This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

They Prevented 115 Families From Becoming Homeless - What Have You Done Recently?

They also reduced the rates of violence, substance abuse, and anti-social behavior among youth - they are the Middlesex United Way

Patch interviewed Kevin Wilhelm, Executive Director of Middlesex United Way.

Patch: What does Middlesex United Way do?

Wilhelm: Middlesex United Way advances the common good by focusing on the building blocks for a good quality of life - education, income, health and housing. We recruit individuals, organizations and businesses who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to solve problems and get things done. We invite everyone to be part of the change by giving, advocating and volunteering in their local community. 

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Middlesex United Way serves the fifteen towns in Middlesex County, meeting immediate needs and improving community conditions. 

Patch: What are the focus areas?

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wilhelm: Our focus areas are education, income, health and housing because we strongly believe that these are the building blocks that everyone needs for a good quality of life. Our Five Year Goals for the Common Good seek to ensure children's readiness to learn by school entry, economic self-sufficiency for families, reduced rates of risky behaviors, improved health and safety, and the ability to attain safe and affordable housing.

These focus areas and goals reflect the priority concerns of Middlesex County residents. 

Patch: How many individuals volunteer?

Wilhelm: Middlesex United Way staff coordinate more than 900 volunteers who work to advance the common good. Volunteers help us: ensure strong financial management and governance; secure the necessary resources to support our focus areas and Five Year Goals; coordinate efforts to tackle community problems; determine fund distribution; run workforce campaigns within their companies to help raise funds on behalf of United Way; and participate in committees such as marketing, investments, Women's Initiative, and Young Leaders Society.

Volunteers are critical to United Way's work and help keep our overhead costs low. Last year, 918 people volunteered a total of 7,275 hours which is valued at $20.85 per hour equaling $151,684 worth of time (from the Independent Sector).

Patch: How large is the staff?

Wilhelm: Middlesex United Way has 6 full-time staff and 2 part-time staff. 

Patch: Is Middlesex United Way actually one of the most successful nonprofits in the state for converting donations to actual benefit?

Wilhelm: It is far less-costly to prevent problems from happening than it is to manage the symptoms of a problem. That translates into a healthier community for all of us and how we are advancing the common good. 

United Way initiatives are getting results. Here are some examples of how contributions to Middlesex United Way benefit us all:

  • Helping 316 working Middlesex County residents receive a total of $450,225 in tax refunds, which is money they have earned.
  • Preventing 115 households from becoming homeless.
  • Decreasing the number of individuals who are homeless by 30% and the number of families who are homeless by 36%.
  • Reducing the rates of violence, substance abuse, and anti-social behavior among youth.
  • Establishing Middlesex County as a partner of The Diaper Bank, filling a much-needed gap in service.
  • Saving Middlesex County residents more than $63,000 on their prescription drugs.

 

Patch: What percentage of every donation is converted to actual benefit?

Wilhelm: More than 83 cents of every dollar donated to Middlesex United Way supports local services and programs. This low overhead rate of 16.9% is well below the standard of 35 cents recommended for charities by the Better Business Bureau. 

Patch: What does Middlesex United Way do in addition to raising funds?

Wilhelm: United Way recruits a broad range of people, businesses and organizations from all across the community to identify and resolve community issues. We bring people to the table who share our passion and want to create change in the areas of Education, Income, Health and Housing. 

We promote volunteerism through an annual Day of Caring event which mobilizes groups of volunteers from local companies with projects that help achieve our Five Year Goals. This year volunteers will be installing Born Learning Trails, an early learning tool, throughout Middlesex County for Day of Caring. We also offer an online volunteer matching system for anyone looking to volunteer through our website.

United Way advocates for issues that are of importance to Middlesex County residents and encourages others to join us. Living United is about standing up and taking action in support of a cause. Through United Way, anyone is welcome to lend their muscle and find their voice.

We also support United Way 2-1-1, a 24-hour helpline available free of charge to all Connecticut residents.

Patch: Where do funds go and who decides where they should go?

Wilhelm: All United Way funding decisions are made by volunteers. All services, programs and town-based projects currently funded by United Way are reviewed by volunteers, who are experienced in analyzing budgets, program efficiency and effectiveness. Organizations seeking funding present written proposals to United Way and its volunteer teams. Funding decisions are based on dollars available, community need and actual results of the applicant to meet that need. 

Patch: How does the organization tackle problems in the community?

Wilhelm: Middlesex United Way recruits teams of volunteers, including town officials, residents, service providers, community leaders, and experts to focus on community problems that present ongoing challenges for our residents. Their recommendations shape our work and inform our funding priorities.

To tackle these social problems effectively, we have to address the root causes and invest in long-term solutions that can improve community conditions and prevent problems from happening in the first place. That means investing more in prevention-based programs that serve a larger population than those identified as needing assistance.

Patch: How is Middlesex United Way different from other United Ways?

Wilhelm: The United Way system includes more than 1,300 community-based United Way organizations in the United States and around the world. Each organization is independent, separately incorporated and governed by a local, volunteer Board of Directors. Many United Ways share the same vision by focusing on Education, Income, Health and Housing however, each organization determines how best to achieve its goals locally.

Middlesex United Way is unique in that it is dedicated to addressing the most pressing community needs and issues facing the fifteen towns of Middlesex County (Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook).

Patch: How does an agency or organization request funds or become a recipient?

Wilhelm: Any registered not-for-profit agency that provides health and human services to the people of Middlesex County and meets identified critical community needs and priorities may apply for United Way funding. Programs must submit detailed financial statements, a certified audit, as well as information on programs and services to be provided. Any program considered must address one of Middlesex United Way's focus areas and play a critical part in helping to achieve the Five Year Goals for the Common Good. Volunteers review all applicants and make decisions about funding.

Patch: Why should an individual donate to Middlesex United Way rather than to a specific agency or agencies?

Wilhelm: There are many valuable non-profit organizations in the area you may care about. United Way provides an opportunity for your one gift to support a variety of local needs, such as preventing substance abuse among youth, ensuring school readiness, increasing families' self-sufficiency, providing affordable housing for working families and individuals, and emergency food and shelter.

You can also be assured that your gift to Middlesex United Way goes directly to fund local programs that help people most in need. United Way conducts periodic needs assessments to ensure donor dollars are addressing the most pressing community needs. We also monitor funded programs and initiatives annually to make sure they are efficiently and effectively improving people's lives and making a positive impact. Middlesex United Way volunteers ensure that contributions are doing the most good in the community.

Patch: Is the need greater for the organization due to the economy?

Wilhelm: United Way works with many non-profit partners and everyone is experiencing a greater need but there are some bright spots. We are seeing an increase in volunteerism. If people are unable to donate financially they still want to make a difference by lending a hand. And we notice that those who are in a position to give certainly do and many times they give more.

We are hopeful for the future and believe that the best way to change conditions is to come together and do something about it. It begins with each one us taking action and inviting someone else to join us. That's what the message of Living United is all about.

Patch: How does one volunteer?

Wilhelm: We invite anyone who is interested to volunteer. We have many opportunities at Middlesex United Way, including with our community impact teams who determine how to invest donor dollars. Individuals can browse our online volunteer matching system to find the perfect opportunity that matches their interests. We are also looking for volunteer groups to help install Born Learning Trails for Day of Caring on September 7. 

For additional information, please visit www.middlesexunitedway.org and click on the Volunteer button to learn more. Or call United Way at (860) 346-8695.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?