United Way of the Capital Region Blog

Volunteers Help United Way Distribute Funds

Each fall, United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) asks residents of Eastern Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties to make a contribution to help us provide a variety of services to our community. We fund services for the economically disadvantaged and those challenged by an illness or a disability; we help house the homeless, feed the hungry, and help people survive many of life’s challenges.  Through UWCR, youth have a safe place to go after school, get homework assistance, and find mentors to provide positive role models.

Many people wonder how UWCR decides where contributions will go and how much funding programs will receive. Its people just like you that make our fund distribution process work.

Every February, more than 150 volunteers come together to decide how gifts to UWCR’s Community Improvement Fund will be distributed. Volunteers from all walks of life are recruited through an open process. They receive training, visit program sites, review funding requests, meet with agency staff and board members, and evaluate programs. They make sure programs are needed, evaluate their success, and make sure agencies applying for funding meet our accountability standards. Volunteers review audits and other financial reports and consider an agency’s financial health in the decision-making process. When needed, these volunteers will also meet with agencies that are facing challenges throughout year to provide oversight and technical assistance.

As you can see, volunteers are essential to the fund distribution process here at UWCR. We invite you to join us for next year’s process. For more information, contact Susan Wokulich at swokulich@uwcr.org.

Program Provides Free Tax Prep for Low- to Moderate-Income Families

Many of us continue to feel the impact of our troubled economy. Tax time can provide an opportunity for many working families to take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Millions of dollars in tax credits go unclaimed each year, a fact we’re working very hard to change.

During the week of January 30, the Money in Your Pocket (MIYP) campaign will be opening multiple sites throughout Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties to provide free income tax preparation for low- to moderate-income families. The sites are staffed by trained, certified volunteers who will prepare and electronically file taxes for area families.

This is the tenth year that MIYP will be operating free tax sites for qualified families. We are committed to helping as many families as we can, and this requires that we keep expanding to meet the ever growing demand.

UWCR Exceeds Its 2011 Fundraising Goal Thanks to Community Help

Despite an on-going challenging economic environment and a local natural disaster, United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) has exceeded its campaign goal by raising $11,280,527, topping the amount raised last year by 4.7 percent, or more than $510,000, and this year’s goal by $280,527, or 2.5 percent. This marks the 15^th consecutive year UWCR has exceeded its campaign goal.

To not only reach, but surpass our goal during these tough times speaks to the generosity of our community and the hard work of our volunteers and staff. As these challenging times continue, more and more people need the safety net of programs and services supported by our United Way. We shared this message with the community throughout the campaign and people responded with extraordinary goodwill.

I couldn’t be more proud of our United Way this year. For an organization to exceed its goal 15 years in a row speaks to the compassion and character of our organization and the generosity of our community.

Pennsylvania Budget Cuts Dampen Holidays for Many

For me, Gov. Tom Corbett set the moral tone for the last budget process by stating that providing a helping hand to those in need was a “core function of government.” But I also remember the term “waste, fraud and abuse” being used as a rallying cry by those who felt significant reductions could be made in state funding without compromising services to people in need and the charitable organizations that provide those services.

In central Pennsylvania, state funding cuts are having a detrimental impact on the ability of local non-profits to serve people. For example, The Arc of Cumberland and Perry Counties is projecting a $650,000 deficit this year because reimbursement rates from the state have been reduced. This is in addition to a similar-size loss the agency experienced last year.

The YWCA of Greater Harrisburg faces an analogous situation. It will receive more than $100,000 less this year as a result of cuts in state funding. This means the YWCA will serve 120 fewer individuals who are unemployed or underemployed or in need of child care.

Fatherhood: The Missing Link

United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) has created the Fatherhood Academy and the Tri-County Fatherhood Coalition to help local fathers form strong bonds with their children.

The issue of absent, non-engaged fathers, is a national concern, most recently addressed by President Baraka Obama.  The role of a parent is critical to the development of a healthy, well-rounded child. Being a parent is a difficult job, made even more challenging when one half of the equation is missing. The Fatherhood Academy is held every Monday evening from 6:30 8:00 at the United Methodist Neighborhood Center, 3^rd and Kelker Streets, Harrisburg, PA. The classes are free and open to all men. The Firm Foundation, Hamilton Health Center and the Community Action Center also have free Fatherhood classes, and participate in the Tri-County Fatherhood Coalition.

The Fatherhood Academy uses two curriculums, which are designed to educate and inspire the men in attendance. The first curriculum was developed by a Shippensburg University Graduate student, in the School of Social Work, who was interning for UWCR. The student introduced the concept to her graduate class, who then took it upon themselves to research the most effective fatherhood programs in the country. The second curriculum called “Knights of the 21^st Century,” which was developed by the founder of Pennsylvania Counseling Inc. The DVD based curriculum covers 26 weeks of excellent instruction for fathers, and is well received by the participants of the Fatherhood Academy.

Any father who wishes to be a part of the Fatherhood Academy can attend one of the Monday night sessions, without pre-registration. For more information, visit, www.tricofatherhood.net, or contact Nathaniel Gadsden, at 732.0700.    

