Welcome everyone to midday magazine for this January 16th, 2024. Have your host James J. Milleff. We're joined right now
We're getting the band together all right. Oh, no, no, we've got to be serious. Yeah, this is serious business
Yeah, we have United Way CEO Terry Johns with us right now. Terry good to see you good to see you
Thanks a lot for being here today
Appreciate the time and appreciate so much of what the United Way does for our community any chance
We get to thank you for that and thank your team. We appreciate and we're gonna take that chance
I thought we could start with thank you as if you don't mind
Yeah, absolutely. So last week Wednesday, we had our annual campaign. Thank you celebration
And this is a really I mean, it's a really fun opportunity to get people together in the room and celebrate United Way and everything that we do
But we did a few things a little bit different this year
One was a rollout of some new company awards and so in the past we have always
You know, maybe just because it's one of those you do what you've always done
You know kind of things so so we were featuring
Participation so companies at high levels of employee participation and we continue to do that because I think that you know
That's kind of no small feat right whether you have an office of 10 or an office of 400
If you can get you know 75% of the people to to engage in give to United Way
That's that's really huge. So we kept our participation awards in place
But we also then changed what used to be per capita giving and measuring different you know levels of contribution to the campaign and
And instead we we you know, we kind of just peeled it back and and looked at what are our neighboring United Way's doing
You know, how should we be recognizing companies and so what we did is really mimicked what our friends at United Way of Portage County are doing
And we put in place something called community cornerstone partners
So what we did is looked collectively at at businesses and said okay
What are they giving us as a as a business so a corporate gift?
What are their employees doing how much are they raising are we having are they doing like fundraisers for us on behalf of of the organization are they
doing any you know like gifts and kind right like is there things for instance one one that comes to mind is you know local printers
So they might print for us free or at a reduced rate and so so you know gifts and kind in that manner and then also sponsorships
We don't do a ton of sponsorships, but we do have big events like power of the purse and in some other things that happen
We have a calendar raffle that requires sponsors. So so this community cornerstone partner recognition program is all of that role together
And I think that that's just really important because it's it's kind of you know how
A good demonstration and a good show of how companies support United Way
You know in in total or or as a as a as an entity in the communities so
so at the
Thank you celebration we rolled these out and and presented all the companies that were present
With a certificate a frame certificate. I see Pam has has yours right prominently displayed out there
Which is what we were hoping would happen um by you know by providing the frame and saying you know
Hey, take this back be proud of it
Be recognized and one of the things that we're also doing for the those companies is depending upon what level of
Of their total on there's different ways that they're being recognized so for instance just just one example
You know dom tar collectively is is contributing more than $50,000 to to our United Way
And so so they kind of you know have all the levels of of the recognition that go with that
Including a spot on our homepage all the way at the bottom
You know we we say these are our community cornerstone partners at the champion level
Um, and we actually put their logo on there, which is important for business
Uh, and and so it is really cool. We have the list of all of the winners or all of the
recipients I should say
Um on our website and and I encourage people to take a look at that the other thing we do at the thank you celebration is highlight our campaign chair
Brian to it did a phenomenal job this year
Brian's real job is at Erko
But he was with us, you know quite a bit this fall um did it did a great job
So we we highlight the campaign chair. We highlight our campaign team the local loan executives
We had nine individuals in the community that that helped us call on companies. We are a very small staff
Um, you know, we have three and a half FTEs and that's really not a lot right?
It's for people, but it's it's not a lot and so to have
These professionals in the community who say yeah, I'll call on three or four businesses on behalf of the United Way
um, you know and follow up with them and then and then collect their their materials at the end
Really really makes a huge difference and I and I think it's mostly especially because you know
Our goal is always to kind of roll it out all at once, right? It's close to September first as we can and so within a week
You know all businesses have their material all we can really be hyping community, you know
And and United Way in the community and so um having those nine folks just really makes a huge difference
And so what what they've accomplished um the campaign chair and and our staff team and you know board is we are literally within
$7,000 of our goal right now and so that's super exciting um, we you know typically by the end of January
We we typically say okay that campaign's done. We're on to the next one
Because at some point you just have to you have to call it right?
