UNITED WAY Of the Chattahoochee Valley
BRINGS COMMUNITY INTO FOCUS & Creates Space & Individuality
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ommunity approaches help to make worldwide challenges solvable on a personal level, and United Way has taken up the mission of helping local communities approach problems with humanitarian campaigns and practical solutions. United Way is a global network of community organizations which partner to create opportunities, offer assistance with everyday challenges, and make a positive impact in peoples’ lives. Columbus’ United Way branch has operated since 1950. The organization was started in Denver in 1937,
originally named Community Chest. The idea was to pool private funds to do social good in communities. The idea took off, and today there are over 1000 United Way branches across the country, with additional branches worldwide totaling 1600 branches. The Columbus branch is in the top 100 of United Way branches for revenue. Eachl branch is its own 501c3 nonprofit that raises funds and directs those funds back Ben Moser
By Natalie Downey to the local community. This is key, because the work our local United Way does directly benefits us. President and CEO of United Way of Chattahoochee Valley Ben Moser sat down with me to share a little
and Girls Clubs and the second highest the Easter Seals. Some other partners they fund include Girls, Inc., the YMCA, and Mercy Med. Closing gaps in the community is a mission of United Way, to give all community members the opportunity to thrive. United Way is active in local high poverty schools to offer resources to students and families in need. They offer a resource room stocked with food, clean uniforms, hygiene products, and even a washer and dryer for families to use. The program, called Community Schools United, focuses on relationship development and referral services as well as after school programs. A United Way representative is on-site in participating schools to employ United Way services. Moser explains that the representatives are “Experts in dealing with adverse childhood experiences.” The program is a first line of defense for students in need, and is an approachable, onsite, encompassing resource that is changing the lives of students. “Every dollar invested in community schools brings $7 back to the community,” Moser says. “We know this is a very effective program, and we’re plugged in on a national level with it.” The Chattahoochee Valley United Way has a 211 call center, which directs callers to over 350 resources in the
about the organization, the impact it has made in our community, and ways we can get involved. Many people have heard the name United Way, and Moser explains that the high brand recognition helps fundraising efforts, so a bigger impact can be made. United Way directs funds raised back into the community in several ways, one of the biggest of which is through funding partner agencies. The Columbus branch currently has 28 partners, with the highest funded being the Boys community. The call center is an access point to United Way services such as housing and rent assistance, youth assistance, help for domestic violence victims, and more. “If you’re providing services in the area, we want you to be in 211,” Moser says. A list of 211 resources and partners can be accessed by calling 211, texting 828211,
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