Annual Report 2011
Welcome to our 2011 Annual Report. The following report highlights our accomplishments in fiscal year 2011. We hope that you find this information useful. You can either read the entire report by scrolling down or use the Overview links to jump to a specific section. For a print version, please click here.
We raised a record-breaking $10.5 million during the campaign and made significant progress on our community initiatives that focus on:
- helping people get the proper education.
- helping youth develop skills for the future.
- helping households become financially stable.
- helping people be healthy.
- helping people find meaningful volunteer opportunities.
Lois Buntz
We serve a six-county area that includes Linn, Benton, Iowa, Jones, Cedar and Washington counties.
Campaign
Cindy Dietz
“The 2010 community campaign was such a success… it’s great to know that people all across the six county area are willing to come together to support community needs through United Way,” said Cindy Dietz, who is with Rockwell Collins and served as chair of the Board of Directors in 2011.
“My involvement with United Way has been very rewarding on many levels… but most importantly, I’m proud to be part of this effort that is improving lives in our community.”
Dollars were distributed to 37 partner agencies in our continued effort to work on financial stability, health and education of the community as a whole.
With the record-breaking year we are thankful to the roughly 500 companies and 24,367 people who were our partners through donations in working on community problems. The generous contributions are a testimony to the great commitment businesses and individuals have for improving lives and helping those most in need. Thank you!
Our societies are continuing to increase the amount of funds raised, which in turn helps us help more people. (Sinclair took a a dip after the threshold was increased from $1,000 to $1,250.)
At a glance:
Young Leaders: Donors who give more than $250 and are under age 40.
Women’s Leadership Initiative: Donors who designate $500 or more to this initiative.
Quarton Society: Donors who give between $500 and $1,249.
Sinclair Society: Donors who give between $1,250 and $9,999.
Tocqueville Society: Donors who give more than $10,000.
Nancy Craig
“We are glad to see an increase in leadership donations, which in turn help us improve conditions in the community,” said Nancy Craig, VP of Resource Development.
Our societies are making a difference. Here’s a story from Women’s Leader Ashley Ernst:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxbL95YaZbw]
Video not playing? Read the transcript here.
2010 United Way Resource Overview
To review our 990 click here or for our annual audit click here.
Community Issues and Investments
Leslie Wright
“Last year we made great strides toward our five community goals,” said Leslie Wright, VP of Community Building at United Way.
“We created new partnerships with local agencies and our community college and we engaged the community in creating lasting change through events like Day of Caring and the Education Forum. We helped more than 100,000 people in Eastern Iowa.”
So how did 2011 investments make a difference in people’s lives? Here’s a breakdown:
Office Move
We moved into the new Human Services Campus at 317 Seventh Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.
“We were very excited to move into the Human Service Campus in January of 2011, along with 12 other nonprofit agencies,” said CEO Lois Buntz. ”
A look at the new building:
Our community has a growing poverty rate and more families without access to the resources they need to cover their basic needs including food, shelter, and health care.
In the coming year United Way will work with hundreds of partners across eastern Iowa to create a brighter future for all our residents. Read on for more information on what we will be working on.
Education
Well-being is based on a combination of education, income and health. But education is particularly important because a person’s education often determines their ability to access healthcare and the amount of income they earn over their lifetime. For this reason United Way will focus a lot of attention on supporting the educational success of children in our community.
Last year, United Way dollars helped 593 children attend quality childcare and preschool programs. But 50% of low-income children enter kindergarten without the skills they need to succeed.
Parents are their children’s first teachers and United Way helped 717 parents attend education and skill building classes. There are more than 4900 low-income children in Linn County whose parents would benefit from support.
Last year United Way supported positive out of school time programming for more than 1,000 low-income youth. These programs help youth develop the skills they need to succeed in school, work and life. But there is more to do. In the metro area alone it is estimated that 70% of students have two or more risk factors that may prevent them from succeeding in school.
It is harder for families to meet their healthcare needs. United Way investments fill gaps in services for many of our most vulnerable families. With looming budget cuts and mental health system changes our community will face many challenges in providing needed services and supports.
Last year United Way partners provided 11,736 adults with mental health services. It is estimated there are an additional 30,302 persons who need but may not be receiving mental health counseling within our service area.
3,694 low-income women received prescription assistance, eye care, dental care and medical co-pays. We estimate there are an additional 2,256 low-income, uninsured women in need within our service area.
United Way provided 2,499 adults with substance abuse treatment. This is only a small percentage of the persons who need but may not be receiving treatment for substance abuse issues within our service area
Iowa is aging. As the number of senior citizens continues to grow it will be essential to find the resources to help every older adult remain healthy at home for as long as possible.
Last year, United Way dollars supported 9,828 older adults with services that allowed then to remain safe and health at home. We estimate there are an additional 1,880 older adults in need of home and community based services.
United Way provided 2,273 older adults with a nutritious, home-delivered meal. We estimate there are an additional 8,864 older adults in need within our service area. United Way provided 360 older adults with adult daycare services. We estimate there are an additional 6,446 older adults needing the service within our service area.
United Way provided 327 older adults with chore services. We estimate there are an additional 28,752 older adults in need of assistance within our service area.
