It’s campaign season once again and our goal in Marion County is $1 million, most of which will be used to fund programs that create long-lasting change in the areas of education, income and health.
Earlier this year we used your money to help third-graders move closer to passing their state reading proficiency tests. We helped give middle-school teachers and staff tools to better work with low-income families and children. We helped high-school students to graduate on time and successfully move on to more education or work. We began to develop a Pipeline of services for those in poverty who are willing to work hard to become financially stable. We helped, through multiple programs, to keep people in their homes when homelessness was knocking at their doors. We helped hundreds of young people learn how to deal with depression, and how to make good choices regarding drugs and alcohol. We helped provide medical and dental care to thousands of people who had nowhere else to go.
I guess what I’m saying is that I believe any investment you choose to make in United Way this fall will be used as wisely as possible to effect those issues that matter to us all. When you are asked, please consider giving a little out of each paycheck. I promise you’ll hardly miss it.
By Pam Stone United Way of Marion County