United Way observing 60 years of service locally

Sixty years is a long time, and United Way of Merced County’s chief executive officer, Carol Bowman, is proud to work for a group boasting such longevity.

An Oct. 4 diamond jubilee is being planned to herald the milestone.

While United Way has been around this area since 1954, its focus and the agencies it funds have changed, Bowman said. Its traditional role of raising funds to support other agencies continues, but the focus is shifting so United Way can have a greater communitywide impact.

“We fund the program, not the agency,” Bowman said. “We’re nonpolitical and nonreligious. There is no similar organization. United Ways are unique in this country.”

United Way is funding 17 organizations in 2014-15. Its focus has morphed from general support to concentration on education, income and health concerns.

Education goals include quality child care, school readiness and academic completion. The financial stability component includes maximizing income, increasing savings and building financial assets for long-term stability. The health focus is on preventive and everyday health care, and healthier, drug-free teenagers.

Bowman explained that in the early days the organization represented the various charities for which it was raising funds. Through the years the emphasis changed from agency desires to donor desires. Funding also shifted from supporting agencies to backing selected programs of agencies.

Bowman, 67, came out of retirement to work for United Way. Director here for 10 months, Bowman said she has always donated to United Way through payroll deductions during her career.

She retired from Pacific Bell after 26 years as executive director of information technology. She also has administered a residential care facility for the elderly and worked with housing authorities in Stockton, Modesto and Fresno counties.

Bob Harmon of Merced is president of United Way’s board of directors and has been involved with the organization nearly 20 years. He said everything’s going well, and United Way is meeting its goals.

“The biggest challenge is getting the word out about United Way,” Harmon said, “about who we are today and what we do. It’s a worthwhile organization.”

He said there is considerable competition in the county for donations; United Way needs to be creative and think outside the box in its fund-raising efforts.

Bowman said that because of Merced’s fragile economy, it has been difficult to maintain the same funding levels as in previous years. In the 2013-14 year, United Way received $354,756 to distribute to its member organizations. For the 2010-11 fiscal period, United Way had $503,455 in its coffers.

Unlike years past, United Way also conducts programs on its own. These include tax preparation help, a social media effort to boost small businesses, interpreter services at Mercy Medical Center, obesity prevention and an emergency food and shelter program.

United Way provides free income-tax preparation for low-income families during tax season in a program called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. At three locations this year, United Way completed 680 tax returns, resulting in a total tax refund amount of $805,169; about half of that amount was for earned-income tax credits.

Bowman said Root Social helps small businesses use social media to improve their success. The Language Care Program at Merced’s primary hospital provides interpreter services in Spanish, Hmong, Mien, Lao, Portuguese and Punjabi.

Capt. Sam Samra, commander of the Merced area California Highway Patrol office, is on the board of directors for his second go-round. He has been a United Way supporter for a number of years.

“This group is exactly what I needed,” Samra said. “They give a lot to our community and improve the quality of life in Merced, make this a better place. I want to do my part.”

Bowman said United Way has been using social media more these days to advance its causes. Through Facebook and Twitter, United Way posts information about local activities and events.

United Way’s 2014-15 funding recipients include the Center of Vision Enhancement, Cerebral Palsy Association, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center, Hinds Hospice, Merced Area Crime Stoppers, Merced County Food Bank, Salvation Army in Los Banos, UC Merced Food Pantry and Valley Crisis Services, Boy Scouts, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Merced College Development Center, Merced Symphony Association, Sacred Rok, UC Merced Police Mentor Program, Bethel Community Church and Dos Palos Youth in Crisis and Outreach.

These agencies go through a rigorous process to get their funding, Bowman said. A 10-member community investment committee interviews agency representatives in April and May.

United Way has 33 major giving partners; over 90 percent of total donations come from about 74 county corporations and their employees.

First incorporated July 23, 1954, as Merced United Givers Inc., the organization’s name changed in 1961 to Merced County United Fund Inc. The name changed again in 1974 to Merced Area United Way. In 1997, its present name was adopted.

Richard Dye, a government relations employee for PG&E Corp., is also on the United Way board. He said United Way looks for opportunities to engage the community to improve Merced County.

Bowman said the diamond jubilee Oct. 4 in the Art Kamangar Center at the Merced Theatre on West Main Street will be an evening to remember as 60 years of service to the county is heralded. There will be a 7 p.m. reception and an 8 p.m. performance. Tax-deductible ticket prices range from $40 to $50 per seat, with group packages available.

This story was originally published September 10, 2014 at 7:51 PM.