United Way's unkindest cut

Bosotn Globe ^ | November 3, 2005 | Adrian Walker

[Semper Paratus]

The staff at Deaf Inc., a social service agency based in Allston-Brighton, got a letter recently, an appeal to participate in the annual fund-raising campaign of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay.

It was an ironic moment. Deaf Inc. enjoyed a good relationship with the United Way until recently. But that was before Deaf Inc. was cut off from United Way funding, after a management decision by United Way that its work no longer fit into the charity's priorities.

This is what Deaf Inc. does: It helps people who can't hear manage their lives and live independently and with dignity, a service the United Way apparently finds superfluous.

Funding ended earlier this year. The cut amounted to about $68,000, or 7 percent of Deaf Inc.'s annual budget. That was a drop in a huge bucket: The United Way awarded $36.5 million this fiscal year, according to its spokesman.

''The United Way is supposed to be a safety net for people who have nowhere else to turn," said Karen Schwartzman, vice president of Deaf Inc.'s board. ''If that doesn't describe our clients, I don't know what does."

[KosmicKitty]

Way back, before the United Way and the scouts made me stop doing anything at all the the United Way, I got my department to have the largest percentage of employees donate to the United Way.

My method - "Give 'em a buck, get 'em off your back". Yep, we had the smallest actual dollar donation, but the largest % of people in the department donating, I think I only had 2 people out of 40 not give $1. That was just a dollar, no weekly thing.

No, the people running the campaign weren't all that happy, but what could they do. The Maintenance Department (we were already the lowest of the low) outdid all the other departments!!

(Yes, I do have an evil streak)

[newcthem]

We stopped company contributions to United Way when they went on the offensive in backing the Rump Rangers over the Boy Scouts. Now all donations go directly to Boy Scouts, school groups, and local sports teams, and we have increased our donations to double our old levels. Our employees know the reasons and are very supportive.
One more reason not to support the United Way.......not that we would.