The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Editorials

October 18, 2009

Passionate volunteers are secret ingredient to United Way’s success

United Way column

By Bill Baker

The secret to the success of The United Way of Southern West Virginia is the passion volunteers bring to serving the community through the United Way.

The United Way staff is passionate, competent, dedicated and works hard every day to carry out the United Way goal of advancing the common good within our community.

But for the staff to succeed in the United Way mission, it needs the assistance of dedicated and passionate volunteers.

The United Way of Southern West Virginia Board of Directors is comprised of individuals who volunteer their time serving the United Way. The board has the responsibility of developing policy and guidance for everyone involved in carrying out the United Way mission. This is no simple task, and those involved show compassion for others through this important service.

Executive director Margaret Ann O’Neal works tirelessly in the annual campaign. The majority of work in the campaign falls on her shoulders, but she would not be successful without the assistance of many volunteers. Volunteers in the campaign assist Margaret in carrying the message of living UNITED to the community.

Educating individuals on the needs that exist within our communities is a major responsibility of everyone working in the annual campaign. Those who volunteer to assist in the campaign show their compassion for others by giving their time to this task.

The 2009 United Way campaign will assist in funding 29 agencies serving more than 90,000 individuals in five southern counties. Each of these agencies depends on volunteers to carry out their mission. The people who volunteer to serve these agencies show their compassion for others through this service. Volunteers are essential to any effort to improve our communities.

There are many ways for you to assist in this campaign. It is essential that you donate financially to this campaign, but you can also volunteer in many capacities. Visit us on the Internet by going to www.unitedwayswv.com and clicking on “Volunteer” to see how you can help.

Campaign Vice Chairman Roy Shrewsbury and I salute all volunteers who are assisting in this campaign and invite you to join us in donating money and time to The United Way of Southern West Virginia. Join us in living UNITED.

— Bill Baker is executive director of the Jobs Foundation and the chair of the 2009-2010 United Way of Southern West Virginia fundraising campaign.

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