[ back ]
Green Mountain United Way: Creating Community Impact
(by Daniel L. Pudvah, President and Chair of the Board - August 20, 2008)
Green Mountain United Way: Creating Community Impact
Editor:
Green Mountain United Way provides program funding support for 22 service organizations throughout central Vermont and the three northeast counties. We have also been instrumental in building coalitions that address the needs of these communities. Through this work we serve over 22,000 people annually! The efforts we undertake to mobilize the strengths of our communities to effect positive results are critical. This work is carried out through a model called community impact.
We have been transitioning to this model with our agencies over the last several years and we have received positive feedback about this model change as we address identified needs in our communities.
Our mission is “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.” To meet this mission a very careful review of State and other local organizations’ research was carried out to determine how United Way can best utilize its resources to make positive lasting changes in the lives of our region’s residents.
In 2005, the Green Mountain United Way partnered with the Central Vermont Medical Center, Vermont Department of Health, and other health based organizations in forming the Central Vermont Coalition for Health to address health issues. The Coalition emphasizes wellness activities and works to raise awareness in order to reduce increases in chronic disease. It organized a major forum to coordinate these efforts and its work continues through several task forces.
Another example of Green Mountain United Way’s commitment to improving identified community challenges is our instrumental work with the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce in convening the Central Vermont Economic Collaborative. This Collaborative has been focusing on the need for increased housing options and working to fully understand the full spectrum of community needs in housing. The Collaborative has also identified several other major economic topics, which need to be more robustly addressed.
The Community Impact model is evolving and is making progress to reduce duplication of services and addresses in a more focused way the priorities communicated to us through the assessment process. We also receive feedback from donors who appreciate the good stewardship of their precious charitable dollars. We appreciate the generosity of our many donors for choosing to help their neighbors through the Green Mountain United Way.
We welcome input and invite those interested in getting involved in community impact efforts to email us at gmunitedway@madriver.com or visit our website www.gmunitedway.org.
Daniel L. Pudvah, President and Chair of the Board
Green Mountain United Way
Montpelier,
[ back ]
