 In 2018, Lehigh and Northampton counties became the first dual-counties to join the World Health Organization/AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. Carmen Bell, Director of Healthy Aging at United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV), is spearheading the age-friendly initiative on behalf of UWGLV. “What Carmen is doing is pushing forward systemic change—a challenging task,” says Erin Connelly, UWGLV Senior Director of Impact. “Whether it’s funding agencies, convening people, or simply encouraging individuals to reach out to their neighbors, Carmen is persistent and resilient in pushing this cause forward. It’s the type of work we need to move the needle in the right direction for our community.” Much of the Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley work is based on direct input from older adults. The team has conducted “listening tours,” surveyed community members, organized and attended events, and collaborated with other organizations to better understand the needs of older adults. “Almost 16% of the population in Lehigh and Northampton counties is 65 or older, and that number is increasing,” Carmen says. “We saw a need to reach out to this population and make sure they have the resources they need to live healthy and happy lives.” “Based on what we heard, we decided to fund programs specifically around transportation, case management in the home, chronic disease care, meal services, and grocery shopping services. These were things that older adults said would help them safely age in place, manage their health, and go about their daily tasks with ease.” Over the past few years, the organization has distributed millions of dollars in funding for healthy aging programs and initiatives.
In 2020, AgeFriendly Lehigh Valley adjusted its approach to addressing relevant issues around racial justice, inequity, and, of course, COVID-19. They refocused to meet urgent needs and shifted their perspective to make sure they were inclusive and mindful of all people in their communities. “With so much change in the social and political landscape, we knew we needed to take a step back and reassess,” says Carmen. “By doing so, we made sure we remained both respectful and relevant.” With this in mind, Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley has developed a set of core initiatives designed to meet the needs of the whole individual and the whole community. These initiatives are:
Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley continues to work on its cornerstone initiatives while taking into account the challenges posed by COVID19. Additionally, Carmen reports that she has had the opportunity to connect with other United Way organizations and community partners to continually improve her program and inspire others to undertake age-friendly initiatives.  This feature story is an extension of UWRA’s Aging in Place research conducted in 2019, funded by a grant from the Cinda A. Hallman Memorial Fund, which addresses two of the recommendations made by UWRA:
1) Amplify United Way’s commitments to older adults, and 2) Drive knowledge sharing across the United Way network. UWRA is excited to spotlight United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s work in making their community more accessible and inviting to people of all ages through their Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley initiative. For more information visit: unitedwayglv.org/agefriendlylehighvalley
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 FRANKLYN BAKER, President & CEO of United Way of Central Maryland
UWRA: Please introduce yourself and take us through your journey with United Way. Franklyn: I’m Franklyn Baker, President and CEO of United Way of Central Maryland in Baltimore. I have dedicated my career to the nonprofit sector. My previous experience encompasses leadership roles for both local and national organizations,including Greenpeace USA, Volunteers of America, and Children’s National Medical Center. I joined my local United Way in 2016 and was thrilled to be able to build upon its strengths and successes, especially its “from every angle“ approach to driving family stability and broadening and deepening our impact across central Maryland. This position is a perfect fit for me—I am deeply committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in community building and breaking down barriers to drive positive change. What energizes me most about my job is the constant change. Shortly after I started, we moved our headquarters from downtown Baltimore to an office building located in a community of need in Southwest Baltimore. The move was intentional—it provides significant savings to our operations that we can direct back to our residents and neighborhoods and places us directly in one of the many communities we serve. Since coming aboard, we’ve evolved both our program model and business model. We’re incubating new ideas and accelerating best practices that address root causes of poverty. We target hardworking families that may be working two or more full-time minimum wage jobs, but who still struggle to afford basic needs. We’ve added more family stability sites that provide homelessness prevention and shelter diversion services to families in locations across central Maryland, expanded our Neighborhood Zones (resource and service hubs for challenged communities that address education, income, housing and health), and expanded our On Track 4 Success early intervention education program that helps children succeed in school with the goal of graduating. Our first ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report was released early in my tenure. I am a staunch advocate of sharing its findings with our partners, donors, legislators, corporations, foundations, and the media to increase awareness of and remove obstacles for hardworking families who cannot afford the basics in life. I’m also passionate about exceeding goals: In addition to our annual fundraising campaign, we also surpassed our target of raising an additional $4.5 million to help struggling families and individuals and to improve the effectiveness of our operations. UWRA: Describe what the past 12 months have been like for you, your community, and your United Way. Franklyn: Where to start! It’s been a year unlike one that any of us has ever experienced, and it’s taken its biggest toll on those who were already struggling. I’m proud of the United Way team here and how quickly we pivoted to respond to the cascading needs resulting from the pandemic. We immediately established a COVID-19 Community Fund, which to date has raised nearly $3 million to help our neighbors, neighborhoods, and other nonprofits and organizations impacted by the pandemic. The ever-increasing need—and the new needs that emerge every day—have certainly been challenging. Still we have mobilized all of our resources and worked closely with State government and new and existing partners to provide more of what’s needed, where it’s needed, and when it’s needed. You can read more about our response here: uwcm.org/covidresponse. UWRA: What keeps you going? Franklyn: My team keeps me going! They are an incredible group of talented, mission-driven professionals whose deep and abiding commitment to serving others aligns well with my own ethic, sustains me during challenging times, and is reaffirmed with each one of our successes. 