Seeking local support to help those in need
Greenwich United Way Kicks off annual campaign
GREENWICH — As the coronavirus took its toll on the local economy, the Greenwich United Way has been there to help those in need, giving more than $500,000 in grants to area nonprofits since the pandemic began.
To be prepared to continue helping the community in the future, the Greenwich United Way kicked off its annual fundraising campaign with a brief ceremony outside Town Hall on Wednesday morning.
“The annual campaign is an opportunity for the entire community to come
together to support each other and, most importantly, support the one-third of our residents who are living either below the federal poverty level or are barely making it by,” Greenwich United Way board Chair Eileen Ohnell Kim said. “Donations to the campaign fund work to support our efforts to ensure that every member of the local community is healthy, educated and self-sufficient.”
To be ready to respond, the Greenwich United Way must remain closely attuned to the needs of residents, particularly during a time of state and federal cutbacks, she said.
CEO David Rabin called the Greenwich United Way “the ears and the eyes” of the community due to its frequent contact with local human services agencies. With all of its community partnerships, the nonprofit is positioned to bring together resources for those in need, he said.
The money raised during the campaign goes to nonprofits providing direct support to residents, Rabin said. Before the grants are made, the Greenwich United Way researches the nonprofits and then requires follow-up reports to show how the money is used. Measuring the impact of the grants ensures there is accountability, he said.
“We find out what does the grantee do, how well did they do it and who is better off and how,” Rabin said. “What the Greenwich United Way is, is the fabric of our community.”
Over the last 20 years, the Greenwich United Way has invested nearly $47 million in the community, he said. The nonprofit is readying its latest needs assessment to determine the priority areas for funding in the community.
“We uncover those unmet health, education and self-sufficiency needs, raise awareness and support and develop lasting solutions,” Rabin said. “Many of those lasting solutions are the very agencies we fund. In other words, we find it, we fund it and we fix it.”
First Selectman Fred Camillo offered his strong support of the Greenwich United Way’s efforts. At the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, it was the United Way that reached out to help community embers in need, continuing a nearly 90-year tradition in town, he said.
“In Greenwich, we are blessed with so many organizations that help individuals and other organizations,” Camillo said. “But there’s one that very clearly stands out. One that has been doing it since 1933 and one that has assessed all of our needs in town and then found ways to address them and find solutions. When we were faced with this pandemic, David reached out to me on behalf of the United Way to see how they could help feed kids who were going to be without school lunches because the buildings had to close. … We had to find a way to act quickly and we did.”
The resulted in the creation of the Greenwich COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, which has issued grants this year totaling more than $500,000 to nonprofits including Neighbor to Neighbor, Family Centers Inc., Jewish Family Services, YWCA Greenwich, Liberation Programs, the Transportation Association of Greenwich and more.
Kim said there was “100 percent board participation” at the beginning of the campaign, which means each board member has already committed to making a donation to the Greenwich United Way as well as reach out in the community to find further support.
The board’s commitment gets the campaign “off on a strong start,” she said.
Board member Diane Viton is chairing the annual campaign efforts.
“We are so lucky we live in a community that understands and is generous in helping those who need it,” Viton said. “In the past, people have been very generous in stepping up to help meet those needs and we hope that continues to happen. We will be reaching out and showing all the good we’ve done. We’re going to make sure people see where the help is needed.”
The Greenwich United Way has also planned several fundraising events. The Brew Ha Ha comedy fundraiser on Oct. 16 and the Sole Sisters Luncheon on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22 will be virtual events due to the pandemic. The Oct. 5 golf tournament at Greenwich Country Club will still be held with safety precautions in place.
For more information about donating, visit www.greenwichunitedway.org.