Each year the United Fund of Surry publishes a Request for Proposals to nonprofits in the county to make a proposal for funding from the group. The United Fund is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen and serve this community by helping meet the needs of all its neighbors.
Allocations are made to local non-profit groups across four areas of priority: crisis, seniors, medical and family/youth. Melissa Hiatt, Executive Director of the United Fund of Surry, reported that this year 28 applications were received for membership and funding.
What makes the United Fund different from the other organization with a similar name, The United Way, is that contributions made from workplace campaigns, fundraising, individual donations, and grant dollars all stay local. The United Fund of Surry does give some support to organization outside Surry County whose mission serves those in the county.
To make the difficult determination as to which of the applying organizations will receive funding from the United Fund, Hiatt said an allocations team of five board members reviews applications and determines if a non-profit is eligible for membership into the United Fund as a whole before a funding decision can be made. Once an agency is a member, they then can be considered for financial support through a disbursement.
The application process not only requires sharing the applying organizations history, financial records, and services they provide, but how the United Fund dollars will be utilized. The funded agencies are required to submit a year-end report of services provided as well as collaborate with other member agencies and attend United Fund events.
One new agency was admitted into the membership this year, Positive Wellness Alliance. PWA assists individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, to help ensure a good quality of life through confidential, person centered case management. “We are very excited about our new member,” Hiatt said.
“There are over 70 individuals living in Surry County that are HIV positive that deserve personalized, attentive, and compassionate service in their home community.”
Hiatt said that while fundraising events like the recent Rocks and Runs races help her group, more funding is always needed. “Although the United Fund was successful in surpassing its fundraising goal, it was still an exceedingly difficult process. Increased cost of doing business for our member agencies and developing needs of citizens, creates a need for increased funding each year.”
The United Fund serves a wide swath of residents from across age groups and income level. From the annual report for 2021, United Fund organizations aided 26,458 residents of Surry County in delivering 103,537 units of service. Hiatt said that is the equivalent of nearly one-third of the population of Surry County having received at least one benefit from a member organization of the United Fund.
Last month, the United Fund announced a goal of $500,000 for their 2022-2023 Campaign and their Campaign Cabinet. Hiatt said, “Although $500,000 is a lofty goal, I am certain the always amazing citizens of Surry County will step up to the plate in this campaign and help meet this goal.”
The half million-dollar goal will help a lot of people across the county. To that end the United Fund announced the following agencies who will receive funding and the categories each group falls under. Agencies receiving funding are:
Crisis: American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, The Shepherd’s House, Surry Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Program, Surry Homeless and Affordable Housing Coalition, and Yokefellow Cooperative Ministry.
Medical: Ararat Rescue Squad, Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, Dobson Rescue Squad, Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, Mount Airy Rescue Squad, Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad, and Surry Medical Ministries.
Family & Youth: Armfield Civic Center-Camp Pilot Mountain & Scholarships, Boy Scouts -Old Hickory Council, Childrens Center of Northwest North Carolina, Girl Scouts-Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont,
Reeves Community Center Foundation, Surry Arts Council-Special Needs Program, Surry Friends of Youth, and Parenting Path.
Seniors: Meals on Wheels/Senior Center/RSVP and Webb Southern Carroll Community Club.
Source: https://www.mtairynews.com