by Barbara B. Pingrey
“What is United Way?” “What do you do?” Even though I am somewhat disheartened when I hear these questions, they are not that uncommon. But the answers are not that simple anymore, either. For many years United Way was a fundraiser and a funder---and that was it. In and out. Report the numbers and go home.
NOT TODAY! Today Foothills United Way (FHUW) doesn't just identify issues in our community and put money toward addressing them. We look at these issues from all sides and are pro-active in creating multiple ways to provide for basic needs, help children arrive at school ready to learn and youth get the skills they need to succeed in life. We, the community of United Way, develop partnerships and collaborations to move individuals and families along the continuum to self-sufficiency. And we work to discover or create paths to access to healthcare.
Today, we are excited to be able to report that the partnership between Foothills United Way and FamilyWize has saved residents in Boulder and Broomfield Counties nearly $173,090 in prescription costs, over $88,000 of this in 2011 alone as the cards have become more widely distributed. This is not using donor dollars to support a program----it is leveraging resources available to our area to help people get the medications they need at a reduced cost.
To find out more about the FamilyWize program please visit FHUW's FamilyWize page, or the FamilyWize website. If you would like cards to distribute in your workplace or organization, you may contact the Foothills United Way office at 303-444-4013.
Barbara B. Pingrey is the President and CEO of Foothills United Way.
