United Way of Central Massachusetts Fact Sheet

Background Information:

UWCM Services:

Mass 211: Free access to health and human services information and referral. You can find more information about Mass 211 at its Official Website.
Volunteer Services: Matches volunteers with programs needing their help. Please visit our volunteer page for more information.

Legal Status:

The United Way of Central Massachusetts, (UWCM) is a corporation defined in the Massachusetts Statues. Formed for charitable purposes and tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Service Code 501-c-3, we are one of more than 1,300 locally independent United Ways in the United States and throughout the world. Organization: The affairs of UWCM are governed by a volunteer board of local residents elected by the donors (members) of the organization. The board of directors is solely responsible for adoption of short-and long-range goals, the administrative budget, allocations of United Way funds, agency admissions and terminations, personal contracts with the president, and other contractual or legal commitments of the Corporation. The board employs a non-voting president, who, in turn, employs other professional and clerical staff within the constraints of the board-approved annual budget.

A Message from our President and CEO, Tim Garvin:

October 30, 2008

Good afternoon Friends and Colleagues,

I am so proud of “Live United,” the new call to engagement from United Ways all over the country; it brings attention to the pathways of Giving, Advocacy, and Volunteerism. Today, here in Worcester, it was a great Live United day.

As I write this, we are hosting a training of volunteers who are learning about Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and how our United Way and the central Massachusetts community are working to INCREASE the number of residents who will access this federal program during the upcoming tax season. EITC is a program that increases the income tax return for qualifying individuals.

We are in the frenetic activity of our annual campaign. Every day companies are holding their respective kickoffs; every day presentations are being made; every day contributions are being made to advance the common good with and through our United Way. How wonderful that early returns are strong. UNUM and its employees increased both participation AND their campaign results. Best of all, they created the UNUM Challenge that inspires all donors to contribute to the important Ensuring Children’s Readiness for School focus area. And many other companies, too, are reporting positive results: Commerce Bank, Hanover Insurance Group, Worcester Police Department, Fallon Clinic, UMass Memorial and UMass Medical School. Just yesterday, The Saint-Gobain Foundation awarded our United Way a check for $165,000. This amount represents the largest Foundation gift to any non-profit organization in North America. Their workplace campaign continues to report extremely positive results. I am humbled by this ‘Spirit of Worcester’; this amazing generosity.

Finally – I direct your attention to the recent announcement of a significant United Ways of Massachusetts effort – the creation of a basic needs campaign. Simply, we hope to give all residents the opportunity to assist and support those in need during these trying economic times AND we want to bring even greater attention to Mass 2-1-1; so that those in need will be able to access resources in the community that can help. Please do visit our Community Support Fund link.

Wishing all of you the best,

Tim
 

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