‘Susquehanna Valley United Way’ Launches
DANVILLE – The newly merged United Way organizations in our area officially have a new name. The new ‘Susquehanna Valley United Way’ officially launched during the organization’s recent campaign kickoff.
President and CEO Adrienne Mael say both organizations have gone through a ‘hybrid’ period to test the merger, “So we came together and it started to go really smoothly. Then in June we had a unanimous board vote on both sides to come together. So we picked this early September timeframe to say, ‘hey, we’re doing it. We are one.’”
Mael says the former separate organizations – Columbia Montour United Way and Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way – were already using the same programs and shared similar core values.
Mael says the first campaign since the merger is a little different this year, looking to maximize $3.5 million in active grants, so this year’s goal is $650,000, “I know that seems a little bit low, but historically, especially on the Greater Susquehanna Valley side, the grants and the fundraising were all brought together as one. We’re gonna split those out so we can be a little bit more clear moving forward of what’s grants and what’s that fundraising goal?”
Mael says what won’t change is the organization’s goal of addressing what’s impacting the community, “So that’s the understanding of needs in the community and calling people to the table around these needs. We’re not necessarily the expert, but we do love to call people to the table to say, ‘hey, we know there’s some need here, how do we accomplish it together?’ What we’re now seeing is how do we help infuse these projects with money?”
Mael says some new initiatives set to begin this year include helping teens with mental health, substance abuse and other issues, along with Law Enforcement Treatment Initiatives in Northumberland, Snyder and Columbia counties. Hear more on the WKOK.com Podcast Page, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
