Pat Closser (left) is chairperson of the 2015 United Way fundraising campaign in Madison County. Kerry Pedraza (right) serves as executive director of the United Way serving Madison, Clark and Champaign counties.
(Posted Sept. 24, 2015)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
“Live United.”
With that motto in mind, the United Way of Clark, Champaign and Madison Counties is pursuing beefed up goals for its 2015 fundraising campaign. The goal for Madison County is $110,000, up $10,000 from the total raised last year.
“When we as a community choose to ‘live united,’ we choose to improve our community by each of us giving in order to make an impact,” said Pat Closser, Madison County chairperson. “Madison County isn’t improving by accident. It’s improving because each and every one of us consciously makes a choice to improve not just our own life, but the lives of our neighbors.”
Many who donate to United Way do so through their workplaces, making one-time gifts or regular payroll deductions. At this time, 31 Madison County businesses and their employees are participating in this way. Individuals who work at partici-pating businesses outside the county can assign their donations to Madison County. Additionally, individuals can donate directly to United Way without a work-place connection.
“All of the money raised in Madison County stays in Madison County,” said Kerry Pedraza, United Way executive director, “and funding decisions are driven and recommended by local volunteers.”
In Madison County, United Way provides funding to the following agencies: A Friend’s House, Boy Scouts, Community Action, Girl Scouts, HELP House, Life Care Alliance/Meals on Wheels, Loving Care Hospice, Rocking Horse Clinic, Madison County-London City Health District, Mental Health Recovery Board of Clark, Greene and Madison Counties, Oesterlen, and the Red Cross.
A percentage of funds also goes to United Way’s 211 service, a 24-hour resource phone line. Anyone can dial 2-1-1 any time of day to get information or referrals for a wide variety of services, from mental health assistance to who to call for help with an aging parent.
“Sometimes, somebody just needs a voice. There’s always a live person to help and to listen,” Pedraza said.
The 211 service receives 5,000 to 7,500 calls per year from Madison County residents. All totaled, the three-county area of Madison, Clark and Champaign generates 20,000 calls per year. The 211 resource information also can be found in a searchable database on United Way’s website.
For details about making a donation to United Way, call Kerry Pedraza at (740) 852-0287 or visit www.uwccmc.org.
