Community Campaign

The planning for each year's, "United Way Community Campaign," begins in recruitment and selection of Campaign Division Chairs.

We are pleased to announce that Wes and Arlene Nelson will lead our 2011 Community Campaign. Both together and individually, the couple has made "long-standing and far-reaching" contributions to the area through their work with the National Cherry Festival, Zonta, Rotary, Northwestern Michigan College Scholarship Program, Project 100, the Doula Teen program, the Cadillac Club, and the Navigator Club.

Campaign Division Chairs consists of volunteers from across the community. Each division has a leader to commit to helping raise funds and awareness during the campaign. While many volunteers are very visible, others do a lot of work behind the scenes. Campaign volunteers are critical to our success. We still have a few divisions without leadership, if you are interested in volunteering please contact Michelle Krumm at 947-3200 Ext. 204.

Grace - our summer intern

Going into my internship with United Way, I didn’t really know what it was or what it did.  But after a couple days here, I learned that it’s a huge part of how our Community thrives. It has been such a great experience  getting to know all parts that make up United Way and the awesome staff that works so hard to improve our Community. I am extremely blessed to have such a great experience at United Way. I look forward to everyday that I work and still have the rest of the summer to return!

Thank you for everything!!!

Grace Duensing

Grants awarded to local agencies

Although United Way is probably most known for raising money, the real purpose of United Way is to support area non-profits. One important way we do this is by providing grants. Earlier this month we concluded our grant making for this year. Here's what you, through your contributions, did:

•Helped fund 39 different programs

•Provided 12 programs with more than 75% of what they requested

•Funded 17 programs that had not been funded by United Way in the past

•Impacted people all across the 5-county area

•Funded programs addressing a wide range of needs including health care, housing, food, youth programs, and financial assistance

If you contributed to this year's community campaign you should feel good knowing your single gift to United Way was actually a gift to dozens of programs throughout our community. Giving through United Way is an important part of how our community responds to the needs of our neighbors.

Cherryland Humane Society Needs Your Help

Taken from a letter sent to residents asking to help keep the Cherryland Humane Society open:

"The Cherryland Humane Society (CHS) has served the area for over 54 years.  It has truly been a labor of love for thousands of individuals for over 1/2 a century.  We now find ourselves in dire financial straits.  If we are unable to raise much needed funds soon, we will be forced to close our doors by early to mid June.  For every $20,000 in donations that we are able to raise toward the $200,000 goal, we will be able to operate for an additional month.  Because we now find ourselves in a critical situation, we wish to ask for your consideration for providing a tax deductible donation for the work of the CHS on behalf of multitudes of unwanted and homeless pets.  Your contribution will impact the future of so many pets that are dependent upon each of us for their well being.  We shall be pleased to work with you concerning recognition for whatever financial help that you are willing to provide."

Contributions can be sent to Cherryland Humane Society, 1750 Ahlberg Road, Traverse City, MI 49696.  If you wish to discuss your gift or would like additional information please contact Mike Cherry, CHS Executive Director, at (231) 946-5116.

United Way of Northwest Michigan's mission is to efficiently raise and effectively distribute both financial and volunteer resources to support community - determined initiatives that improve the lives of community members.

4th Graders create art to support the Goodwill Inn

Eastern Elementary School’s “Heroes In Our Community”: Spotlight on 4th Grade “Helping Hands” Team


Eastern Elementary’s 4th graders want to help support the homeless in the Traverse City community. As part of the school’s “Heroes In Our Community” service learning project, the students chose homelessness as their cause to learn about and support. Since early May, the 4th grade “Helping Hands” team has been researching and working with local artist Angela Schuler to create paintings focused on the different types of homes found all around the world. The team finished their paintings last week, and all 5 versions of “Homes Around the World” are now listed on eBay.


100% of proceeds from the sale of these paintings will go to the Goodwill Inn in Traverse City on behalf of the Helping Hands team.

Each version of “Homes Around the World” bears the sub-title of word “home” or “house” in another language.

Online Auctions run through noon on Friday, May 27. To view the paintings online and/or to place a bid, please go to: http://easternpto.weebly.com/helpinghands.html, or go to eBay and search for “Homes Around The World”.

NMC Students take alternative spring break in New Orleans

by Lisa Perkins
lperkins@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY - Sand, sun and sandals were replaced by blisters, sweat and a sense of acomplishment for a group of Northwestern Michigan College students who took an alternative spring break trip.

The group of 10 students and two local United Way employees spent the last week of March hanging drywall and installing insulartion while working with the St. Bernard Project to help rebuild homes for families displaced after Hurricane Katrina.  "This is something we have wanted to do for several years, but this year everything fell into place,"  said Michelle Gallagher, coordinator of the trip for United Way of Northwest Michigan.  United Way Worldwide has partnered with the St. Bernard Project, bringing volunteers to assist in their efforts since the hurricane devastated New Orleans more than five years ago.

"The impact was more than any of us had anticipated, the neighborhoods are not even halfway rebuild, the amount of homes that are still completely gutted, or just have cement foundations left is amazing," said Gallagher, whose crew worked on two homes during their five-day stay.

AmeriCorps Vista supervisors gave instrucitons to the students who worked on drywalling the home of an older man, Marcel Rivera, whose house had been gutted right down to the studs.  At the home of Tonya Scott, the team also learned to install insulation.  "People there are still pretty positive for what they have been through.  They still want to rebiuld,"  said Gallagher, who hopes that some of the students she worked with will continue volunteering in their own community.

Mike Foster, a 19-year-old NMC student from Flint, says the trip to New Orleans was an opportunity that dosen't come up every day.  "A trip of this magnitude changed my view of volunteering.  It is great to work at a soup kitchen for a day, but working for a week on a project like this was really life-changing," said Foster, who plans to continue volunteering by working with Habitat for Humanity.  "There is still a lot to do down there, but there is a lot that needs to be done in my hometown too," he said.

Critical Human Service Grants Awarded

Earlier this month a 13-member Citizen Action Team (CAT) collectively donated over 300 hours to determine how best to support the critical human service programs in our area. After reading the applications, interviewing program staff and volunteers, and working together to discern the most effective use of the donated dollars the CAT recommended and the United Way Board affirmed funding to 23 different programs. A list of those programs is available by clicking here. Here are a few things you should know:


- 27 programs applied

- $250,000 was awarded

- 9 programs received more than 75% of the total ask

- Each of the 5-counties are well represented in the distribution

- 8 of the funded programs had not been funded by United Way in the past

- The funded programs address a wide range of needs including health care, housing, food, and financial assistance.

The CAT did a fantastic job and the community has been well served by their efforts. If you donate through United Way I hope you know this group of volunteers took their job very seriously and worked hard to make sure your gifts will have a meaningful and lasting impact.

The grant cycle continues as we prepare to award grants to area programs serving young people. Applications are due to us by 5:00 p.m. on May 6. The CAT will conduct interviews on June 2 and 3 with award announcements being made the following week. At present we anticipate awarding $110,000 during this cycle.

It’s never too late to give. Gifts and pledges made before June 1 will be added to the youth grant cycle. If you have not given please do so know. Gifts and pledges can be made on-line (create link) or my contacting Kate Kerr (create link) 231.947.320 x203.

The United Way does not exist to raise money. Instead we seek to give donors and efficient and effective way to help others. These grants are one important way we fulfill this mission and improve the lives of others.