Did you know that by choosing to invest in our community, you are choosing to "live united?"
There are numerous ways to make change in our community. Everyone can contribute to growing and maintaining a healthy community through giving, advocating or volunteering.
People from all walks of life are touched by United Way every day, whether they realize it or not. A loved one may receive hospice care, new parents may attend a parenting workshop, an elderly person may receive a daily, nutritious meal or a child may participate in a safe and fun after-school program.
In recent years, the Tri-Cities has been fortunate because the global and national economic downturn has not been felt as deeply here as it has been elsewhere. However, as our employment outlook has changed in recent months, the effects of the downturn are now reaching Benton and Franklin counties and affecting the needs of our community members.
These people may be your neighbors, friends, family members or even you. They may be people who have never needed to use United Way programs before or who never thought they would need help, but now they do.
If that happens, you can take pride in knowing that you helped ensure they were taken care of in their time of need.
United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties is working to improve local people's lives. We do this by focusing on the priority areas of education, health, safety and self-sufficiency. This ensures that our most urgent health and human service needs are being addressed.
The United Way also champions two community initiatives aimed at local youth -- Our Babies Can't Wait and Prepared by 20.
The Our Babies Can't Wait initiative helps equip new parents with the tools and resources necessary to give their babies the best start possible and to prepare them for school.
Prepared by 20 focuses on creating a positive environment for youth, ages 10-20, and helps them graduate from high school, learn valuable skills and engaged in our community. These two initiatives are working to ensure our young people are prepared to be our community's future leaders.
United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties set a goal of $4.7 million for its communitywide campaign this year, and every donation helps us come closer to reaching that goal and improves more local people's lives. Today is the right time to start making change in Benton and Franklin counties. Together, we can make that change.
No matter how much -- whether financial or through your valuable time -- support your community. Give from your heart.
-- Sandra Sawyer is the assistant project director, business services, Bechtel National, Inc. Vitrification Plant. She is a member of the United Way board of directors and chair of the 2011 campaign.
