To provide help to people who really need help. To increase effective use of contributed dollars through a cost-efficient annual fund drive. To provide free of charge to all Portage County residents information and referral to services throughout Portage County. United Way's First Call for Help manages over 14,000 calls a year, maintains a database of over 800 programs in Portage County, and produces numerous resource publications for schools, hospitals, other organizations, and residents. To identify important needs in the community and target funding to help meet those needs.
Agencies are businesses.
They have salaries to pay, occupancy costs, utilities, financial management expenses, promotional costs, and other administrative and program expenses. Providing services is not free. Support from United Way helps minimize the cost for those who cannot afford to pay the entire cost of a service. Over 100 unpaid volunteers who live and work in Portage County and who care about people oversee the organizations' operations. Volunteers organize campaigns, supervise audits, budget funds, develop services, determine policy and make up the United Way's Board of Directors .