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The hourly median wage in the Cedar Rapids area (Benton, Jones and Linn counties) is $15.69. This equates to $628 a week, $2,510 a month, and $30,125 a year, which is not enough for some families to meet basic needs. (Source: Iowa Policy Project, The Cost of Living in Iowa Report, January 2010.)
Education and Training Needs of Local Employers
Regional employers are projecting nearly 12,000 new and replacement workers will be needed through 2014. These new and replacement positions require education beyond a high school diploma:
- 66% require education beyond a high school diploma and
- 51% require education of a two-year degree and beyond. (Source: Skills 2014 Report)
211
In calendar year 2010, 53,116 calls were made to 211.
“Many calls are questions surrounding helping people with housing, income assistance, food and meals assistance, healthcare support as well as other support, “said Chris Juett, 211 Program Manager. “There’s definitely a need for a one-stop shop where the community can go to get questions answered.”
Volunteering
We continue to work on finding meaningful volunteer opportunities for community members. We know that many agencies could not function without volunteers. We also know that volunteering can be very meaningful for community members.
Our volunteer site at UnitedWayofEastCentralIowa.org/VolunteerNow usually has more than 140 volunteer opportunities listed through 80 agencies.
“Many agencies would not be able to provide services to the community without the help of volunteers,” said Sue Driscoll, manager of volunteer services. “In 2011 United Way conducted an agency survey to determine the role volunteers play within nonprofits. 33% of the agencies responded that volunteers play a large role in their organization and 35% stated volunteers are the main workforce. Volunteers are important in making a difference in our community.Statistics from Volunteering in America show that more than one-third of Cedar Rapidians volunteer.
“That’s good news and we believe this can help us advance the common good,” Driscoll said.
Some other highlights from 2010-2011:
- We coordinated 1,250 volunteers on the annual Day of Caring, where companies allow employees to spend several hours volunteer for a cause.
- We referred 2,400 people to volunteer opportunities.
- We coordinated more than 85,000 hours of volunteer service, valued at $1.8 million.
A Special Thanks
We appreciate our 2010-2011 Board of Directors and Trustees:
2010-2011 Board of Directors
Joan Aune, AEGON USA, Inc.
Jon Bancks, Merrill Lynch
Dave Benson, Cedar Rapids Community Schools
John Bickel, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll PLC
Barry Boyer, Van Meter Industrial
Gilda Boyer, Community Volunteer
Greg Brecht, Cargill
Karl Cassell, Civil Rights Commission
Gary Chadick, Rockwell Collins
Kyle Decker, Bergan Paulsen
Cindy Dietz, Rockwell Collins
Ray Dochterman, Plumbers & Pipefitters UW Local 125
Jane Drapeaux, HACAP
Cathy Gullickson, Community Volunteer
Marc Gullickson, Ryan Companies
Jim Haddad, Yellowbook
Stuart Haker, TrueNorth Companies
Brad Hart, Bradley & Riley
Larry Helling, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust
Dennis Jordan, Priority One
Tim Kintner, Bankers Trust
Kevin Knutson, Holmes Murphy & Associates
Doug Kopp, Alliant Energy
Dick Lorenz, NSI Marketing Services
Beth Malicki, SourceMedia
Dick Meisterling, Coe College
Katie Mulholland, Linn-Mar Community School District
Greg Neumeyer, BankIowa
Matt O’Rourke, AEGON USA, Inc.
Maureen Osako, Informatics
Mary Ann Osborn, St. Luke’s Hospital
Steve Ovel, Kirkwood Community College
Rue Patel, General Mills
Hazel Pegues, Diversity Focus
Dick Pilcher, U.S. Bank
David Pohlman, GreatAmerica Leasing
Terry Roemig, The Kitchen Sink
Marcia Rogers, SmartVote, The AdTrack Corporation
Susan Spivey, Kaplan University
Melodee Webb, Rockwell Collins
Mike Wilkins, United Fire Group
2010-2011 Board of Trustees
Tom Aller, Alliant Energy
Terri Christoffersen, Community Volunteer
Lee Clancey, Community Volunteer
Loren Coppock, TrueNorth Companies
Jack Cosgrove, Community Volunteer
Cindy Dietz, Rockwell Collins
Steve Dummermuth, Iowa Glass
Kathy Eno, Community Volunteer
Rex Eno, Community Volunteer
Jack Evans, The Hall-Perrine Foundation
Tom Hayden, Shive-Hattery, Inc.
Larry Helling, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust
Jared Hills, Divine Engineering
Joe Hladky, SourceMedia
Jim Hoffman, Community Volunteer
Dick Johnson, Community Volunteer
Clay Jones, Rockwell Collins
Frank Kintzle, Principal Financial
Barbara Knapp, Lil’ Drug Store Products, Inc.
Robert Kucharski, Alliant Energy
Susan McDermott, Washington High School
David Miller, Community Volunteer
Cheryle Mitvalsky, Community Volunteer
Iris Muchmore, Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC
Chuck Peters, SourceMedia
Mary Quass, NRG Media LLC
John Rife, McIntyre Foundation
Joe Schimberg, Schimberg Company
John Smith, CRST International
Gary Streit, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll PLC
Dan Thies, OPN Architects, Inc.
Jim Tinker, MercyCare Service Corporation
Ted Townsend, St. Luke’s Hospital
John Wasta, Pioneer Workspace Solutions
