Published: May 16, 2008 11:31 am         

United Way finishes allocation interviews

A 20 member community review panel of the Cooke County United Way Allocation Committee met this week interviewing 19 non profit agencies. The agencies interviewed provide health and human services to the Cooke County communities and were allowed to present their bid for 2009 campaign funding.

Prior to this week's interview sessions, the qualified agencies were required to submit detailed application packets including information on budget, programming and services as well as management and financial practices. United Way carefully selects the agencies in which they will represent in the upcoming campaign. It is this trust that the community has come to rely on for over 50 years as Cooke County United Way monitors business practices and holds agencies accountable to a high standard, said Jim Colbert, 2009 Campaign Co-Chair.

Over the last few weeks, several members of the Allocation Committee visited the agencies to gain first hand knowledge as to the workings of their organizations.

At the conclusion of the interview sessions, the committee plans to begin deliberations preparing a proposal that will be presented to the Cooke County United Way Board of Directors at its May meeting. Funding approved will set the goal for the 2009 United Way campaign.

Don Metzler, Allocation Committee Chair, said, “The citizens of Cooke County are blessed to have such caring individuals and companies within our borders. Because of their concern the United Way Allocations Committee was able to spend the time necessary to evaluate the proposals from the area agencies and make sound judgments as to their merits. We want to thank the committee members and their employers for allowing them the time off to perform this critical civic duty. United Way of Cooke County looks forward to another successful campaign in the fall to raise the money needed to meet the growing needs of this county. The committee would like to thank the staff at Cooke County United Way for their hard work in preparing for the process and all of the agencies and their board members who attended the hearings. We are blessed with many caring people in Cooke County and it was very evident during the presentations. We hope that these agencies can continue to find passionate caring people to volunteer.”

“We are very fortunate in our county that we have so many wonderful agencies providing critical needs to our community. Their staff, members of their board and agency volunteers are to be applauded for the quality services and programs offered to our neighbors,” said Angie Hare, Executive Director Cooke County United Way.