Lycoming County United Way completes funding process

With the finalization of the annual funds distribution process, Lycoming County United Way (LCUW), through its various funding programs, has provided $1,373,576 to support the work of human service programs benefiting Lycoming County residents.

“While many view the work of Lycoming County United Way through the eyes of the annual fall campaign, we are engaged in a 12-month process that continually collaborates with a variety of sources to maximize funding streams in support of the vital work being done by the human service network throughout our area,” said Scott N. Lowery, LCUW executive director. “This past year has been one of daunting challenges, significant successes and true testament to the resolve of the human spirit. We greatly appreciate the public’s trust and volunteer spirit that has enabled us to forward our mission in mobilizing resources to improve lives right here in Lycoming County.”

Beginning in late April, more than 70 volunteers, divided among five community needs panels, met with representatives of service providers to complete the funds distribution process, allocating $1,013,877 to human service programs serving Lycoming County. Each program was evaluated for its efficiency of operation, financial accountability, and impact within the community. Recommendations for funding to those programs were presented to the LCUW Board of Directors at its May meeting. The Board approved the recommendations, putting to work the generosity of LCUW’s donors.

“The community volunteers who make up our panel do a tremendous job with this difficult task,” said Tom O’Connell, volunteer chair of the LCUW funds distribution committee. “The dedicated volunteers take the time to review each of the agencies to get a firm understanding of its impact on the community and that is no easy task.”
“Although we had $83,572 more than last year to allocate, the requests for funding we received totaled $144,674 more than we had to give. Although the programs that we fund provide valuable services to our community, it is impossible to meet 100 percent of each request,” O’Connell added.

This was another unique year for the allocation process, O’Connell said.

“We have changed the way we provide information to our panel members with a technology-driven system, making it easier to conduct the necessary review process,” he said. “This change made it easier to look at the program’s. We were able to focus on the success of the program, how well it’s doing, and how it affects the community.”
LCUW funds were distributed to the following programs, comprising five community needs Impact areas.

Caring for people in crisis - $268,709.49
Diakon Family Life Services
Family and Individual Counseling - $85,000
YWCA of North Central Pennsylvania
Court Appointed Special Advocate - $35,000
Liberty House - $37,000
Wise Options – $55,000
North Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross
Disaster  - $30,709.49
Journey House - $26,000

Nurturing our children - $155,877.91
Campbell Street Family and Youth Center - $36,000
After School Program

Sunsational

Summer of Fun

Diakon Family Life Services
Girls on the Run - $10,000
River Valley YMCA

Youth Program - $15,000

Childcare - $55,000

Valley Prevention Services

Youth education on substance abuse - $28,500

Susquehanna Council Boy Scouts of America
Youth development - $11,377.91

Serving those with special needs - $340,557.68
Children’s Development Center
Pre-school and autism - $124,000
Hope Enterprises
Transportation – $65,216
North Central Sight Services
Prevention of Blindness - $10,000
Social Services - $18,500
American Rescue Workers
Comprehensive  Emergency Assistance Program /Saving Grace - $125,000

Strengthening our families - $179,000
STEP, Inc.
Linkage Lycoming - $40,000
James V. Brown Library
The Learning Center - $60,000
Susquehanna Health
Nurse Family Partnership - $40,000
Jersey Shore YMCA
Brick House - $39,000

Supporting our seniors - $43,295
Office of Aging
Home-delivered meals - $12,000
Congregate meals - $6,000
River Valley Regional YMCA
Seniors program - $10,000
Albright LIFE
Transportation - $15,295

In addition, LCUW funded $26,436.82 to the following Outreach programs:

American Red Cross (Service to the Armed Forces) - $5,000
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank - $5,775
Shepherd of the Streets Dental - $5,000
Muncy Outreach
School Health (Dental) - $1,000
Library - $1,351
Montgomery Outreach
School Heath (Dental) - $1343.16
Library - $1397.16
Montoursville Outreach
Library - $1,273
East Lycoming Outreach
School Health (Dental) - $1,200
Library - $1,233
Jersey Shore Outreach - $1,864.50

These announced allocations will be distributed to the various programs on a monthly basis beginning in July.

“By taking a look at the outcomes of each program, we really have adopted a good process for meeting the community needs,” said Mary Wolf, president of LCUW’s board of directors. “It’s a good process and it has a lot of integrity.”

While the focus of LCUW funding has an outcomes-based emphasis, its mission to “mobilize resources to improve lives” and the utilization of community volunteers has not changed.

“Certainly, the volunteers reviewing it and asking the questions are making wise decisions,” Wolf said. “We trust that these community members have a good sense of the needs surrounding us and have the ability to make decisions to help improve those surrounding problem areas.”

LCUW allocates an additional funding of $30,639 through “Impact Initiatives” – grants for programs that provide a new service or enhance an existing program. The recipients of these grants will be determined in August with funding emphasis based upon the results of the 2012 Community Needs Assessment Survey.

In collaboration with a variety of additional funding sources LCUW-administered funding includes $148,011 to sub-recipients of federal grants, $130,049 in donor-designated contributions that are distributed to non-LCUW-affiliated nonprofit programs and $51,000 for early childhood education programs.

For more information about Lycoming County United Way, call 570-323-9448 or visit www.lcuw.org.