2020 was certainly a rollercoaster ride, but seeing the outpouring of support from our community and the incredible dedication, commitment, and around-the-clock work of our staff, volunteers, board members, and others to address the ongoing and emerging challenges facing our region gives me hope and is truly inspirational. What accomplishments are you most proud of for 2020? Franklyn: There are so many 2020 accomplishments to celebrate, and you’d need an entire newsletter devoted to them. Still, I’d say I’m most proud of the fact that when the pandemic hit, we were already in a position of strength and could quickly and effectively respond to the challenges of the pandemic and rapidly make a measurable difference for those in need. I’ve also been proud to launch robust Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives that support our team and the community. And the cherry on top? An unsolicited and undesignated $20M gift—the largest individual gift in our 96-year-history—from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Our strategy and proven ability to deliver positive, meaningful results, and our strong and thoughtful plan for our future work, were driving factors in her decision to award this transformational gift, which will significantly amplify our ability to help even more people. UWRA: United Way of Central Maryland has been a long-time supporter of UWRA (thank you!). Why has it remained a priority to provide that annual gift? Franklyn: While I’m newer to the United Way family, the careers of so many of my team members and colleagues have been shaped by mentors who are now part of UWRA. We want to support the success of those who have supported our professional success. We value the wisdom that exists in abundance within the UWRA membership. UWRA: Can you talk about your efforts to engage retirees in your own community? Franklyn: So many times, our minds gravitate toward traditional campaign engagement opportunities for retirees. On the other hand, we have a cadre of the female pioneers who initially shaped our Women United membership group. These seasoned “alumnae” and leadership givers are retired C-suite professionals who are still connected to us and serving in multiple ways, from giving to mask making and mentoring. UWRA: Anything else you would like to add? Franklyn: I know I mentioned that one of our greatest accomplishments of 2020 was being well-positioned to help families and individuals to respond, recover, and rebuild from the pandemic. But on a personal note, one of my wife and I's most significant achievements is rearing a lovely daughter who is a well-mannered, bright 18-year old freshman at Loyola University, Maryland. Young people like her offer great hope for our future.  In celebration of the 20th anniversary of UWRA’s Endowment, the Foundation For The Carolinas (FFTC) has approved a challenge grant of $10,000 to UWRA.
The challenge grant builds on the foresight of two of UWRA’s early leaders, Don Morgan and Don Sanders. Morgan, a long-time United Way professional and former UWRA Board Chair, proposed the idea of an endowment fund in 2000 to honor UWRA founder Gordon Berg. Don Sanders, another United Way veteran and the UWRA Board Chair at the time, joined forces with Morgan to co-chair the first campaign, establishing the UWRA Gordon Berg Endowment Fund in 2001. An unassuming individual, Berg dedicated his life to helping others. He began his career as a social worker and cultivated leadership and community building skills by establishing daycare centers throughout St. Paul, Minnesota, to support women entering the workforce during World War II. Berg later moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he served for 23 years as the director for United Way of Central Carolinas. While in Charlotte, Berg launched the Foundation for the Carolinas, building it into one of the largest community foundations in the United States. He served as the organization’s Executive Director upon his retirement in 1978 from United Way. In the final chapter of his career, Berg paved a path for United Way retirees, officially founding the United Way Retirees Association with Chuck Devine in 1990. Berg passed away on July 2, 2005 at the age of 92. The UWRA Endowment was launched with seed gifts totaling $20,000 from the two organizations that were beneficiaries of Gordon Berg’s time and considerable talents, FFTC and the United Way of Central Carolinas. The fund’s inception was bolstered by the generosity of close to 100 Founders who made contributions to the Endowment in its early years. Included in the Endowment are five Named Funds established by United Way colleagues, friends, and family members who contributed initial and cumulative endowment gifts of $10,000 or more: Dick and Mary Lu Aft, Tom and Carol Brown, Alan and Selma Cooper, Dan and Kathleen Dunne, and Friends and Family of Bob Beggan. Since its beginnings, the UWRA Endowment has grown at a steady pace and today has over $225,000 in assets. Endowment earnings provide funding for the organization to launch new programs and to expand and sustain existing initiatives. CHALLENGE GRANT DETAILS Foundation For The Carolinas will match, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $10,000 of irrevocable, lifetime gifts received into the UWRA Endowment. Please join UWRA Board members in doubling the impact of endowment contributions through the challenge grant. As of publication, we have already met 30% of the goal through generous contributions from current and former Board members. Your gift sustains UWRA’s programs and services and honors the United Way system that provided lasting friendships and incredible life experiences that made a difference in the communities you served. Thank you to former UWRA Board Member Ed John for spearheading this effort. Visit the UWRA website for more information and to make a contribution.  UWRA: In what roles have you served during your United Way years?
