Community Impact: United Way of Lake County announces allocations to local programs

As a result of United Way of Lake County's successful 2014 campaign, a total of $2,508,848 will be directed to community priority programs that will make the greatest impact to the quality of life in our community.

The campaign concluded in April under the leadership of campaign chair President Michael Victor of Lake Erie College.

 At the Board of Directors' June 18 meeting, funds raised throughout the campaign were approved to be directed to programs that have measurable goals and objectives and can demonstrate community impact.

 United Way of Lake County funds programs for the most critical issues that impact each and every Lake County resident, whether it is hunger, shelter, income, education, senior care or health. 

 "United Way of Lake County is pleased to continue to support needed and quality programs in our community," said United Way of Lake County's interim president Rita McMahon.  "As the demand for services continues to increase, United Way of Lake County is working to identify the critical issues through Community Engagement which will help us leverage our resources to make the most impact possible.  Working with the agencies and other service providers, our resources will produce identifiable change and allow us to be at the forefront of community impact." 

 The programs that United Way of Lake County fund are decided by volunteers through a vigorous and thorough year-long process.

 United Way of Lake County's Evaluation & Investment (E&I) team, which is a group of 48 volunteers from the business community, research programs year-long to make sure they are being run efficiently and are showing positive outcomes.

 The E&I volunteers, not United Way staff members, are the ones who decide where the money goes and how much. The volunteers review funding applications, visit program sites, listen to presentations and interview all potential recipients before making any funding decisions. This is to ensure that donor dollars are going to the programs that are most critical in Lake County.

"It is important to note that United Way is funding programs and not agencies," said E&I chair Rob Traub of The City of Mentor. "Each program is assigned to a committee that best relates to its purpose where upon it is scrutinized by a committee composed of diverse volunteers. Each program is evaluated as to its fulfillment of its own goals as well as those of United Way and also in comparison with other programs. Therefore, programs that are funded by United Way fill the greatest needs and serve the entire community. Programs must achieve positive outcomes."
 

Programs for Lake County Free Medical Clinic received the most money at $186,001. This can be contributed to a growing number of "the working poor" - people who are working but may have no health insurance or limited health insurance.
 

United Way of Lake County is directing 44.5% of its dollars to health programs, 29.9% to income programs and 25.6% to education programs.
 

In addition, more than $40,000 was used to purchase food for area food pantries.
 

Funding for all five areas of care are as follows:
 

Basic Needs: $581,251                               

Disaster relief, emergency services, homeless shelter, transitional housing, homeless programs, security deposits, 211 information and referral services and food
 

Children and Families: $517,744                             

Big Brothers/Sisters, Girl and Boy Scouts, Fine Arts scholarships, child care, YMCA leadership programs, volunteer development and service to military families
 

Health Counseling: $387,061                             

Alcohol/drug prevention, family counseling, youth counseling, crisis intervention, Latino outreach, and mental health residential treatment
 

Health Services: $358,695                             

Chronic disease management, Hospice, Free Medical Clinic, health services, prescriptions, dental services, transportation to medical appointments, healthy heart education
 

Seniors: $159,249                             

Congregate meals, senior center programs in Eastlake, Fairport, Kirtland, Madison, Perry, Wickliffe, Willoughby, Willowick and Mentor, exercise classes, home chore services and lunch programs.

Top Ten Agencies receiving E&I funding include:
 

1)      Lake County Free Medical Clinic: $186,001

2)      Salvation Army Citadel: $170,412

3)      Lake County Y: $157,774

4)      Lake-Geauga Recovery Center: $149,704

5)      Lifeline: $$148,838

6)      Western Reserve Counseling: $97,881

7)      Forbes House: $95,000

8)      Big Brothers/Big Sisters NEO: $85,400

9)      Lake County Council on Aging: $84,619

10)   Beacon Health: $74,924
 

Top Ten Programs funded through the E&I Process include:

1)      Acute Clinic Program (Lake County Free Clinic): $136,394

2)      211 (Lifeline): $100,000

3)      Counseling (Western Reserve Counseling): $98,881

4)      Shelter for Domestic Violence (Forbes House): $95,000

5)      YMCA Scholarships (Lake County Y): $88,439

6)      Congregate Meals (Lake County Council on Aging): $84,619

7)      Homeless Shelter (Project Hope): $65,809

8)      Emergency Assistance (Salvation Army Citadel): $62,000

9)      Child Care (Child Care on the Square): $60,807

10)   Hospice of the Western Reserve: $58,418

Evaluation & Investment Committee Members

E&I Committee Chair: Ron Traub, City of Mentor