This article was written by Marsha Keefer of the Beaver County Times. Used with permission.
United Way of Beaver County has a new corporate partner and richer coffers. The local nonprofit has received a $100,000 donation from the National Network of Digital Schools, headquartered in Rochester.
It’s the largest single corporate donation in nearly 30 years, said Mike Rubino, United Way’s executive director. The gift, Rubino said, moved him to tears when George Pacinda, NNDS assistant vice president of operations, notified him.
“We were happy to do it,” said Bob Clements, NNDS president. “The board was unanimous in the vote.”
Clements praised United Way as being a generous organization for years, one that “does good work” and tries to share the wealth equitably among its 17 nonprofit member agencies.
NNDS’ contribution will go a long way to help the United Way reach its 2014-15 fundraising campaign goal of $700,000. The campaign, supported largely through corporate gifts and employee payroll deductions, started in September and ends in June.
While the goal is approximately 8 percent above last year’s, it’s still lower than in other years, Rubino said — unfortunate, he said, since people continue to struggle as the economy is slow to rebound.
For example, he said, every month, 4,000 people rely on the Salvation Army’s food banks to get enough to eat. The drive also is hampered by the loss or transfer of jobs to other states as a number of local companies have either folded or relocated operations.
That’s why new corporate partnerships, such as that with NNDS, are critical to helping those in need. United Way is the primary fundraising agent for nonprofits including the Women’s Center of Beaver County, Family Services of Beaver County and the Salvation Army.
Not only has Beaver County’s population declined, it’s gotten older, too, Rubino said, meaning fewer individuals are contributing through payroll deductions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Beaver County’s population was 208,418 in 1970. In 2010, the last analysis, it was 170,539.
Rubino said he needs to persuade the younger generation to become more philanthropic.
Within three to four years, Rubino would like to target a million-dollar goal, one that hasn’t happened since 1990. But with additional corporate partners like NNDS, he’s certain that’s achievable.
Stella Polletta, United Way’s finance allocation director, has tracked last year’s campaign numbers with this year’s, and already, Rubino said, “we’re way ahead.”
Four months into the campaign, $485,000 has been raised, compared with $215,000 last year.
Clements and Rubino agreed that their corporate partnership fits perfectly with both agencies’ missions — promoting education.
NNDS provides customized digital curricula and services to students throughout the country, while also promoting lifelong learning. Many of United Way’s member agencies also are education-based, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County; Beaver County YMCA; Lifesteps; and Beaver County Rehabilitation Center Inc.
NNDS’ sizable donation will be used to continue assistance to those agencies, Rubino said, adding that all contributions to United Way of Beaver County stay in the county “helping your neighbors.”