End of UWCR’s 2011 Campaign in Sight - But We Still Need Your Support

With just a few weeks left in United Way of the Capital Region’s (UWCR) 2011 fundraising campaign, now is the time to make a donation to help our community. As-of December 2, UWCR has raised 74 percent, or $8,121,600, of its $11 million goal.

Our campaign is tracking in a positive direction thanks to the hard work of our dedicated volunteers and local corporate supporters who want to make a difference during these difficult times. However, there is still much work to be done and we are counting on the support of our community to achieve our goal.

We cannot stress enough the challenges people in the Capital Region continue to face. Unemployment and underemployment have placed a significant burden on our friends and neighbors and the agencies they rely on for help.

In a recent survey of our partner agencies, we learned that 82 percent have clients who are using food pantries, up from 46 percent last year, and 85 percent are serving people who recently lost their jobs. This number is up from 69 percent in 2010. In addition, cuts in funding from government sources are making the problem even worse.

Help us address these critical issues facing our community. If you haven’t already made a donation, I urge you to visit www.uwcr.org/give, or call 732.0700 and make your pledge. Make a difference in the lives of your friends and neighbors in need - support UWCR.

Dave Schankweiler
2011 Campaign Chairman, UWCR
CEO/Publisher, Central Penn Business Journal

Prosperity Centers Help Families In Tough Times

Helping families weather tough times is at the heart of United Way of the Capital Region’s (UWCR) work in our community. UWCR has long supported critical services to help families deal with the unexpected - be it a natural disaster, a child with special needs, or a physical disability. Beyond dealing with a crisis, we also want families to have the skills and tools they need to be self-sufficient.

UWCR has launched Prosperity Centers as one of the ways to help families be economically self-sufficient. The purpose of the centers is to empower individuals and families in the Capital Region to be financially prosperous. The centers provide a service in the community by building on the three pillars of financial stability - financial literacy, access to mainstream benefits and case management. The centers assist individuals and families to plan, manage and improve their financial resources. Trained volunteers help families learn to budget, plan and manage their money, build their assets, reduce their debt, and gain financial stability. Assistance at the Prosperity Centers is not based on income level. Everyone is welcome. All services are free and confidential.

Prosperity Centers offer people the opportunity to think about their money in new ways and build for a stronger financial future. With a little support and guidance, achieving a more prosperous future can be a reality.   

Helping Families Become Financially Stable

Strong and financially self-sufficient families are critical to building a successful community. Here at United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR), we understand that more and more families are struggling to make ends meet and need the assistance of local agencies. 

No family sets out to live on the charity of its community, but this is a growing concern in our region. The cost of living in the Capital Region is outpacing wages.  The 2010 Self-sufficiency Wage for Dauphin and Cumberland counties was about $55,000 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children under 5 years old) (Pathways PA).  Yet, the Dauphin County median household income in 2009 was $48,792.  What does this mean? It means thousands of people in the Capital Region are under-employed and unable to obtain sufficient income to maintain a home.

Here is breakdown of the unemployment and under-employment statistics in our area:

Dauphin County
Unemployment: May 2010 = 8.3%; May 2011 = 7.2%
Under-employment:  May 2011 approx. 18%

Cumberland County
Unemployment: May 2010 = 7.2%; May 2011 = 6.4%
Under-employment:  May 2011 approx. 16%

Perry County
Unemployment: May 2010 = 8.2%; May 2011 = 7.2%
Under-employment:  May 2011 approx. 18%

UWCR Needs Community Support to Reach Goal

This year we set what might be considered a very optimistic campaign goal of $11 million. This represents a $500,000 increase over last year’s goal, and more than a $230,000 increase over the amount announced at last year’s Celebration Event.

We knew we’d have a tough road ahead of us but we had no idea how tough. We launched our fundraising campaign on the same day flooding from Tropical Storm Lee inundated neighborhoods all over central Pennsylvania. Before the storm hit our region, tens of thousands of people in our community were struggling just to get by. This ongoing need in the Capital Region, coupled with the additional services our community needs as a result of the flood, has only strengthened our resolve to reach our goal this year.

Despite these hard times, as of October 25, United Way of the Capital Region has raised 30 percent, or $3,247,516, of the total amount we hope to raise this year.

Finding My Place…Through Volunteering

Law school can be a very distant and cold environment... until you meet the right people. Sometimes those people come out of the least expected places: like a room full of people interested in taxes.

In late 2008, I was encouraged by a close friend to attend an informational session about the Widener Law Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Clinic, which is a part of the Money In Your Pocket Campaign. I quickly discovered I had a found a niche worth pursuing. It was at this meeting that I was first mentored by Professor Michael Hussey. He showed a room full of students, alumni, and community members what a compassionate attorney should be. I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of his team.

Three years later, we are getting geared up for the upcoming tax year at the Clinic. I look forward to serving a small, but vital, role as part of the team that is capable of so much good. We service a broad range of persons representing many aspects of our community; our clients are united in a need for expertise without judgement.