Wherever it is because we can stretch it out another month and then the next year you got to stretch it out
So so typically by the end of January we say okay, wherever we're at whether we're
You know a thousand dollars short or a thousand dollars over because really I don't think short is a fair thing
Because if you if you've raised you know
$598,000 does the last thousand it makes a difference, but isn't enough to say we didn't you know we didn't make our goal
And so um
So wherever we're at the end of January's where we kind of call it
But we're within 7,000 of where we planned and that's super exciting and and that's a tribute to
Everyone even you know the individual I'm gonna bring it all the way down to the individual like Pam
Who is the company coordinator here who just you know says hey guys here's your you know
Here's your pledge forms if you'd like to participate so
Everyone who had any role in campaign um company campaigns
Fabulous job and then of course we also um at our thank you celebration highlight
Our leadership givers and loyal contributors
We had um someone in the room who had been giving for 43 years
Which is super cool, you know whether it was through their workplace or and then as a retiree
But on our list of loyal contributors
We actually have there's a couple and then one um individual that I've been giving for more than 70 years. Oh my goodness
Wow, that's amazing that is before they were born
Yeah, right
Oh, that's awesome. That is very cool
Terry uh with as far as like this is a wonderful day. It's a wonderful celebration
It's nice to rewind and kind of get some of the nuts and bolts details look behind the curtain a little bit with you and appreciate that um with this
The changing of the way you do the awards and everything I love the addition of that especially being able to
I feel is a little more detail a little more specific about being able to highlight certain
Companies or certain individuals
To the companies out there uh as we are wrapping up campaigns and I I will say and I am I'm not on the board
I'm not a part of the United Way
But I feel a part of the United Way because I'm a part of this community and the United Way is our community
It is a part of us so that those that uh maybe haven't been able to give or still thinking of giving or if you are looking to
We implore you to especially before the end of the month um to be able to give and and not only give but know that you are not only putting into your community
Terry mentioned a really key part of this and because she's so doing smart knows this stuff you you get this in there
You become one of those bigger donors like Dom Tire as you mentioned there and your logo is on there
And yes, that is great is good pio it is great to be able to get your your name out there any chance
There's no business alive. I don't care if you're Nike and Amazon that isn't gonna advertise and doesn't do those kind of things
But the idea of attaching it to the United Way you're putting into your community and everybody's seeing that
They're seeing oh, this is a company that backs our community and that's PR you can't put a price on but there's literally no price
You can put on something like that. Yeah, it's it's obviously from your heart
You want to do these things and it's just good to do
But we also understand that business got to keep the lights on sure
So if you're looking uh for the well, where where is the positives to this
They're literally uh
Unwordable we we would never be able to put to words or put a price tag on what that means
PR-wise attaching yourself to such an amazing nonprofit that there isn't many things in this community going on
Where you haven't heard of the United Way either being attached to it or or sponsoring it
Yeah, you know a to that point of things that are going on and where United Way is connected
It was interesting because this morning
We had someone from the community leadership class reach out to one of our staff members and say you know
Hey, we're thinking about doing this resource
listing
You know, what what do you have to offer and we're like well, we already we already have one we have the help guide
You know, I mean like it's already in place
And so now kind of you know working with and encouraging that group to you know
Would you like to help us with distribution or promotion or really you know make a big deal about it this year
Rather than duplicating you know work that so that's already done so it is kind of you know
Little humorous like you know what you said there's there's not much that we don't kind of have some sort of
Sort of level of tie-in and I think to you know
It's just really important just to remember that United Way in any community is investing in that community
Yes, so United Way of Southwood Nams counties is taking the dollars raised in Adams County investing those in Adams
The dollars raised in Southwood County investing those here in the greater Wisconsin Rapids area
And and I just I think that that's important
Not that we don't want to help our neighbors like our community neighbors
But but each United Way, you know really is investing and caring for their their own community
And you mentioned the campaign chairman Brian shout out to him and great work. He did
Are you do is the next one chosen yet? Are you guys looking for
You know people of volunteer or send in their resume. I don't know how that
As I started saying that said
So we do um we do I'd I require that whoever the campaign chair is has to be has to sit on our board
They don't have to be on the board when they volunteer to be campaign chair
But at least for that year on they need to be because they need to know
The inner workings of what they're raising money for right it and and I think it just
Strengthens and adds more depth to the passion that they have for for raising up those funds
So we actually had one of our board members our current board members um step forward and say you know
I'd like to do that and so um her name is Shalina Walshlogger and she actually um
Works at Westrock in Adams
So this will only be in this will be my 17th campaign coming up
And this will only be my second time where the campaign chair has been from the southern part of our service area versus here
And it really it makes absolutely no difference um, you know
The idea is that they are willing to commit the time and be present um wherever we need to be present
So I'm looking forward to working with Shalina. She's been on our board a while. She gets united way
She's been our board president. You know, she's she's done a lot of the leadership um a lot of the leadership things
Great, you know, great. Just warm fun-loving personality. So I think she'll do a great job and um, you know
Really looking forward to it. Oh can't wait to meet her can't wait to have her in. Yeah, she's great
That's gonna be a fun one and again biggie thank you to Brian Erko all the all the above a great great work in this campaign season
Yeah, it's been wonderful as we are
Ripping up the campaign talk Terry again one more reminder to everybody the cutoff end of January
We'll be cutting it off at the end of January
So if you've been thinking about it
You haven't given you were on vacation when they did the drive at your workplace
You used to give when you were retired, but you haven't you to made it back um
You can you can certainly give on our website
If you go to youw swac.org you can click on there's a donate button right on the top
You can click on that you can stop by our office at 351 Oak Street
The office is open from 830 until four Monday through Friday
Or if you're just unsure you can you know, give us a call. We'll guide you through it. You can mail a check
And you know, we also had a have have had some kind of cool opportunities
You know, when I've said hey, we're this far away from our goal
You know, maybe you've already given and you just want to give another little boost
You know, we're we're game for that too
What whatever works, but you know, really it's about the nearly 20,000 people that get impacted with the dollars that get raised and those dollars
From last fall's campaign even though it carries through January
You know, we've already made the first we do quarterly allocations to programs
And that first allocation went out on January first. So those dollars are already hard at work
Um, and you know, we just we just look forward to everything that's happening with partner programs
And then also with our internal programs and initiatives that are led by Ben
And we know uh, how much people love bragging rights
I imagine being that business that helps the United Way get that goal uh, that that's a pretty nice
Yeah, that's pretty cool, huh?
