2015-2016 Campaign Annual Report

The 2015-2016 campaign had the United Way board and staff “Charting the Course to Change” through new staff and board leadership, financial oversight from Cowlitz Family Health Center, and integration of new sound financial policies and procedures.

One major change this year was our decision to only award grants to partner agencies based on actual dollars collected by the end of our campaign. In years past, we allocated money that was pledged rather than money in the bank. This new policy will protect all stakeholders involved: partner agencies and the people they help, donors, and the United Way. Grants this year were less than in previous years because of this strategic policy change, which sets a foundation for financial stability and promotes the sustainability of our collective efforts.

The United Way board and staff worked hard this past year to validate and improve upon existing relationships while cultivating new ones throughout our community. This campaign we chose to focus on agencies whose efforts improve healthy lifestyles and behaviors in our communities, and we’re proud of the partnership we have with every one of the 20 agencies that received United Way funding.

It has been a rewarding journey for me to work alongside our dedicated board members, Dave Green and Brooke Fisher-Clark. Together, we share the same passion for our communities as we strive to improve the quality of life through the areas of health, education and income.

I encourage anyone who reads this annual report to note the difficult, yet necessary changes that were made to improve the operation and strength of United Way, and consider giving, advocating or volunteering to support the essential programs that improve the quality of life for our family, friends and neighbors in need. Your time and/or monetary contributions make a difference!

I am looking forward to being a part of United Way’s continued journey to greatness, and I hope you will join me in supporting it as well.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT

MISSION STATEMENT

It is the mission of United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum

Counties to unite people and resources by leading

community efforts to care for one another.

John Anderson-Board President

Anderson & Anderson Advisory

Brent Arnold-Board Member

Cowlitz PUD

Arika Atkins-Board Member

Weyerhaeuser

Graham Bailey-Treasurer

NORPAC

Sue Cameron-Board Member

Wahkiakum County Health & Human Services

Russ Chittock-Board Member

Prestige Senior Living-Monticello Park

Mick Fox-Board Member

Active Community Volunteer

Glenn Gelbrich-Media/Communications Chair

Kelso Public Schools-Superintendent

Jeff Huckestein-Board Member

KapStone Paper & Packaging

Mike Karnofski-Board Member

Cowlitz County-Commissioner

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2015-2016)

Margaret Lapic-Board Vice President

Active Community Volunteer

Nadine Lemmons-Board Member

Lower Columbia College

Greg McCormick-Campaign/Grant Chair

Mark Morris High School

Terry McLaughlin-Secretary

Cowlitz County-Assessor

John Paul-Board Member

KLOG/KUKN/The Wave

JD Rossetti-Past President

District Representative

Judi Smith-Board Development Chair

Active Community Volunteer

Hyatt Yu-Board Member

Kaiser Permanente

UNITED WAY STAFF (2015-2016)

Brooke Fisher-Clark

Director of Community Resources

Dave Green

Executive Director

PARTNER AGENCIES 2015-2016 CAMPAIGN

Been There Done That

Boy Scouts-Chinook District

Castle Rock Senior Center

Children’s Justice & Advocacy Center

Columbia Wellness

Community Caring Project

Community Health Partners

Community House on Broadway

Cowlitz County CASA

Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Legal Aid

Emergency Support Shelter

Ethnic Support Council

FISH of Cowlitz County

Friends of Longview Senior Center

Life Works

Lower Columbia Head Start

Oxford House

Progress Center

St. James Family Center

Volunteer Chore Services

YMCA of Southwest Washington

Youth & Family Link

Total Revenue:$520,077

Program Expenses: $149,746

Management & General Expenses: $64,729

Fundraising Expenses: $60,215

Total Expenses:

Total Assets: $725,756

Total Liabilities: $14,505

Net Asset Balance: $711,251

United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties is tax-exempt under section 501 ©

(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent al-

lowed by law.

Here is a snapshot of United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum

Counties income and expenses for fiscal year end March 31,

2016.

2016 CAMPAIGN-GRANT TOTAL

2016 CAMPAIGN-PLEDGE TOTAL

New financial policy awards grants based on cash received in the bank by last day of

campaign and fiscal year (3.31.16). This amount does not represent pledge total.

This number represents total of donor pledges made for the 2016 campaign including

designations. Donors who made pledge commitments to this campaign have until

3.31.17 to fulfill their contribution. Monies from the 2016 pledge collected after 4.01.16

will be awarded out at the next grant event in 2017.

2016 CAMPAIGN-PLEDGE MAKE-UP

United Way donors have an opportunity to give to the general campaign each year. Those funds are

granted to agency programs that are determined to be appropriate and that are aligned with our mission,

focus initiatives, compliance standards and community need.

