What is a Community-Impact Agenda? Why do we have one?
A Community-Impact Agenda is a shift from the previous, traditional fundraising efforts that supported direct services of "program recipients" exclusively. This new model has expanded to engage, activate and inspire community resources, organizations and individuals to get involved and work together to make positive, lasting changes in community issues.
What exactly does this mean?
It means more than just delivering a hot meal. It means equipping people with the skills necessary to become financially stable.
It means helping others help themselves.It means more than just availability to health care from birth through the senior years. It means tools that aid in navigating the complicated health care system and health care that teaches people to make positive, lifelong choices for themselves.
It means more than just day care. It means ongoing early education and child care programs that are curriculum based. It means quality trained and licensed teachers. It means arming people with education and tools to not only flourish themselves, but also to pass on what they have learned to others.It means more than just raising money.
It means everyone coming together to share interests, build relationships, and utilize talents, expertise, passions and leadership skills to not only improve individual lives, but also to build a stronger community for everyone in Marion County.
How will the Community-Based Agenda work?
There are two Priority Areas that will serve as the focus for our United Way: Homeless School-aged Children and Elder Care Issues.
Over the past year, United Way has created a Leadership and Vision council, a consortium of resources and an action plan to move the needle in a positive direction over time. United Way has also helped the public understand this decision and making the community aware of the problem.
COMMUNITY CARE GUIDE
Recently United Way published a CARE Guide (Community Awareness Resource and Education Guide) that spotlights resources for Housing/Utilities, Food/Clothing, Health/Medical, Transportation, and Money/Jobs. This guide can help you find who to call, and where and when to go if you need help.
If you would like to help eliminate the problem of homelessness among school age children and help focus on bringing resources together to assist our elderly, please contact United Way Community Impact VP, Barbara Bombara at 732-9696.
