The United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area campaign has one of the lowest costs of fundraising drives in the United States. Last year, 14% of our total revenue was spent for management and fundraising purposes. The Council for Better Business Bureaus notes that overhead expenses of 35% are acceptable for a charitable organization.

Through the Program Review & Funding Committee, local volunteers assure contributors that their donations will go where they are needed most in the community.

Distribution of campaign dollars is decided by volunteers who work year-round to carefully weigh the needs of the community so as to assure you that your campaign dollars are used in the most efficient, effective manner possible. This committee reviews all funding requests, meets with agency representatives, prioritizes community needs, seeks effective and efficient service delivery, looks for ways for community agencies to cooperate and collaborate, and proposes funding recommendations for local programs to best serve those in need. Your input into the distribution of funds is important and welcome.

The United Way invites you to serve on the Program Review & Funding Committee.

Funds are distributed where they will do the most good for the entire community. People of all income levels in our community receive services through the programs funded by the United Way, such as: dependent care assistance; help for the elderly and disabled, or homeless individuals with families; family counseling; disaster/ emergency assistance; and other services.

Serious local issues affect the entire community. For example, children living in poverty go to school with our children, and grow up to be adults who want to be productive members of the community.

We all have charities that are of special importance to us. The United Way is here to serve our community, and encourages everyone to support local non-profit agencies. For many individuals the United Way option of payroll deduction enables them to easily make a greater contribution annually than they would otherwise be able. Payroll giving results in annual donations that are 4 to 7 times greater, on average, than one-time cash gifts.

However, if you do choose to designate a portion of your gift to a specific agency, please consider making a gift to the United Way as well. The United Way is uniquely positioned to ensure that your gift helps those who are in the most desperate need in our community. You will help those who need it most.

If everyone who gave last year increased their donation by even a small amount, together we could accomplish tremendous things, funding entire programs. Those less fortunate truly need our help. There are many, many needs that remain unmet due to lack of funds.

• 1,284 homeless adults and children from Charlottesville and surrounding counties received 19,800 nights of lodging and 29,245 meals during 2000.
• The teen pregnancy rate in Charlottesville is twice the state average.
• More than 3,000 local children are not covered by basic health insurance.
• 11% of people over the age of 65 in Albemarle County live in poverty, 13% in Charlottesville, 20% in Fluvanna, 21% in Greene, 22% in Louisa, and 27% in Nelson County.
• The child abuse rates in Charlottesville and Fluvanna are nearly double the state average.