Donors also have an option to designate their dollars to specific organizations that are United Way or non-

United Way agencies. 100% of partner agency designations get distributed on a quarterly basis. A 16% ad-

min fee is applied to all designations assigned to non-United Way partner agencies, and checks are also dis-

tributed to those agencies quarterly. Based on new financial policies, monies that have been collected to-

wards the designation pledges are awarded out quarterly.

2016 DESIGNATIONS

AWARDS BY FOCUS AREA: HEALTH, EDUCATION, INCOME

$150,700

$83,000

$14,300

Improving healthy behaviors and lifestyles is a priority of United Way.

Through our partner programs, there will be healthy food offered to those in

need, nutrition education, physical fitness support and encouragement,

health preserving advocacy and support and health improving medicine for

those in need.

Education is key to unlocking a life of stability and success. Through the

funded programs of United Way partners, at risk or impoverished children

will receive positive behavior support and quality early education care.

Children will be better prepared for Kindergarten. Families with low income

will be able to provide their young Boy Scout the opportunity to go to

educational camps, and families can provide developmental screening

opportunities for their young children.

Community and family income stability is important to United Way. With the

support of partner programs, low income individuals or families can resolve

civil matters at ease with the help of donated legal support and minorities

can get connected to the resources that will help them stay on track. United

Way also supports local programs like Fibre Federal Credit Union’s

“Financial Reality Fair” for youth to gain perspective on budgeting.

AWARDS TO FOCUS AREAS-HEALTH, EDUCATION & INCOME

PARTNER AGENCY GRANT AWARD PROGRAM FUNDED

BEEN THERE DONE THAT $4,900 MENTORSHIP

BOY SCOUTS-CHINOOK DISTRICT $5,900 UNIFORMS, SCOUT EXPENSES, CAMP

SCHOLARSHIPS

CASTLE ROCK SENIOR CENTER $7,900 FOOD-FRIDAY LUNCH

CHILDREN’S JUSTICE & ADVOCACY CENTER $17,400 OUTREACH, ADVOCACY, TRAINING

COMMUNITY CARING PROJECT $9,900 READY FOR KINDERGARTEN

COMMUNITY HEALTH PARTNERS $5,900 MEDICAL SUPPLIES/MEDICATION FOR

URGENT CARE, CHRONIC & DENTAL

COMMUNITY HOUSE ON BROADWAY $19,900 FAMILY/CHILD ADVOCACY

COWLITZ COUNTY CASA $11,900 CASA TRAINING, SUPPORT, OUTREACH

COWLITZ-WAHKIAKUM LEGAL AID $4,400 SELF HELP PLUS-LEGAL REPRESENTATION

FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

EMERGENCY SUPPORT SHELTER $24,900 SHELTER SERVICES

ETHNIC SUPPORT COUNCIL $9,900 BILINGUAL SERVICES

FISH OF COWLITZ COUNTY $9,900 FOOD FOR THE NEEDY

FRIENDS OF LONGVIEW SENIOR CENTER $7,900 FOOD

LIFE WORKS $7,900 ADVOCACY & SUPPORT SERVICES FOR

PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOP-

MENTAL DISABILITIES

LOWER COLUMBIA HEAD START $17,400 POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT

PROGRESS CENTER $24,900 TRACKING LEARNING CHILDREN

ST. JAMES FAMILY CENTER $24,900 EARLY CARE & EDUCATION

VOLUNTEER CHORE SERVICES $7,400 CLIENT TRANSPORTATION

YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON $14,900 LOSE TO WIN; HEALTHY EATING & PHYSI-

CAL ACTIVITY

YOUTH & FAMILY LINK $9.900 TEEN MENTORING

In-Kind Donations

In-kind donations are goods or services contributed to help offset costs for an event,

program, campaign support, operations etc.

In-Kind Volunteer Hours

United Way achieves its success by the partnership and volunteers that contribute

their time to supporting United Way events, programs, campaign support, operations

etc.

Thank you to all of the volunteers, donors and

supporters who bring United Way and its mission to

life within our community. We are so grateful for

your generosity, time and dedication.

Giving, advocating or volunteering for your local

United Way makes a difference in the quality of life

for your neighbors in need.

The United Way board and staff made a point in the 2016 campaign “Charting the Course to Change” and

beyond to identify a specific area that United Way can focus on improving community indicators identified in

the Pathways 2020 Report Card and County Rankings Report.

At the start of the 2016 campaign, Cowlitz County ranked 39th out of 39 counties in Washington State for

Healthy Behaviors, and has been for the past several years. This category includes risk behaviors such as

smoking , obesity in children and adults, diabetes, substance abuse, motor vehicle crash deaths and STD’s.

The ranking in the county data has since improved to 35 out of 39 for healthy behaviors, but we want to see

that number drop continuously.

