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United Way, SDC Neighbor to Neighbor drives under way
By DAN EAKIN, Staff Writer
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the newly-formed Southern Denton County Neighbor to Neighbor program have kicked off campaigns to raise funds in support of various area charitable agencies
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has several campaigns already under way in Southern Denton County.
“More than 20 companies are running United Way campaigns in the Greater Lewisville area,” said Vin Hoey, senior vice president of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, “including local companies such as 21st Century and HSBC and national companies such as Target, Best Buy and Dillards.”
Three of Lewisville’s largest employers — the Lewisville Independent School District (LISD), Medical Center of Lewisville and the city of Lewisville — are conducting or will conduct drives to raise funds for the SDC Neighbor to Neighbor program.
Medical Center of Lewisville will offer employees the opportunity to donate to SDC Neighbor to Neighbor, United Way or both.
The LISD has more than 6,000 employees, Medical Center has about 800 employees and the city of Lewisville has about 675 employees.
SDC Neighbor to Neighbor was formed in June by former members of the Greater Lewisville United Way (GLUW) board of directors. GLUW was dissolved because United Way of Metropolitan Dallas would not guarantee funds donated to GLUW would go to Lewisville area agencies and because of a small representation from the GLUW on the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas board.
Jim Gallegos, a member of the Lewisville Planning & Zoning Commission, was chairman of GLUW when it voted 5-4 last January to dissolve. He continues to serve on the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas board of directors.
“I continued to stay with United Way because it is the best alternative for assisting my community’s non-profit agencies,” Gallegos said.
“We’re not in a position to guarantee funds because those decisions are made by the donors,” he continued, citing the United Way donated almost twice as much to agencies in the Greater Lewisville area last year than it collected in the area.
He noted a large amount of the funds funneled to agencies in the Greater Lewisville area last year were from donations outside of the area.
“This is the advantage of not only being local, but also being regional,” Gallegos said.
In July, the newly-formed SDC Neighbor to Neighbor organization set a goal to raise $75,000, with a stretch goal of $150,000.
Jeffery Price, board chairman, said the campaign is now under way, with the city’s three largest employers promising support.
He said board members are also now contacting representatives of companies and businesses in the greater Lewisville area to ask for their support.
“Unlike with the United Way, 100 percent of the funds raised through employee pledges will be used in Southern Denton County to support agencies who deliver needed services to people in Southern Denton County,” Price said, adding, “We do not deduct anything for administrative costs.”
Janet Hood-Hanchey, director of secondary staffing for the LISD and a member of the SDC Neighbor to Neighbor board, said any expenses that may be incurred will be paid for from funds raised through special events.
The first event will be a hot dog cookout, planned for 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the United Community Bank at 2100 FM 407 in Highland Village. Two hot dogs, drink and chips are being offered for $5, with all proceeds going to SDC Neighbor to Neighbor. Orders may be called in at 972-317-9935 and may be picked up at the drive-thru.
“We have no paid staff,” Hood-Hanchey said. “So far, board members have paid for any expenses we have had out of their own pockets.”
“We at LISD decided to follow the lead of the city and support Neighbor to Neighbor rather than United Way,” she said.
Hoey defended United Way’s practice of keeping 15 percent for administrative purposes, saying that United Way provides services to help companies and government agencies raise the most funds.
“United Way of Metropolitan Dallas uses many years of campaign best practices and financial accountability to help maximize employee campaign results,” Hoey said.
He also said volunteers in the Lewisville area decide what funds should be allocated to agencies in the area.
“Last year, $394,637 was raised by the Greater Lewisville United Way,” he said, “but United Way of Metropolitan Dallas returned $751,838 to support Lewisville-area partner agencies, because local citizens directed donations through their United Way workplace campaigns in Dallas and Collin counties.”
“United Way is your best community investment opportunity,” Hoey said. “For the 15 percent, United Way provides unparalleled services in return, which last year resulted in providing more than $750,000 to Lewisville-area partner agencies.”
In addition to the 15 percent United Way keeps for administrative purposes, United Way also offers, for an additional three percent:
*Annual review and evaluation of partner agencies to ensure effective use of resources.
*Development of a community-needs assessment to understand and communicate key trends and health and human service needs across the group’s four-county service area.
*Training agency staffs in program measurement.
Price said the reason the GLUW board dissolved and formed SDC Neighbor to Neighbor was because “we wanted full local control and for decisions to be made by people who grew up in the Lewisville area and love it.”
Although some local volunteers make recommendations as to how United Way funds are allocated, Price said the final decisions are made by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
Jerry Roy, LISD superintendent, said the school district will turn its attention to collecting funds for SDC Neighbor to Neighbor in a few weeks, because now the school district is focusing on raising funds for PediPlace, an organization that provides health care for children in Denton County who have no access to such services due to economic, geographic and/or cultural barriers.
“Our goal for PediPlace is $1 per student, and we have about 50,000 students,” Roy said.
Doug Welch, chief executive officer of Medical Center of Lewisville, said the hospital will offer employees the opportunity to support either the United Way or SDC Neighbor to Neighbor, or both.
“We will pass out pledge cards for both during the last week of October and the first week of November,” Welch said, adding payroll deductions will be offered for both organizations.
“We just wanted to be sure that the agencies didn’t get hurt,” he said. “I want to be sure that they get all that they can. I think both boards (SDC Neighbor to Neighbor and United Way) want that, too.”
Welch was referring to about a dozen agencies in the Greater Lewisville area that have received funds from United Way in the past.
Melinda Galler, director of human resources for the city of Lewisville and vice chairman of SDC Neighbor to Neighbor, said pledge cards will be given to department heads at a kickoff party on Nov. 9, and that employees will return the pledge cards later in the month.
She said the entire SDC Neighbor to Neighbor campaign will continue until spring, and funds will likely be allocated to various agencies in May.
After United Way raised a concern as to whether both United Way and SDC Neighbor to Neighbor could sponsor the same agencies, the SDC Neighbor to Neighbor board is now promising that the funds donated will be designated for the following service areas:
Services to citizens in Southern Denton County who are victims of relationship violence and sexual assault; relief to people who are victims of disasters and in need of emergency assistance; help to residents of Southern Denton County as they prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies; low cost health care to uninsured or under-insured children in Southern Denton County; family counseling services for residents at all income levels; medical and support services for citizens who are HIV positive; assistance and services for children who have been abused or neglected; support for the healthy development and welfare of babies and young children; services to Southern Denton County organizations utilizing the talent pool provided through older adult volunteers; and youth programming that builds self esteem and encourages positive thinking.
United Way agencies, and agencies which may receive help from SDC Neighbor to Neighbor include American Red Cross n Denton branch, Salvation Army n Lewisville Corps, Youth and Family Counseling, Pediplace, Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County, Boy Scouts of America n Longhorn Council, AIDS Services of North Texas, Infant and Toddler Intervention Program of North Texas, Denton County Friends of the Family, Court Appointed Special Advocates, RSVP Serving Denton County and Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas.
Both United Way and SDC Neighbor to Neighbor expect funds will be allocated to various agencies after the drives are concluded in the spring.
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