My name is Barbara Pingrey. I have been first a donor, then a volunteer and now staff at United Way. When I think about how I LIVE UNITED, I realize that it is about so much more even than the perspective offered by United Way. It is about how our community treats itself and every person in it, however you define community.
I grew up in the 1960’s in a single parent home. My mother, widowed at a young age, struggled to keep our small family together. But I didn’t realize I was part of a statistic until, as an adult, just a few years ago I read a study comparing children in single parent homes today with those in the 60’s. I didn’t know that as one of “those children” I was not supposed to do as well in school, that my behaviors, my health and, indeed, my whole life was at-risk. I believe I was able to thrive because my community knew how to LIVE UNITED. The everyday lessons were simple and clear: be honest, be respectful and share what you have when it will help someone. And you were held accountable.
Today those same principles guide my actions and my life. I know that I alone cannot create sustainable positive change, but I can encourage others to help. I can reach out my hand, lend my voice, take action. It takes each person doing what he or she can; no more, no less. Together, united, we can and do make our community a better place.
Foothills United Way wants to hear about how you LIVE UNITED. If you have a story you'd like to share, contact Pat Monacelli at pmonace@unitedwayfoothills.org.
