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Counterpoint:

By Tim Rice
 

United Way of Greater Greensboro is running an aggressive 2009 Campaign to help individuals in our community right here, right now.

Ninety-eight percent of students at Smith and Dudley high schools who participated in the Communities in Schools program last year remained in school. The Women’s Resource Center’s Legal Information Access Program provided information to more than 1,000 women and 92 percent reported that it helped clarify their legal position or legal rights.

Every dollar matters. One dollar a week for one year provides 10 rehabilitated adolescent offenders a bus pass to get to community service work sites, while family members attend a “Parent Talk” session with One Step Further.

Five dollars per week for one year provides 13 days of emergency shelter for a family through the Salvation Army. Ten dollars each week for one year provides 100 nutritious mobile meals through Senior Resources of Guilford.

United Way plays a critical leadership role as a convener and collaborator in our community, most recently working to define Greensboro’s most pressing human service needs through “Voices. Choices,” a needs assessment that will direct dollars to the most appropriate community programs and initiatives through a variety of health and human service organizations.

Thriving at Three, an early childhood initiative, provides direct services, support and referrals to more than 120 families with vulnerable children. Thriving at Three has informed more than 1,000 parents and caregivers by providing useful information regarding the importance of early learning and child development.

United Way launched Operation Greensboro Cares last winter, distributing $400,500 to programs that provided food and emergency shelter to those in crisis.

With United Way of Greater High Point, United Way of Greater Greensboro has worked to address the crisis of homelessness in Guilford County by working with other partners to achieve a “Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness” in Guilford County.

United Way of Greater Greensboro’s campaign goal is $12.5 million, and 5,000 new donors are needed.

Thanks to a partnership with the Guilford Merchants Association, a gift of $10 per month, or $120 per year, allows donors to receive a Caring Club Card that offers discounts from participating merchants throughout 2010. Please go to www.unitedwaygso.org to make your contribution today.

Please join with me — today — to help our community. The time is now. Right now. We need to work together as never before.

The writer is president and CEO, Moses Cone Health System, and 2009-10 United Way campaign chairman.