Local United Way completes membership requirements

FORT ATKINSON, WI – August 8, 2007 – Carol Ward Knox, Board Chair, announced that the United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties has successfully completed all of the United Way of America membership requirements satisfactorily and on time for 2007. The requirements include: Membership Requirements Certification, Membership Investment, and the Database 2 Survey of Total Resources Generated (a survey that captures the full extent of a community’s resource development efforts during the year). Each local United Way must complete United Way of America’s requirements annually in order to retain its United Way of America membership.

“The membership standards must be certified annually in order for us to remain a member of the United Way system,” stated Ward Knox. “It is important for us to maintain a high standard of accountability and this is part of the process to document that our operations are transparent and meet or exceed United Way membership criteria requirements.”

The board of United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties reviewed and approved the Membership Requirements Certification during the organization’s May 2007 board meeting. The certification mandates completion of 13 requirements for United Way of America membership along with verification of the status of 44 indicators that demonstrate a United Way embodies the intent of the membership requirements.

"While it's important to comply with the United Way of America's requirements, our United Way has gone beyond those expectations with its strategic planning. We've made great progress in focusing our giving on community needs and helping the agencies we support achieve meaningful outcomes for the people they serve. This year we're focusing on growth," added Ward Knox.

“It is critically important that all United Ways meet the highest standards and verify on paper that they have conformed to the requirements of membership in the United Way system,” stated Brian Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way of America. “We applaud and congratulate the United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties for demonstrating their commitment by completing the recertification process.”

The United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties is serving the needs of the community by working to improve community health; strengthen families; address the needs of at risk youth; build and maintain family financial stability and integrate diverse populations. These five areas of need where identified by community leaders and adopted by the United Way to focus for the organization’s financial and volunteer efforts.

The United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties partners with over 32 health and human service agencies to provide local services to over 14,000 people throughout the communities of Fort Atkinson, Helenville, Jefferson, Lake Mills, Palmyra, Sullivan and Whitewater; United Way - investing in what matters; community, working together and results.