Thanks to the generous support of the community members and businesses, we raised $287,000 during the 2015 fundraising campaign. UGN continues to lead our community’s efforts to address critical needs in Jefferson County by funding a wide range of safety net services and programs.
UGN is a critical partner for us. We are a safety net program that answers emergency requests for help from anyone in East Jefferson County. Without our UGN grant, 300 people in the county would be without food, utilities, shelter, medical care and other emergency assistance. As one of our clients wrote to us, ‘You truly saved us—our power, my peace of mind, and gave me hope again. Thank you – thank you – thank you.’ Elizabeth Minter, president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of East Jefferson County.
UGN is the only organization in Jefferson County that fund critical services in our communities through a citizen led review and granting process. We are able to fund these programs because of the generous financial support of community members and local businesses. It is our donors that ensure critical safety services are available to those who need them in our County.
UGN funding is proportionately a very large part of the budget that enables our clinic to keep its doors open. Without UGN funding, and the generous support of private donors we could not offer free mental health counseling to the young people of this community. Karen Cicarrone, manager of the OlyCAP Counseling Clinic
Karen recalled a moment when she was sharing information with a local congregation about the counseling clinic:
A woman stood up, pointed at me and said, ‘You saved my niece’s life. For months, the OlyCAP Counseling clinic treated her niece outside of normal clinical hours. She eventually told her family that prior to counseling, she had planned to take her own life. I felt overwhelmed with emotion that our tiny grass roots clinic was so instrumental in helping this young woman overcome her depression and plans of suicide
Given this result, in 2016 we expect to grant about $252,000 to health and human services programs in the county, which is about equal to the amount granted in 2015, the largest in UGN’s history. However, since our current campaign support stands at $63,000 below last year, we may need to supplement with reserve funds in order to continue our positive trend in increasing program support which has increased every year over the past five years.
Reducing our funding of health and human service programs is something we don’t want to do. In 2015 we invited the community to Rise to the Challenge to fund our safety net services. It’s not too late for people to donate to help us avoid tapping into our reserve fund to sustain our 2015 level of allocations. Steve Rafoth, UGN Board Chair
Workplace campaigns represent 20% of the total dollars raised by UGN but there has been decline in workplace giving in the past two years, reflecting a similar decline in workplace campaigns experienced by United Ways across the country. In 2015, Port Townsend Paper Corporation (PTPC) and Jefferson Healthcare (JHC) accounted for the largest percentage of workplace donations. They teamed up and together employees contributed $60,000. PTPC matches employee contributions for an additional $15,000. In addition, the three school districts combined forces in 2015 and raised $5,000. “We are grateful for the steady support of PTPC and JHC employees and were excited by the Combined Schools Campaign spearheaded by the three superintendents,” said Russell.
Donations can be made online at WeAreUGN.org or sent to: UGN, 201-B West Paterson Street, Port Hadlock, and WA 98339. To learn more UGN and their partner organizations, visit United Good Neighbors website at www.weareugn.org.