
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 24, 1995                   TAG: 9504260034
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NO EXCUSES

THE WORK of United Ways goes on not just during fall fund-raisers, but year-round. A few recent developments are notable:

United Way of Roanoke Valley has rightly reaffirmed its relationship with Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge. The local Planned Parenthood has said it will begin providing abortions - but this should have no bearing on support for United Way.

For one thing, United Way does not and will not fund abortions. The current allocation of $42,000 for Planned Parenthood - less than 1 percent of the local United Way's campaign - goes only to an educational program aimed at reducing teen pregnancy.

For another thing, contributors who dislike Planned Parenthood have the option of excluding it (or any other agency) from getting any of their money, by giving through the United Way's "donor choice" program.

United Way of Roanoke Valley has reasonably recommended acceptance of CHIP (the Child Health Investment Partnership) as a partner agency, but not until noncompliance with a few United Way standards is ended or resolved.

Most of the issues stem from CHIP's origins as a collaborative effort among local health departments, the medical community, Total Action Against Poverty and other human-services providers. Thus, CHIP's executive director, for example, is an employee of Roanoke City Health Department, and CHIP personnel aren't excluded from serving on its board.

United Way has to perform a delicate balance. The umbrella group will likely confront ever more untraditional public-private partnerships in the community, and needs to be open to new arrangements. But it also has to uphold a level of uniformity in standards applying to partner agencies, or risk losing credibility.

As it happens, negotiations likely to produce CHIP's acceptance as a partner agency could end up helping this innovative and excellent health-care group - in its efforts to chart a course, formalize its organization, and evaluate the outcomes of its services.

Former United Way of America President William Aramony was convicted earlier this month on multiple counts, including conspiracy, fraud and false tax returns. It's worth recalling that none of these crimes occurred at any local United Ways.

Indeed, United Way of Roanoke Valley was the first in the country to pull out of United Way of America in 1992, as a means of demanding change. The national service organization itself was never accused of wrongdoing, and has since developed more input from local United Ways and new standards of accountability and ethics.

All in all: no excuses not to give.

by CNB