Member News

The United Way of Lebanon County has a long history in the Lebanon Valley community. Before joining United Way Worldwide in 1975, the organization existed as the Lebanon County Community Chest from 1931-1975. Though the name was different, the basic premise of the organization was the same. A local impact organization, the goal of the United Way is to discover & address community needs in Lebanon County and to partner with appropriate agencies to meet those needs.

“The United Way is able to accomplish its goal of advancing the common good through the partnerships established in the business community,” the United Way of Lebanon County’s CEO Kenny Montijo stated.

These partnerships are what helped the United Way of Lebanon County to reach its campaign goal for the second year in a row. In 2014, corporate, foundations and individual donor contributions surpassed United Way’s $1.85 million goal. With such humbling and amazing results, it is easy to see how United Way’s relationship with Lebanon Valley’s community and business leaders is absolutely essential.

“Our responsibility is to increase our engagement with supporters,” stated Montijo, “so that they are more in tune with how the United Way is investing. Our strength lies in the trust we’ve built with the community. That trust is critical to advancing the common good.”

Between January and March, over 45 community leaders and volunteers review program and allocation funding requests. These volunteers visit the individual agencies, talk with their clients, and enter into discussions with the agencies’ leadership teams. They use the information garnered from this intense research, along with the knowledge of current community needs, to make informed funding decisions. Once the volunteers set their suggested investment strategies for the agency funding, they go to the board for approval.

Currently, there are 31 community leaders on United Way’s board, representing various sectors of the Lebanon Valley community. The board sets the direction and vision of the United Way and ensures the community’s resources are having a positive local impact. The review process for requests made for funds the United Way raised during the 2014-15 campaign will conclude in May.

According to Montijo, “The community has identified the United Way as a leader among the non-profit organizations, identifying needs and developing strategies to address community conditions. This speaks to the mission of the United Way.”

In order to be a leader in the community, Montijo said that the United Way has to strive for increased engagement and must ensure that the community’s investments are achieving measurable and sustainable results. This includes funding programs that provide support and training to individuals in need in the community, which is not to say that all of those in need are poor. Montijo stated that those in need often include professionals and other individuals and families experiencing challenging times.  

For example, one program which the United Way provides involves training for individuals who are facing a lay-off. Montijo said that the United Way partners with local organizations such as the Department of Labor to provide resources for employees of organizations facing workforce reductions or closures.

Looking ahead into 2015, the United Way will once again hold its annual Day of Caring on April 18. Last year, over 1,300 volunteers came out to help non-profit organizations in Lebanon County. The United Way’s “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive will take place in July. The supplies donated during this event support the outreach performed by organizations such as the Salvation Army and local childcare centers.

Many people may not be aware that in our community one in three people use a United Way-funded service. The United Way of Lebanon County has an expansive impact on the Lebanon Valley, this place that we all call home. In order to have this impact, the United Way must be a leader, must develop collaborative partnerships, must identify needs in the community and invest in solutions, and must maintain and continuously develop a network of dedicated volunteers.  

Anyone interested in becoming involved in the organization and its partner agencies can visit the United Way’s website at www.unitedwaylebco.org, or call them at 717-273-8144.