United Way Story

This is my United Way story that I wrote about the presentation last Tuesday in class. Enjoy!!

            Two executives of the United Way of the River Cities told students at Marshall University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication about the importance to give, advocate, and volunteer last Tuesday.

Laura Gilliam, executive director, and Casey Bowden, marketing director, voiced concerns about current problems facing Huntington and outlined the objectives and outcomes of the organization when invited to speak to a news writing class. The United Way of the River cities serves Cabell, Lawrence, Mason, and Lincoln counties and is a non-profit organization that betters human conditions in and around the community.

Gilliam said that the United Way started its outreach back in 1922 and has since served the tri-state area. The organization gets it’s funding from partnerships, fundraising, and grant writing.

“No money, no mission,” Gilliam said. She told students about the need for community donors. “We need to reach our projected fundraising goal of $1.25 million.”

            Bowden said that the money goes toward medication, food, shelter, and other basic safety needs that people tend to go without. Gilliam said that rather than go straight to the homeless, unemployed, and drug abusers, the organizations tries to find the root cause of the issue and move forward from there.

 Gilliam outlined the four focus areas of the United Way. These include health/wellness, learning/earning, families/children, and basic needs/unforeseen hardships.

“We provide funding to local agencies and organizations,” Gilliam said. Some of these include the American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries, Boy Scouts – Tri-State Area Council, Huntington Area Food Bank, City Welfare Mission, and YMCA. Gilliam also told the initiatives of the organization including the Financial Stability Partnership of the River Cities, Success by Six, and the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership (CCSAPP).

Gilliam told students that she was working on a grant from USDA which would address hunger in Cabell County. “It is due Friday and we are excited about it,” Gilliam said.

Gilliam is a 1985 graduate from the University of North Carolina and has been executive director with the United Way since 2005. She is active in the community and within her church. Bowden is a Marshall University graduate and is a member in many community organizations. She began at United Way in 2004.

The class of 12 students asked questions and Rachel Hunter, student, said that the presentation was a great success. The United Way of the River Cities is located on Madison Avenue in Huntington. For more information, call 304-523-8929.