Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 2, 1990 TAG: 9006040179
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
To help more needy people, the valley's two United Way chapters have merged in an effort to raise more money.
The United Way of Montgomery County and Radford met this week in its first joint session and allocated more than $400,000 to health and social service agencies.
"United Way is dedicated to identifying and addressing the health and human services needs in the community," said Annette Clark, Montgomery County executive director. "We needed to be stronger in order to raise the funds needed to address the increasing problems."
The merger enables the chapters to work together on a yearly campaign.
Because United Way of Radford was managed strictly by part-time volunteers, its campaign could be made more successful by access to a full-time staff, agency officials say.
"This is an opportunity for us to get in there and do a better overall campaign," said Frank Galovic, president of the United Way of Montgomery County and Radford. No one wants seven different people from two identical agencies asking them for money, he said.
Board members of the United Way, which has not yet decided on its official title, allocated $421,844 to 32 agencies for 1991 this week during a Wednesday luncheon and work session at the Blacksburg Marriott. In addition, $70,844 was allocated for United Way's operating budget. Agencies had requested more than $550,000.
Since the agency allocated more money to such needs as medical care and reading programs, funding for some other groups, such as Boy and Girl Scouts, will decline.
Literacy Volunteers, which teaches reading; and the Medical Clinic of the New River Valley, which supplies free care, received the most dramatic funding increases.
The literacy group will receive $23,000 next year, up from $8,000 this year, since their state start-up grant runs out this year.
"Illiteracy in the valley is rampant," said Clark. "And if the state can't pay for this program, we have to. We can't afford to lose it."
The Medical Clinic of the New River Valley in Christiansburg will receive a funding increase from $34,300 to $47,150 next year.
"With the closing of AT&T, the displaced employees will have a myriad of problems, not just that they're losing their jobs," said Clark. "The clinic is overcrowded now and it's going to get more so."
Christiansburg Rescue Squad and Habitat for Humanity will get United Way money for the first time. Big Brothers and Big Sisters will get $33,000 to help pay for another full-time caseworker to handle children currently on a waiting list.
Agencies' funding will begin in January 1991, contingent on United Way's reaching its goal. A committee will be appointed later this year to plan how to meet that goal.
1991 ALLOCATIONS MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND RADFORD UNITED WAY American Red Cross of Montgomery County and Radford $40,000 Big Brothers and Big Sisters 33,000 Blacksburg Rescue Squad 10,000 Boy Scouts 15,000 Child Abuse Team 1,100 Children's Home Society 10,400 Christiansburg Community Center $4,500 Christiansburg Rescue Squad 10,000 Civil Air Patrol 2,000 Emergency Medical Services 4,000 Emergency Assistance of Montgomery County 7,000 Girl Scouts 15,000 Habitat for Humanity 5,000 Hospice of the New River Valley 27,000 Literacy Volunteers 23,000 Radford Meals on Wheels 3,500 Medical Clinic of New River Valley 47,150 Mountain Empire Services (RAFT/Substance Abuse) 13,550 Mental Health Association 23,000 Mental Retardation Agency of New River Valley 40,000 Radford Project Home Repair 2,000 Radford Child Care 7,000 Radford Clothing Bank 3,000 Senior Services of New River Valley 5,000 Shelter Home 9,500 Teen Parent Support 8,000 USO 500 Virginia Tech Rescue Squad 500 Voice of Blue Ridge 1,000 Volunteer Home Repair 12,000 Women's Resource Center 20,000 Workshop of New River Valley 18,100 Operating budget 70,844
by CNB