United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties made a commitment to collaborate and synergize with

partner agencies, local government, education, business and community members to make improvements in

healthy behaviors.

Our partner agencies’ efforts are essential to achieving progress! The 2016 United Way grant application,

asked how their agency programs fit into being a part of the solution to improving healthy lifestyles and

behaviors. Our partners rose to the occasion in providing health promoting data related to their critical

services as well as new innovative program additions being integrated to promote healthy behaviors and

lifestyles.

There are many ways in which we will continue engaging the community regarding healthy behaviors and

lifestyles. During the 2016 campaign, United Way highlighted its focus with “Hop for Health 5k Run, Walk &

Hunt,” a physical and fun activity for community members to engage in while learning about this initiative.

Look for more events and information pertaining to improving healthy behaviors in the 2016-17’ campaign.

Improving Healthy Behaviors & Lifestyles

2016 Campaign Events

250 Volunteers

26 Projects Completed

$3,458 Raised

3 High School Student Teams

September 9, 2015 was a day highlighting the power of volunteerism and

positive community impact that can be achieved in one single day. We could

not have done this without our selfless, open-hearted volunteers who took

on projects like painting buildings, major overhaul cleaning, fence staining,

landscaping and much more.

The Glory of Giving Back

The Expo Center was beaming with excitement on October 15, 2015 for our

United Way’s first annual “Power of the Purse” event, which welcomed

females to a celebration of women their philanthropic power. Over 20 local

female business women showcased attire from local retailers in a rockin’

fashion show, and a multitude of purses were raffled and auctioned.

A Powerful Celebration

$16,427 Raised

250 female attendees

United Way partner agency directors spoke about important programs and

services to continue to support through United Way, and a special ceremony

acknowledged Sandy Junker (Executive Director-Lower Columbia Head Start)

with the Woman of Excellence Award for outstanding support to the Head

Start program and children’s services and accessibility in the community.

2016 Campaign Events

It was so eggciting to see smiling children and adults walking

away from this March 26th event with hula hoops,

basketballs, and other health promoting toys, games and

items. This event highlighted our healthy behaviors initiative.

Hoping & Hopping for Health

$6, 624 Raised

150 Participants

$2,000 Raised

Saturday, February 20, 2016

$897 Raised

Programs

United for Change is a program founded by Mark Morris High School Leadership

Teacher, Travis Ruhter. United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties has been a

partner of this program to be able to advocate on its behalf and bring it to more high

schools in Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties.

The program concentrates on building empathy, positivity, leadership and teamwork

in hopes of improving school cultures, and reducing negative behavior. This year

the program embraced 6 of the area high schools with the “Make the Change-Day

Seminar,” and “Be the Change Weekend Retreat” held at Cispus.

Through the generous support of the participating schools and donors, United Way

was able to help fund the “Make the Change” events.

United for Change

Cascade Circle Givers ($500 +): Firms & Workplace Campaigns

FamilyWize, a United Way service partner, is

saving families in Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties thousands of dollars in prescription

costs. Over the past ten years, the savings locally add up to over $420,000 in Cowlitz

and Wahkiakum counties alone and have been realized by more than 2,500 individuals.

This program helps families stay healthy by reducing the costs of prescription medication.

The savings are achieved through a FamilyWize prescription savings card that is free to all consumers. Peo-

ple interested in participating in this free program can call 1-800-222-2818 or download the information from

the website: FamilyWize.org.

FamilyWize Program

Red=Rainer ($5,000+) Green=Adams ($2,500-$4,999) Blue=Hood ($1,000-$2,499) Orange=St. Helens ($500-$999)

JC Penney

Cowlitz River Rigging

Wilcox & Flegel

Puget Sound Energy

Renaud Electric

Lower Columbia Head Start

Baker Lumber

Kemira Water Solutions

Dutch Bros. of Longview/Kelso

Burgerville

Fibre Federal Credit Union

PGE

The Daily News

Port of Longview

Castle Rock School District

Woodland Truck Line

Columbia River Reader

PDM Steel Service Centers

Underwriters Laboratories

Federal Express

Emergency Support Shelter

Rotary Foundation of Kelso

Bank of America

Cathlamet Realty West

National Board PGM

Heritage Bank

Anderson & Anderson Advisory

Summerland Catering

US Cellular

Wahkiakum School District

Woodland School District

Walstead Mertsching

KapStone

Wollenberg Foundation

JH Kelly

NORPAC

UPS

Weyerhaeuser

Weyerhaeuser Foundation

Longview School District

Georgia Pacific

Kaiser Permanente

Kelso School District

City of Longview

Solvay Chemicals

Macy’s

Target

Columbia Wellness

PeaceHealth

Washington State Combined Fund Drive

BNSF Foundation

Puget Sound Energy Foundation

Cowlitz PUD

Walmart

St. James Family Center

Red Canoe Credit Union

US Bank

Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue

Williams Company

Cowlitz Family Health Center

UnitedHealth Group

Life Works

Morgan Stanley

Comcast

Cascade Select Market

Cascade Circle Givers ($500+): Individuals Red=Rainer ($5,000+) Green=Adams ($2,500-$4,999) Blue=Hood ($1,000-$2,499) Orange=St. Helens ($500-$999)

