Graham Area United Way approves 2019-2020 fundraising goal

The Graham Area United Way approved their 2019-2020 campaign goal of $100,000 last week, benefiting ten local area agencies with the objective of “Building a Bridge to a Stronger Community.”

GAUW began March 3,1956 during a meeting of the civic committee of the Graham Chamber of Commerce and since then has grown to encompass 250-plus volunteers on the executive board, board of directors, allocation board, campaign organization cabinet, packet workers, public speakers and individuals from businesses which assist through employee pledges and programs.

The 2019 GAUW Campaign Chairman and Graham Independent School District Superintendent, Sonny Cruse, said the GAUW board has looked at different aspects for the new fundraising year. One aspect of fundraising the board focused on was the packets distributed by volunteers around the community, Cruse said.

“The big thing that we have looked at through our planning process is, you know, we have a lot of great volunteers that help work what we call the packets,” Cruse said. “They get those out to community members, businesses, organizations that normally help raise those funds. And the big thing that we stress in our organization meeting earlier this week is the importance of working every packet. There were a number of packets for whatever reason that just didn’t get worked last year, and here is one guarantee I can make you is that if we don’t ask people to contribute, they won’t contribute.”

Cruse said it was important to let the volunteers know some businesses like the packets to be dropped off, while others prefer a more personal approach.

“Some of them you need to personally ask,” Cruse said. “So we’ve got to know our clientele and who we need to speak to and ask.”

GAUW supports Bethel Children’s Daycare, Graham Backpack Buddies, Graham Girls Softball, Graham Youth Baseball, Meals-On-Wheels, The Salvation Army - Graham Unit, Graham Senior Citizen Center, Virginia’s House Family Resource Center, Young County 4-H Club and the Young County Child Welfare Board.

"If individuals could find a way to donate $10 to each of those organizations, that would be a $100 donation,” Cruse said. “If we can get everybody that has been normally contributing, we will exceed the goal of $100,000.(…)The good thing about contributing to the Graham Area United Way is your money stays here. It helps local organizations. One of the things when I first came to Graham, and I am starting my fifth year in Graham, I learned early on that there is a pride within Graham about Graham people helping take care of Graham and Graham Area United Way is a perfect example of that.”

Donations made to the organizations through check or online at grahamareaunitedway.com can be allocated to one agency, multiple or given in general and divided between the organizations, Cruse said. Cruse previously served on the board for GAUW and was asked to take up the mantle of chairman for the organization.

“When you are asked to do something that really benefits the community, it is hard to say no and it is the right thing to do,” Cruse said. “(…) Although I do have a big role in the community serving as superintendent, I can fit this in. A lot of these agencies support our kids, so it is another extension of what we do.”

For the rest of the story, see the Saturday, Aug. 17 edition of The Graham Leader.