It feels pretty good, definitely so you can feel pretty good about
And encourage you to find out more going to uswac.org. We'll get the information out
How to contact Terry and her team and before we wrap up today
I did want to spend a little time Terry with you about the
Homeless point and time count
This is one that means a lot to me. I know it does you and this art community as well
Let's talk if you don't mind tell people a little bit about what this is and how they can be a part of it
Yeah, absolutely
So this is something that is led by um, the cap agencies in the state of Wisconsin
And so in our area that is North Central Community Action
They take the lead on this our role is really um, you know, we facilitate the homelessness uh coalition roundtable
And we recruit the volunteers or or some of the volunteers and you know to to be part of this and so the pointless hope
The point in time homeless point in time count
I can't tell you it's one of those ones homeless point in time
Um, it happens twice a year
It happens um in January and in July and it happens in the overnight hours
So um, we we ask for volunteers to come forward and give us some time um, it will be on January 24th
I'm coming up. So basically a week from tomorrow
Um, and we are looking for volunteers who are willing to
You know experience needed we gather you up for a little meeting and talk about what you're gonna do your paired up
No one's out by themselves and basically you are um, you know, canvassing the community looking for
Individuals who may or I guess groups of people who may um present as homeless and and some of those you know
Kind of key indicators that you'd be looking for are covered in that in that first meeting um, and then you know
really just the goal of the state is to you know, get an idea of how many people are homeless at that time
This is happening in every community
Every county throughout the state of Wisconsin at the same time and that's and that's intentional because
We know that there is some transiency with with homelessness, right? Like I might be this community might be serving me right now
But but next week I go to a different community or or there's different resources somewhere else or or whatever the case would be
So that's why it's intentionally at the same time, but this this count also
Helps north central community action and other programs leverage resources
It can help with with state funding sources federal funding sources
And so that you know, it's really important that we make an effort to try to seek out
These these individuals now
Homelessness looks different in Wisconsin rapids that it looks in Madison or Milwaukee or Racine or even Green Bay
Um, or you know, what what what what I would say is a large city, right?
So so it looks different and so sometimes
especially at the winter um point in time count sometimes
We only identify one person maybe two people um because
Maybe they are staying in someone else's couch, right?
They're still homeless, but we have no way at that at that point in time at midnight on the 24th of identifying them because they are inside
Not outside um, but
It still is just it's really important because it helps us identify um
Not just funding sources, but also disparities amongst rural counties versus versus are more of our urban counties and so
When the um when the whole cap system comes together and talks about this, you know, it is it it just is a really important
Important thing even if they're even if we only identify one right or you know
Hopefully maybe zero, but it but it does help but I and I guess I'm I just bring that up because a lot of times in the summer
It's a little bit easier, right? Like maybe maybe someone who is homeless is actually camping
You know, and so while they they might have some form of shelter that's still not a home, right?
Like that's not that's not a structure. I'm so glad you you just uh you went right where I wanted to on this because I
I think when we were kids what we thought of this homelessness
It is varied over the years. It's changed you look at uh
California right now and and this has started to bleed into more of the middle west and even out east
Where a lot of people are homeless, but they're living in vehicles
They have a car, but they don't have a home. That's homelessness. Yes. That is absolutely that is unhoused
If you do not have a house that is being unhoused and there's so many people too that where again when we were kids
People had an idea and image of what a
Unhoused person was or or where they came from or their background or some of that
Now the data will show you you are a search engine away
If not looking at the Alice report away from seeing that it's it's your neighbors
It's people that you've seen your whole lives. It's it the face of this is changed over the years
It's families that your kids is school. Um, it's someone that you might be sitting next to in church
I mean, it just there's no
Yeah, there is no stereotype, right?
