OUR VIEW: You can help United Way campaign meet goal
Published: October 2, 2009
» Culpeper is a giving community, and we hope $500K can be raised for charitable groups in need.
In trying economic times, organizations that rely on donations to survive are often hit the hardest. Unfortunately, these are the very organizations helping people whose needs are greater than ever.
Piedmont United Way serves as a clearing house for many local groups that do community outreach — groups that help those in need. And even though the economy is tough right now, this dedicated group charged with raising funds has set an ambitious goal of $500,000 for its 2009-10 campaign.
To help the 45-plus local organizations that rely on United Way funding, Director Jack Garber is asking people to give what they can.
A lot of folks donate to United Way through workplace initiatives, and the good thing is that no matter where you work — northern Virginia, D.C., Fredericksburg or Charlottesville — your charitable giving can come back to the Piedmont chapter. To make that happen, just check with the plan administrator at your job.
The bottom line: Give if you can. A lot of great organizations depend on United Way to help our community. “We’re asking people to dig a little deeper,” Garber said. “If they realize neighbors and friends are hurting, maybe they’ll be willing to give a little more.”
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AMERICAN LEGION TRIP: There are many unique ways to honor our war heroes. Take, for instance, one local group’s donation to help local veterans visit memorials erected in their honor in our nation’s capital.
Kudos to American Legion Post 330 for donating $2,700 to the National Honor Flight Network to help sponsor World War II and Korean War veterans across the nation with an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
“The goal is to get them up here to see the memorials before they die off,” said Jerry Beckett, American Legion Post 330 commander, who noted that the average World War II veteran is now 83 years old.
Congratulations to Post 330 for helping about 20 vets make this important trip.
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Reader Reactions
Why doesn’t United Way list all the organizations that the money goes toward as well as the money that is used for administration? Some of us still haven’t forgotten the scandal involving the U.W. director who used the money for a high life of his own. And some of the U.W. funded organizations I wouldn’t necessarily support. I never contribute to United Way - I have specific causes that I believe deserve the help and donate to them.
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