President's Message

Marc Levy, CEO/President, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette

We are launching our community campaign amid a prolonged economic downturn that has put many of our neighbors out of work and on the verge of homelessness. More than ever, the needs in our community far exceed available resources. There has never been a better time to step up and support essential programs in our community.

Our United Way invests competitive grant dollars on local projects that focus on systemic change. This year, we have allocated $5.1 million for strategic partnerships, and community impact and innovation projects that involve more than 120 collaborating partners. We invest in programs that aim to lower high school dropout rates and increase health care access among working families. We do this because we believe that the investments we make in our community today will earn dividends for our society in the long-term.

In addition, United Way exists to stabilize families in crisis and ensure that we have programs and services to meet their basic needs. United Way’s Community Relief Fund has distributed some $800,000 to Community Action Programs and The Oregon Food Bank. Together, we have helped thousands of families and individuals in the four-county area access emergency food, avoid eviction, and pay overdue utility bills. Times are still tough for many people, and that’s why the Community Relief Fund has been incorporated into our workplace campaign.

What will it take to create a healthy and prosperous community, both in the near and long-term? No one organization can do it alone, and that’s why it takes all of us working together – in a united way – to ensure the success of our communities.

We hope that we can count on you to support our community campaign. Give what you can, help carry the message out to others, and encourage your friends and family to give to United Way. Your gifts will increase our ability to help the growing numbers of people who need a little boost in these tough economic times.