MIRACLE WORKERS

How Your Donation to United Way of Roanoke Valley Brings Life to Our Community

Reprinted with permission by Carilion Clinic from its verve magazine Summer 2006 issue

By Susan L. Comer

Pat Robinson is a self-described miracle. A recovered substance abuser, today she works as a case manager at the same United Way of Roanoke Valley partner agency that made such a difference for her. “I just can’t say enough good things about the United Way,” says Robinson. “They saved my life.”

Robinson is one of about 70,000 people who receive help annually through United Way of Roanoke Valley (UWRV). In fact, UWRV touches almost one out of every three people in the Roanoke Valley. Says president and CEO Frank Rogan, “Our focus is really to improve lives by bringing the whole community together and addressing what matters most to people in our community.”

 Mission accomplished

When you give to UWRV, you don’t have to choose whether you’ll help children, seniors, or an individual needing shelter and a hot meal. Trained volunteers examine and evaluate the programs they support to ensure donated funds are invested wisely.

And, in order to minimize administrative costs, paid staff is kept at approximately 15 employees. “We manage a corps of about 1,000 volunteers,” says Rogan, “and those are the people that really are United Way.” A diverse leadership group of 44 comprises UWRV’s volunteer Board of Directors.

The UWRV Vision embraces four impact areas: investing in children and youth, maintaining senior independence, strengthening families, and improving health and self-sufficiency. This Vision is carried out everyday in 65 local programs operated by 27 partner agencies.

In addition to supporting its partner agencies, UWRV has created a network of community partnerships – with business, government, faith-based organizations, and ordinary citizens -- to address the root causes of our most serious problems. “It’s not enough anymore just to feed a hungry family,” says director of Marketing and Communications Terry Smith, in describing  United Way’s relatively new “Community Impact” approach. “We want to take care of the reasons they were hungry in the first place. Is it because they’re out of work? Because they lack training? Then we give them job training as well as meals. Teach them to fish, not feed them a fish.”

Consider these examples of how your dollars generated results in the Roanoke Valley in 2005:

• 10,243 kids benefited from UW-funded after/out of school programs. Eighty-one percent of participating students report improved study habits and better school performance; 78 percent gained confidence in their ability to refuse or refrain from smoking, drinking, or using drugs.
• More than 24,000 individuals benefited from programs that address domestic violence, child abuse, and homelessness and that provide support during disasters and emergencies.
• More than 22,500 individuals were assisted through programs focused on keeping people physically and mentally healthy while protecting their financial resources.
• 1,056 homebound seniors received a total of 174,275 hot meals served by volunteers.

Having glimpsed the bigger picture, let’s go beyond statistics to meet some individuals who bring to life the UWRV mission of improving lives.

Just the guys

At 14, D’Angelo English is “growing into a nice young man,” says his mom, Michelle McGhee, a single parent. Four years ago, with D’Angelo’s father living out of town, D’Angelo had no consistent male figure in his life.

Through UWRV partner agency Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia, D’Angelo was matched up with “Big Brother” Jon Young. Every week for four years, the “brothers” have gotten together to bowl, bike, shoot hoops, swim, or go to the gym. As Young is a USAir pilot, they’ve even taken to the skies on occasion.

“He’s really open with Jon where he isn’t with me,” says McGhee. “They can talk about more personal things.”

Though Young relocated to Indianapolis this year, he and D’Angelo maintain a long-distance relationship. “It’s been a tremendous help in my son’s life,” says McGhee.

With two younger sisters at home, D’Angelo is definitely outnumbered gender-wise. But, like Young, he’s a good big brother. Says McGhee, “He’s very protective over all of us.”

Home sweet home

“An awesome feeling” -- that’s how Carilion employee and single mom Renee Rochford describes home ownership. Through the Roanoke Valley Individual Development Accounts (IDA) program administered by Total Action against Poverty (TAP) – UWRV is an IDA funder and  community partner – Rochford saved the down payment three years ago for a house in Salem.

IDAs help those with limited incomes save for things to help build their futures. For every dollar a participant saves up to $1,000, the program matches it two times.

Rochford also utilized the program to receive her Bachelor’s in Accounting from Radford University, resulting in a promotion from Associate Accountant to Staff Accountant.

What does she loves most about her home – besides owning it? Her 11-year-old daughter is within walking distance to school, friends’ houses, and Rec League; their church is right around the corner; and she can paint and decorate freely – no permission required.

“United Way really does work,” says Rochford. “I’m living proof.”

Building blocks

As a home care provider for children from birth to two years, Christine Aldridge is passionate about giving kids a solid start and a safe, loving environment. For the past four years, Aldridge has participated in “Success By 6,” a United Way program which seeks to improve the quality of care delivered by home- and center-based providers.

“The goal of [Success By 6],” says director of Community Impact Abby Verdillo, “is to make sure that every child in the Roanoke Valley is able to enter kindergarten ready to learn and ready to succeed in life.” Some 80 childcare providers attend free monthly workshops to acquire new ideas and skills and to network with other childcare professionals. (This group serves approximately 600 children daily.)

Aldridge deeply appreciates the education and support provided by UWRV. “They’re helping people like me – providers,” she says, “and we’re helping the community.”

The power of change

When Pat Robinson entered Bethany Hall Recovery Home for Women in 2000, she’d been an IV heroin user off and on for 25 years. “I didn’t have insurance. I didn’t have money to come,” says Robinson, “but Bethany Hall allowed me to come in because they receive help from United Way and they gave me a chance to change my life.”

And Robinson seized that chance to shed a destructive lifestyle learned in childhood. “That was all some of us knew,” she says. “We didn’t know there was a better way of life. And to dig deep and talk about those issues is really something big.” At Bethany Hall, Robinson learned to be employable, took parenting classes, and gradually built a relationship with her estranged children.

Today, as a Bethany Hall case manager, Robinson gives back to other women. “I’ve been in their shoes and I’ve been in the same chair they’re sitting in,” she says. “I can relate to what they’re going through, what they’re talking about, and the feelings they’re having, and I share my experience, strength, and hope with them.” Robinson now enjoys a close relationship with her two grown children and three-year-old grandson and is seeking a Counseling degree from Virginia Western Community College.

Says Robinson, “Without United Way, Bethany Hall couldn’t be here today. So I’m just so grateful.”

Raising hope

UWRV Campaign 2006 is now underway. And, while approximately 21 percent of annual campaign donations comes from corporations and foundations, a whopping 79 percent comes from employees and individuals. Individual pledges are vital to the success of local programs funded by United Way.

Carilion Health System has repeatedly  received United Way’s  Milestone Award, presented to companies raising more than $500,000. “I’ve been in United Way for about 17 years all across the country,” says vice president of Development Christopher Rouse, “and my perception is that they’re the most successful hospital campaign I’ve ever seen.”

UWRV Campaign 2005 raised $6.2 million. And this year’s goal? “The bottom line is we try to raise more than the prior year,” says Rouse, noting that the primary goal is improving people’s lives. “Instead of a monetary goal,” he says, “it’s really a people goal.”