Dan Evans

Mason Evans

Jeff Cameron

Bill Reade

Paul & Heidi Furth

David & Debbie Campbell

Chris Fritsch

Mark Sandblast

Mick & Cathy Fox

Michael Julian

Anne DeFrancisco

Robert J. Schwitzke, III

Margaret Nerison

William Swanson

Nick J. Busch

Glenn Gelbrich

Dennis Morgan

Dan Howell

Ray McDermott

Pete & Fran Crosby

Marelle Matyk-Roeter

Lynn Bates

Donald Davis

Kathleen Johnson

Mike & Nancy Banigan

David Spaulding

Jeanne Avery

Ron C. Lamb

Jim & Susan Andrew

Mark & Kristin Fleischauer

Eric Smith

Jack Whittal

Dave & Jennifer Green

Thomas Bosch

Reed & Pam Hadley

Wendell & Mickey Kirkpatrick

Greg & Margaret Lapic

Shirley Lutz

Ron & Jean Marshall

Milford & Marge Ofstun

Peter C. Wagner

Mary Wingate

Ramona Leber

Kimberly Nelson

Chris Skaugset

Brian & Rose Hewitt

Rosaline Perez

Craig & Jerri Anneberg

Dennis Perry

Graham Bailey

Eric & Beth Hansen

Ron & Sandy Junker

Michele Fischer

Judi Smith

Robert & Barrie Altenhof

James Graham

Jamie L. Boaglio

Jeff A. Dean

Michael & Janice Frasier

K’Lynn Gillihan

Curtis Ollila

Patrick Patten

Sadie K. Smith

Kim Gantner

M. Regina Gonzales

James Lowman

Roberta Jacobs

Wayne Amondson

Joyce K. Becker

Galen & Jeane Conrad

Brad Cooper

Mike & Sandy Haas

Sean C. Kiffe

Nadine Lemmons

Wayne & Chris Wallace

Mitch Williams

Ryan J. Yanez

Josh R. Johnson

Lloyd Kegney

Chris Larsen

Rod McHattie

Jarl & Kay Opgrande

Lisa Verage

Don & Judith Fuller

Tom Rozwod

Michael & Tereli Karnofski

Caleb Snellman

David Hill

Eric Bergman

Scott Crydeman

W. James DeVries

Jacqui Ellis

Jeff Erskine II

Dan Gregory

Julie Hooper

Pam Hutchings

Pine Keppinger

Bradley Kitselman

Douglas B. Lewellen

Nancy Martin

Mark Massey

Eric Maxey

Mike & Karen Moss

Christopher North

Sean O’Farrell

John Peters

Paul Piper

Dave Puderbaugh

Andy Puryear

John Ragan

Brett Rohr

Eli Sancere

Terry Scott

Traci Sillik

Janisch Skeeter

Michael L. Stange

Kevin Van Fleet

Stephen G. Waller

Sarah Beth Waterman

Eric Woolcott

Rick & Carol Lecker

Gerrie Booth

Harold & Elaine Cockrell

Dian Cooper

William Elton

Michael & Rebecca Kubitz

Gordon & Mary Matlock

Richard Nau

John & Lesley Ness

Lisa Nippert

Patricia Peterson

Dick Sinnett

David Spurgeon

Carl & Tomie Torgerson

Ebby & Jean Williams

Rachael Wolford

“All of us at Emergency Support Shelter want to thank you for your amazing

allocation to our agency in support of our work with victims of domestic violence,

sexual assault and other crimes.

We are so grateful to be a partner agency with United Way and are thrilled for the

successes that have happened over the past year.

The work that you all do in rallying the community together to make our

community a better place is so important. The impact of your efforts creates

positive changes in the lives of so many people in our county. Thank you!”

-Emergency Support Shelter Board & Staff

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, families and children we serve, we

would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your support of St. James Family

Center’s Early Care & Education Program.

We appreciate the time and commitment the United Way board of directors, our

liaison and panel members spent making difficult decisions in regards to funding

so many worthwhile programs in the Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Communities. Again,

we thank you and look forward to this year and our continued collaborative

efforts to support United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties.”

-Beth Hansen (St. James Family Center)

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Mail Pledge Form To:

United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties

1338 Commerce Ave., Suite 201

Longview WA 98632