Chamber + United Way of the Midlands: Continually Partnering for a Thriving Greater Omaha
At the Chamber, fostering a community that is prosperous for all is one of their driving goals. One of the ways The Chamber does that – on a very personal, very grassroots level – is by participating in the United Way of the Midlands’ annual workplace campaign. It’s been a tradition of theirs for more than 15 years.
“United Way of the Midlands embraces that power of ‘we’ that we talk about so much at the Chamber. When we were developing our Greater Omaha 2040 vision – identifying our region’s most critical needs and imagining our best future – United Way of the Midlands was right there with us. They’re a true partner, and it’s rewarding for us to be able to turn around each year and support their incredibly important work,” says David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber.
For more than 90 years, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has been working with community partners to target resources to areas of greatest local need – all to break cycles of poverty and otherwise strengthen individuals and families. Workplace campaigns are a crucial source of funding, accounting for approximately 88-percent of the total amount donated to UWM each year. That’s according to UWM’s Greg Vassios, senior vice-president of corporate and donor relations.
“We are extremely grateful for the close relationships we’ve formed with the organizations that run workplace fundraising campaigns for United Way of the Midlands,” Vassios says.
UWM currently supports more than 110 community- and life-changing initiatives, including programs spearheaded by non-profits College Possible, Big Brothers Big Sister of the Midlands, Latino Center for the Midlands, and Completely KIDS.
College student Claire spoke at UWM’s 2019 campaign kickoff in September. She received a boost, as a child, by attending Completely KIDS.
“My mom signed me up against my will, but I’m very glad that she did. I ended up getting involved in a lot of things I never would,” Claire told the crowd. “I felt the genuine care of the staff there.”
Claire went on to enroll in Completely KIDS’ teen employment program. With the coaching she received, she was able to land one of the nation’s most prestigious scholarships – the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship.
Real lives. Real impact. An astounding 92 cents of every dollar donated to UWM directly supports local programs to help people meet basic needs, receive education or become financially stable.