Marian: I began my 30-year United Way career in 1974 as the childcare coordinator for United Way of Eastern Fairfield County (UWEFC) in Bridgeport, CT. With UWEFC, I served as the Associate Executive Director, Executive Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer. The title of President and Chief Executive Officer was rare in those days! In 1992, I joined the United Way of Massachusetts Bay in Boston (UWMB) as the President and CEO. I also served as CEO of the United Ways of New England. I retired from United Way in July 2004. UWRA: What were some of your early successes? Marian: UWEFC was chosen as the best United Way program in America and featured in the annual Presidential Message delivered by President George H.W. Bush. We were honored for our "Regional Youth Substance Abuse Prevention'' initiative. I was blessed with a great staff, a very involved board, and a fantastic group of volunteers, which allowed us to earn this type of recognition. Another successful venture was our Alexis de Tocqueville efforts. I had my broker buy 1-5 shares of stock of every public company in our area, and I would take the annual reports with me when meeting CEOs and “encourage” them to increase their giving, host dinners, or help by recruiting others. Also, whenever a local couple was featured in Architectural Digest or another national magazine, I personally made cold calls to confirm their willingness to host a United Way dinner—and, they all said yes! UWRA: You have worked with several U.S. presidents. Can you elaborate on some of those experiences?Marian: Early in my tenure, Bill Aramony suggested I represent United Way with President George H.W. Bush's "Thousand Points of Light." I agreed to meet with philanthropic giant Raymond G. Chambers, the chairman of this newly formed foundation. We discussed our thoughts about childcare in America, youth development, and the importance of volunteers. The following week, I was invited to the White House to talk about being the founding President and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation. I accepted a three-month position, which turned into almost a year. During this hectic time, UWEFC surpassed campaign goals and received six awards for community leadership and programming. We were invited by President George H.W. Bush to meet him in Westchester as he arrived on Air Force One. My husband, the board chair, the incoming board chair, and the campaign chair attended this meeting. This meeting led to a long-standing relationship with the Points of Light Foundation. I have now worked with six United States presidents: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. With board support, I took a leave of absence to serve as the President and CEO of the Presidents' Summit for America's future. Presidents Bush and Clinton were the co-chairs, and retired General Colin Powell was the honorary chair. First Lady Hillary Clinton also played a prominent role. UWRA: Who were your mentors? Marian: My mentors included George Wilkinson. He demonstrated how critical it was to focus on research and data analysis as a part of our reports and presentations. That served me well! One of our innovative programs was the Ambassador's Circle. The first Chairman was Oz Nelson, the CEO of UPS. Our first speaker was Jack Welch, CEO of GE. That was a fateful meeting, because Jack became my mentor. From Jack I learned the concept of wild-card planning and "how to plan" for success. Jack continued to be my mentor when he moved GE's world headquarters to Boston. I could write another book about Jack's words. During 2018, we lost my great friend and long-term supporter, President George H.W. Bush. During 2020, both Jack Welch and Ed Ansin, another mentor, passed away. I feel blessed to have had these and many, many others in my life. UWRA:Tell us about your time in Boston. Marian: In 1992, I was asked to take over at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay in Boston (UWMB). Bill Aramony has just resigned amid an internal investigation and unfavorable news reports about the misuse of funds. To help reset the trajectory of the situation, Ray Chambers, a tremendous supporter and friend of mine, asked me the amount of the largest gift in Boston’s history. I confirmed it had been $35,000. Ever generous, Ray sent a check for $50,000 and asked me to tell the Boston United Way Board that someone they didn't know believed in me and offered this gift as a vote of confidence. From there, we simply got down to business!  We are excited to announce one of our newest Board Members Robert Hines. Robert brings a plethora of experience and executive leadership to the UWRA Board.
UWRA: Tell us about yourself. Robert: I served six years in the United States Navy before being recruited by Amoco Oil Company (now BP Oil), where I spent 20 years of my professional career in various executive roles. My family and I moved seven times and lived in almost every region of the country during that time. While living in Scottsdale, AZ, I was recruited to become President of the Upward Foundation, a school for K-12 special needs children. This opportunity was my initial introduction to working in the philanthropic world and led to my professional tenure with the United Way. UWRA: Describe your history with United Way. Robert: A United Way colleague invited me to assist with a unique project for the United Way in Albany, NY. As I was leaving Albany at the end of the project, I was offered the position of Campaign Director and humbly served in that role for three years. In 2004, I was selected as the fourth President & CEO of United Way of Cumberland County in Fayetteville, NC, where I served for sixteen years, retiring in July 2020. My time in Fayetteville filled me with such a sense of purpose and belonging. My proudest accomplishments include launching the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (which delivered nearly a half-million books to children in our community over the past 15 years) and collaborating with the Cumberland County School District on the Character Playbook (which helps students cultivate and maintain healthy relationships). The most lasting accomplishment of my tenure will undoubtedly be the United Way of Cumberland County Endowment. We invested $25,000 from our reserve account in 2004, and the investment is now valued at nearly $300,000.  Join us in welcoming one of our newest UWRA Board members Robert "Bob'' Ferriday II. Bob adds rich leadership experience to the UWRA Board as we embrace strategic initiatives and growth in 2021.
UWRA: Tell us about yourself. Bob: I was born and raised in Indiana and earned a BS in Business from Purdue University. I completed my MBA from The Ohio State University while serving in the Air Force in Dayton, OH. In 1964, my late wife Sally, three young daughters, and I moved to Milwaukee. I spent the next 13 years of my career with Globe Union. The game-changer came in 1977 when I responded to a blind job posting that turned out to be a position with United Way of Greater Milwaukee (UWGM). Family has always been most important to me. My wife Barbara and I were long-term good friends and both widowed. We married in 2003 and continue to share in the joy of our big extended family, including our six children, 18 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. UWRA: Describe your history with United Way. Bob: I retired from the Milwaukee United Way in 2003, after serving 25 years as CFO and Operations Director working with four CEOs. It was a remarkable journey. I enjoyed learning about this caring business and will always cherish the relationships built with volunteers and staff. Significant highlights during my time with United Way include growing resources, introducing new technologies, and finalizing a new UWGM headquarters site in a vacated Schlitz brewery. Participating in a four-community collaborative technology initiative to build out an electronic campaign information system to expand our reach and streamline giving was significant, too. After retiring, I returned on a part-time basis to head up a planned giving initiative where we secured a million-dollar foundation honorarium gift. My years with United Way instilled a love for service and my community. I currently volunteer with several United Way funded agencies and other organizations close to my heart. Meet Ann Murtlow, President and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana UWRA: Please introduce yourself and recap your United Way career.
Ann: I’m Ann Murtlow, President and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana since 2014. I’m an east coast native, but now a proud Hoosier. Prior to leading United Way of Central Indiana, I spent my entire career in the corporate sector, primarily in leadership roles in engineering, construction, and utility companies. Since my first day on the job, United Way has gone through extraordinary change, much success, and celebratory milestones. Our United Way led the significant effort for high-quality early education opportunities for low-income children throughout our region and statewide. We have signed strategic partnership agreements, beginning with Eli Lilly and Company in 2016, to drive measurable, social change. We secured a multimillion-dollar federal Social Innovation Fund grant to put the two- generational (2Gen) approach to work, helping entire families become financially stable. And, we had our huge 100th birthday celebration in 2018 on one of the most cherished institutions in Indy -- the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. UWRA: Describe what this year has been like for you, your community, and your United Way. Ann: We started 2020 with our charge of driving impact in basic needs, family opportunity, and social innovation initiatives to help 216,000+ households in Central Indiana who struggle to make ends meet. But then COVID arrived, and our world stopped. Hoosiers were losing jobs at a rapid pace. Our partners in human services faced significant disruption in delivering services to those in need, so we rallied. Together with our large philanthropic partners, we were the first United Way in the country to announce a significant economic relief fund to help our community through the crisis. We started with $16.5 million on March 13, and it quickly topped $23 million