PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, April 12, 2017
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LONGVIEW, WA-The 2016-2017 United Way campaign has been very successful. The total pledges promised in the campaign was $535,915. This was an increase from the prior campaign by 5.9%. From the total pledge amount, $27,941 was designated to specific agencies. The board policy is to award additional agency grants based on what is in the bank as of 03/31/17, the last day of the fiscal year and campaign, and not on the pledge total. This is to protect all stakeholders since some pledges many not fully materialize in a given campaign. The board voted to award $300,000 in agency grants, a $52,000 increase from the prior campaign distribution. 21 United Way partner agencies will receive grant funding in quarterly distributions from April 2017 to January 2018 as follows:


Been There Done That: $6,000
Boy Scouts (Cascade Pacific Council-Chinook District): $6,000
Castle Rock Senior Center: $10,000
Children’s Justice & Advocacy Center: $20,000
Community Caring Project (Parent’s Place): $12,000
Community Health Partners: $12,000
Community House on Broadway: $20,000
Cowlitz County CASA: $13,000
Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Legal Aid: $7,000
Emergency Support Shelter: $30,000
Ethnic Support Council: $15,000
FISH: $15,000
Lower Columbia Head Start/ECEAP: $20,000
Life Works: $10,000
Longview Senior Center: $9,000
Oxford House (Chapter 9): $7,000
Progress Center: $25,000
St. James Family Center (Cathlamet): $28,000
Volunteer Services (Catholic Community Services): $10,000
YMCA of Southwest Washington: $15,000
Youth & Family Link: $10,000

 

Executive Director, Brooke Fisher-Clark conveyed that the campaign saw an increase in leadership giving (donations of $500 and above), and many former donors who gave in the past returned as supporters. “The organization is strong and moving in the right direction,” said Fisher-Clark. “We have the right policies and systems in place, an engaged board and staff, and a united determination to improve lives in our community,” she said.
The campaign also encompassed the annual Day of Caring event that united hundreds of volunteers for local projects, embraced the power of female philanthropy at the annual Power of the Purse event, and fed thousands of hungry citizens through a United Way partnership with the Association of Washington Student Leader’s conference, which resulted in 99,600 packaged meals, produced by 800 Washington State Leadership students, and distributed to 5 local food banks in Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties.
United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties is proud of other impactful accomplishments this campaign. The board and staff cheered the savings for Cowlitz & Wahkiakum residents of $95,306 in 2016 for pharmaceutical prescription discounts due to the usage of the FamilyWize discount card. FamilyWize is a nation-wide partner of United Way, helping improve financial stability in medicine savings. United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties also administers the funding process for the Emergency Food & Shelter Program under the Department of Homeland Security when Cowlitz County is awarded. $58k from Phase 33 was distributed to 6 local food or shelter organizations to improve lives. $60k will be awarded to 7 local Cowlitz County agencies in 2017 for Phase 34 to support needed services.