
Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries: $87,920.
HandsOn Volunteer Network: $54,566.
Help Hotline Crisis Center: $40,000.
Interfaith Home Maintenance: $53,168.
Jewish Community Center: $12,766.
Jewish Family Services: $34,713.
Millcreek Children’s Center: $28,750.
Neighborhood Ministries: $28,900.
Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic: $61,864.
Potential Development: $74,022.
American Red Cross of the Mahoning Valley: $95,757.
Salvation Army: $68,016.
Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley: $78,400.
United Methodist Community Center (Youngstown): $31,000.
Visiting Nurse Association: $52,000.
YMCA: $102,863.
YWCA: $97,000.
Youngstown Hearing & Speech Center: $31,475.
Success By 6: $148,700.
Community Engagement Initiatives: $26,907.
Designations by donors: $135,000 (donors may designate funds to any 501( c)(3) nonprofit in the area, which are kept separate from the regular allocations).
Source: United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley