Shawnee, OK — The United Way of Pottawatomie County (UWPC) announced that on July 15, a total of $238,460 was granted to 21 local area partner agencies.
The six-figure allocation was raised during the 2022 UWPC annual fundraising campaign through community fundraising events, individual donations, and dozens of local business employee campaigns, where companies invite employees to donate to UWPC through payroll deductions.
Agencies qualifying for UWPC funding must provide services to residents of Pottawatomie, Lincoln, and/or Seminole Counties, offer programming aligned with the UWPC mission across health, education, or financial stability needs, complete an annual third-party financial audit, and hold current 501(c)(3) status.
Award notifications were sent to each agency on June 1, with funding beginning July 15, 2022.
Qualifying agencies had submitted applications in March for review by the UWPC Allocations Committee, a group of board and community volunteers. The Committee reviewed applications, toured agencies, and submitted recommendations to the full UWPC Board of Directors in May 2022 for approval.
Executive Director Sandy Vanderburg noted that “prior to the global pandemic, our United Way was able to raise and allocate almost half a million dollars,” and invited the tri-county area to participate in the upcoming 2023 fundraising campaign.
UWPC hosted its 2nd annual “Splash into Campaign” kickoff event on August 5 from 5:00–8:00 PM at the Shawnee Family YMCA, with food trucks, swimming, games, and a rubber duck race.