The United Way of The River Cities works with Marshall University SGA and Faculty Senate

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United Way Story

10-14-2010

By: Trevan J. Hannahs

        

          The United Way of The River Cities executive said Thursday the 2010 goal for United Way fundraising is community outcomes and change, not a figure.     

            Laura Gilliam the execute director of the United Way said the opportunity to speak was a “win-win.”

            The SGA and Faculty Senate hosted a luncheon for students in the John Marshall Room of the Student Center Thursday for The United Way.

            Cassey Bowden who serves as the director of resource development and marketing for the United Way was also in attendance Thursday. 

             Most people hear about the United Way thinking the ultimate goal is raising money and trying to better the percentage of donors from the area. As Bowden pointed out on Thursday this is not the case. 

            “You ask what the fundraising goal is this year? It is to increase our donor base by 15 percent, 1.25 million, however, we would prefer that you focus on our goals as in community work.” said Bowden.

            According to Gilliam, the United Way supports a safety net in the community trying work collaborate with three organizations within the area to produce a better outcome.

            The organizations listed are: Success by 6, Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention and Financial Stability.

            She believes groups working together for a common goal produce a better outcome.  The United Way has been a successful organization since 1922.  

            In the past year the organization has put together events to help achieve the goal of a greater community outcome in Huntington.  The 2^nd Annual WV 5K Championship Race/ Walk in June and the Out on the Town w/ United Way in September were two of the fundraisers.

            Both events raised considerable amounts of money and offered something more than the value of the dollar for the community.

            The value of building relationships and bettering the community, was and will be the real fundraiser for the organization past, present and future. 

            The message Gilliam and Bowden left students on Tuesday was the idea of money for the organization, “ Is a means to the end.”

            Bettering a community can last a lifetime.

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