Like like there just is no
blanket or one size fits all descriptor and so you know
I think we just really need to be aware of that as a community
But then also, um, you know back to the the homeless point in time count if you're interested in helping
Um, you just need to reach out to Ben at United Way um and you can reach him by dialing 715 421
0390 or you certainly can email him at Ben at uwac.org
And he can add you to the list of volunteers
And this is uh, just real quick. I wanted to also note as far as this goes
You are not doing this alone. There's uh, there's presence with you as well
You are always always in a group. Yeah. Yeah
Uh, again, reach out to our friend Ben. You can get uh, touch with him at Ben at uwac.org
Calendar raffle still going strong Terry. Well, yeah, so we are right now. Um, re actually recruiting sponsors for our calendar raffle
So the raffle drawings will take place in April
But right now we have a few spaces left. I think there's like six or seven spaces left on our calendar and
This is for a local business to provide the price for for that day
So every business day of April we will we will draw for a winner and there are prizes $75 up to $200
And when we print the calendar, this is kind of the cool thing
We print them a little bit bigger and so you can see the business gets their logo on that you know on that date
So so that's really awesome. Um, we do have a few dates left
However, we do need to get that calendar to print. Yeah, so
So we only have until the end of next week to fill those spots
So, you know, if you're a local business and you're listening and you're thinking, well, that you know
That might not be a bad thing
So we print two thousand tickets
So you your logo would be on two thousand tickets that get in the hands of of people, you know
locally in the community and we also recognize you
On social media on the day that so you know, we we would say today's drawing is $75 sponsored by
Chips hamburgers. I say that because he's always on there because he's a great. He's a great donor
Um, and so so you know, whomever the whomever the sponsor might be and so there are just like I said
There's a few spaces left
So if you happen to be listening um, we've also had a few spaces sometimes where a anonymous community member wants to just
You know, say hey, I'll you know, I'll give 75 bucks, but I don't want to be called out so to speak
Um, you know as the donor and so that's perfectly fine too. You can just say you want to remain anonymous
Um, but it's just basically what that means is that every calendar that we sell between
Mid-February and April every calendar we sell is profit to the campaign
And so it goes to next year's campaign
It's helping it's doing all of these things that we've been talking about. It's just a you know, maybe a more non-traditional way of
Of giving or getting involved. So that's what the dollars are used for
And again, if we have every space sponsored every calendar that gets sold that money goes right to the campaign
And it gives us just it just gives us a good start, you know to the next campaign
So right now we're looking for sponsors the next time I hear I'm here. I'll be talking about come by your come by your calendar
Apple, but we don't we don't have the calendars yet again because we're still uh seeking out those those sponsors
But there are a few spaces and the way that you sign up to be a sponsor is to visit our website at
UWswac.org. There is a banner that says calendar raffle and you just click on it
And it's literally that easy. You just pick what date or what amount you want to sponsor and then
The rest is history. Yeah, I love the part that you you can act pick the date
I love that it's all laid out for you. It couldn't be simpler and
Something going back to what we were talking about before Terry about your logo being on these things
And you literally can't put a price on something like that
We know this community loves raffles loves raffles
If you are having an event and all you have is a raffle
People will show up like oh yeah, it's that much of love
So you know that people are going to be using these people are going to be getting purchasing these tickets
And see in that logo and again seeing you
Combined it with the united way and partnering with the united way supporting the united way in the work that they're doing
There is no price tag you can put on something like that. It's a really good idea
Courage it again. Again touch with the united way and be a part of this calendar raffle
And it's a pretty low cost way too
Maybe if you're just a small like entrepreneur
You know business like that kind of thing where you're like I'm not spending money on advertising
But for 75 dollars. I mean if you can get the social media coverage and you know all of that kind of thing
It's it's a good opportunity for you for 75 box heck yeah
I know that part of this industry
Can I like get like one shoe for 75 dollars now?
Nowadays yeah
Because it's all the things that we can the data that we can collect sure
But it's the stuff that you there is no
You know, there's and the pie chart. It's the gray area
It's the word amount stuff
It's the people that wouldn't have seen your logo if it wasn't for being on the raffle possibly right
There's so many added bonuses to it along with of course the great feel good that you take putting back in your community
That's so many are wanting more and more up Terry great conversation as always with you today
If people have fault questions want to know more about some what we talked about today. How can they reach you?
They should get in touch with us at seven one five four two one zero three nine zero
And I would also encourage you to follow us on Facebook
You know, we try not to do we try not to flood your your feed, but but you know
We have a daily post right of of information and
And and some pretty strong content around the communities we serve and then also check out our website
uwswac.org
Well talk soon. I know actually I'll see you soon. Yeah, you're you've been warned see you Friday
And we'll see you guys tomorrow with more midday magazine right here on WF HR locally grown radio
