60 YEARS OF GIVING BACK

60 YEARSof Giving Back

UNITED WAY OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY MAKES ITS MARK ON THE COMMUNITY

I REALLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE IN IT, CONNECT AND DO WHAT WE CAN.

— Mary Underriner

RONI BAKER was raised with the idea that helping people is the right thing to do. So was Mary Underriner.

It’s no surprise, then, that the two Billings women have spent years donating their time and talents to United Way of Yellowstone County. These days, Underriner helps advise those who lead the Continuum of Care initiative, a group that hopes to make homelessness in Billings brief, rare and non-recurring. Baker is chairwoman of the United Way Volunteer Center Advisory Board.

This year both women are helping United Way of Yellowstone County, which has evolved over the decades, celebrate 60 years of serving the community. Over those 60 years, one estimate puts United Way’s impact on the county at more than $47 million. Thousands of volunteers have helped in a myriad of ways over the years as well.

“We can all do something to make where we live a better place,” Underriner says. “And I think the United Way works throughout the county to build coalitions to bring the best results.”

Underriner’s parents, George and Patty Selover, supported the community organization long before it was known by its present moniker. Patty initially was treasurer of the Billings Community Chest, and then George got involved in the early 1960s in what was then called United Neighbors of Greater Billings.

George, who owned Selover Buick Inc., sat on the organization’s board of directors, chaired various committees and regularly donated money to the United Way. In 1997, Selover Buick won the award for the highest giving per capita campaign. It made an impact on Underriner. “I grew up with parents who gave back to the community, and I realized how much they gained from those kinds of activities,” she says.

When Mary and her husband, Bill, moved to Billings in 1984, they also committed their time and money to United Way, serving in a variety of roles and helping with different initiatives. In 2014 they even began offering an annual holiday car giveaway through their business, Underriner Motors.

“We found it a wonderful way to get to know people and also build relationships,” Underriner says. “And every time we did anything for the organization, we gained so much more than the time we spent.”

Baker’s involvement goes back to the late 1990s. In 1997, United Way became a partner in the newly launched America’s Promise Alliance that focused on improving the lives of young people. A local program began in Billings in 1998, which was a natural draw for Baker, a longtime Montana State University extension agent who works with 4-H. She soon joined the Volunteer Center Advisory Council, and for the past several years has been its leader. Volunteering comes naturally to Baker.

“I grew up with the concept,” she says. “I really believe we need to care about our community and the people in it, connect and do what we can.”

It’s something she and her husband, Mike, who live in Park City, have made a priority in their family life. When daughter Andee and son Adam were younger, the family volunteered with Relay for Life, cleaned a neighbor’s yard and took meals to families when a member was hospitalized.

IT’S A GREAT GROUP OF DIVERSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A PASSION FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

— Roni Baker

In 2010, the Bakers were nominated by United Way of Yellowstone County to take part in a national program honoring volunteers at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for integrating service to others in their lives.

And now, Baker’s daughter Andee, a student at Montana State University, volunteers with Special Olympics as well as with Eagle Mount’s adaptive horsemanship program.

“It’s all about how we can give back,” Baker says.

She enjoys her work with the advisory council, which focuses on projects like the annual Day of Caring, collection drives, helping businesses connect with volunteer opportunities, providing volunteers for disaster drills and mentoring nonprofit volunteer coordinators.

“It’s a great group of diverse people who have a passion for their community,” she says.

Baker has helped manage volunteers for countywide disaster exercises. She has also helped with the United Way’s volunteer youth corps with the annual Day of Caring.

She is glad to help mentor volunteer coordinators at other area nonprofits through the Volunteer Administrators Network, guiding them in everything from writing job descriptions to screening potential employees and developing training protocols. “I think it helps people in their new roles,” she says.

Underriner, in addition to her leadership roles with United Way, has enjoyed joining in events like the annual Day of Caring, in which areas businesses release employees for part of a day to participate in dozens of service projects around the county.

“I love Day of Caring because everybody goes out and they have fun with their coworkers whether they’re painting someone’s house or doing shoveling or whatever,” she says. “It’s just a fun community day of helping other people.”

Underriner’s focus these days is more on Continuum of Care through her role on its advisory board. The collaborative group made up of both private and non-profit partners is working to help those who live on the streets by alleviating homelessness.

“I am totally in awe of what those people do to deal with the most vulnerable in the community,” she says.

As she sees the many ways that United Way of Yellowstone County continues to make a difference in the lives of people, Underriner is impressed with all that has been accomplished up to this point.

“I think the United Way’s 60th anniversary is indeed a celebration,” she says. “Its impact on Billings and Yellowstone County is immeasurable.” ✻

United Way’s virtual 60th Birthday Blowout is May 11-13.

Festivities include a Car Raffle, Diaper Collection Drive (in partnership with Family Promise), 60-Minute Volunteer Opportunities, and an Online Auction. Thanks to the generosity of Underriner Motors, a 24-month lease of a brand new 2021 Hyundai Elantra could be yours! TO BUY TICKETS: Mail a check to United Way of Yellowstone County, 2173 Overland Ave, Billings, MT 59102 or stop by Underriner Motors. www.uwyellowstone.org/60bdayblowout Tickets are $25 each or 3 for $60.