Below is a letter from our Development Department describing the impending loss of nearly $60,000 in funding from United Way. We will include this in our upcoming newsletter, due out next week, but we have already heard from a number of people who have received 2010 campaign materials from United Way. We appreciate your concerns and hope this will clarify how you can continue to donate to The Arc Hamilton County.
_______________________________________________________________
Dear Arc Supporters,
The
Arc Hamilton County is nearly 65 years old.
However, there are no plans to retire from the work and “sit back in
easy chairs”. On the contrary, the work
continues and seemingly every day there are new challenges facing both the
organization and those with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Specifically,
for more than 53 years The Arc Hamilton County has been part of United Way of
Greater Cincinnati. It has been a
significant partnership which has helped to position The Arc and those it
serves about important tables within this community. And, in recent years the allocation has
provided nearly $60,000 annually for core advocacy services.
The Arc Hamilton County has
been informed that United Way has made a decision to redirect resources away
from The Arc to increase funding for its Agenda for Community Impact. We were informed that this loss to our
funding was not the result of any dissatisfaction with the quality of Arc
services and/or achieved outcomes.
Rather, it was based upon the economic environment and United Way’s
funding priorities.
The Arc Hamilton County’s
priorities remain constant. We are committed to supporting individuals
and families living with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We remain committed to working to minimize
the impact of these disabilities. The reality is that today:
- The vast majority of adults in this
country with disabilities live on incomes significantly below the poverty level
in both good times and bad;
- Although wishing to work, most
individuals with disabilities are chronically underemployed;
-
Social isolation is a reality for far
too many; and
-
Most will experience some type of
abuse within their lifetime.
Consequently,
The Arc Hamilton County’s efforts to stabilize households, provide direct
assistance, develop community systems, make self-advocacy training available,
and referral to information and supports are essential because individuals with
disabilities are too often disproportionally impacted by economic downturns.
History has shown that
securing United Way funding was vital for those who were advocating for
supports for individuals with disabilities when few existed. Replacing those dollars will be critical for
maintaining those supports and for the success of future advocacy efforts.
In
recent years, The Arc Hamilton County has sought to ensure both the stability
of its services and the sustainability of its advocacy efforts by attempting to
secure diversity of funding. The Arc is
very grateful to the many funding sources which have so generously partnered to
create the community we envision: One of open doors where all lives are
valued and celebrated.
That
being said, the loss of United Way support has significant implications.
It
may herald a “new age” which will necessitate revisiting long held practices of
how funding is directed to critical community resources.
Towards
that end, The Arc Hamilton County has created new strategic alliances and is
working to further stabilize itself. One
such strategy is to increase the organization’s own discretionary funding. Should you wish information on planned giving
opportunities and/or how to include The Arc Hamilton County in your estate
contact Jay Allgood @ 821-2113 (ext. 119).
United
Way donor designation:
Again,
The Arc Hamilton County is very grateful to those of you who have donated to
The Arc by designating your United Way pledges to us. Thank you for your support of persons with
disabilities and their families. If our
issues continue to resonate with you, we ask that you consider maintaining your
personal donation to The Arc. We are told United Way will no longer honor
United Way campaign donor designations to The Arc.
Please
consider continuing your support by contributing to The Arc Hamilton County
directly.
If you
wish to make routine contributions via payroll deduction, consider establishing
an electronic deduction. Please apprise
your employer of your contributions – this may allow your employer to match
your dollars. Should you need any
assistance with this please give us a call.
Yours Sincerely,
Jay Allgood
Mark Shannon
Tifanei Moyer
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