in two months. More than 200 organizations received grants across our six-county region, helping tens of thousands of Hoosiers. This year proved to all of us that our community needs United Way to be responsive, hopeful, and resilient. Now more than ever before, we must continue our work with a sense of focus, relevance, a strong message of hope, and motivation to charge ahead. UWRA: What keeps you going? What accomplishments are you most proud of for 2020? Ann: I’m generally an optimistic person. I’m proud that we were able to move so quickly to launch our COVID relief fund. Two years ago, we completed a massive transition to a new strategy and funding model focused on those who need us most. I’m proud of that work, which positions us well to help our community recover and rebound in the long term. As racial tensions reached their highest point this past summer, it was past time we all stepped up and said, “Enough.” United Way stepped out early and united with our community in opposing racism. Locally, United Way of Central Indiana pledged that racism, both implicit and explicit, presents significant barriers to our communities of color. And, we pledged to do something about it -- in all areas of United Way’s work. You can read more about our pledge, alongside Indy’s leading companies, at www.indyracialequitypledge.com SPOTLIGHTING SUCCESS IN THE NETWORK: UNITED FOR CAREGIVERS@WORK IN PITTSBURGH  This feature story is an extension of UWRA’s Aging in Place research conducted in 2019, funded by a grant from the Cinda A. Hallman Memorial Fund, which addresses two of the recommendations made by UWRA:
1) Amplify United Way’s commitments to older adults, and 2) Drive knowledge sharing across the United Way network. According to estimates from the National Alliance for Caregiving, during the past year, 65.7 million Americans served as family caregivers for an ill or disabled relative.1 Caregiving for children and older family members is nothing new in our society. Most adults spend a significant proportion of their lifetime caring for someone else, whether raising children or taking care of aging or disabled family members. Caregiving might include episodic tasks, such as helping loved ones fill prescriptions, paying bills, or transporting them to doctor appointments. For others, the care is more time intensive and may include regular check-ins, bathing, and meal preparation. Although caregiving can be a meaningful experience, the stress and strain of added responsibilities can impact mental and physical health, as well as personal finances. Individuals who balance their caregiving role with work responsibilities are even more likely to experience stress and feel overwhelmed in the workplace. Many forward-thinking companies are stepping up for working moms and dads. Working caregivers belong in this conversation, too. Much like new parents, employees who are caregivers need support from their managers and colleagues to feel safe, access resources, and manage their responsibilities. Heather Sedlacko, Vice President of Community Impact at United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, PA), said, “Needs for seniors grow as they age, but health services are limited. Nearly 80% of caregiving help is provided by family members. Families are stretched.”
 UWRA WELCOMES ADRIANNA CUELLAR ROJAS TO THE BOARD
Join us in welcoming our newest UWRA Board Member Adrianna Cuellar Rojas, President and CEO of United Ways of Texas (UWT). Adrianna’s perspective and experience are a valuable addition to UWRA’s Board as we embrace the opportunities ahead. UWRA: Tell us about yourself. Adrianna: My focus has always been on serving communities, especially our state’s most vulnerable populations. I consider myself to be optimistic, a collaborator, and a systems thinker. I joined United Ways of Texas (UWT) in 2014 as President & CEO. Before that, I spent 17 years advising community investments for one of Texas’ largest family foundations. I have also worked for several state agencies and the Texas Senate, where I focused on systems change and policies supporting children and families. UWRA: How did you come to know UWRA, and how have you been involved? Adrianna: UWT has been a long-time member of UWRA. On occasion, we have utilized UWRA’s network of consultants to support Texas member organizations through one-on one mentoring and by filling interim leadership positions. UWT values the mentorship, education, and guidance that UWRA brings to our members. Long Before Live United, Slogans Define United WayPublications, PSAs, posters, banners, letterhead, and clothing have long carried unforgettable messages from United Way organizations, defining themselves and their constituents from the beginnings of “Give Once for All” to today’s LIVE UNITED. Our slogans have been clever: “Put All Your Begs in One Askit” (Cincinnati 1925) and compelling: “Don’t Give Until It Hurts, Give Until It Helps” (Licking County, Newark, OH, 1964). Whether a multi-year hallmark like, “Thanks to YOU – it’s working the United Way,” or the one-shot, “If you don’t do it, it won’t get done,” our slogans have defined us. Innovation characterized Minneapolis’ slogans during the early years of that community’s campaigns. In 1920, posters carried the complex message, “All races, creeds, humanity smile when the Town Tea Kettle sings. In 1923, they simply read, “Have a Heart to Finance 65 Social Agencies.” During the early 1930s, their creativity continued to supply slogans that were copied by many other United Way organizations. Their 1928, 1929, and 1930 advertising read, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother,” and pictured a young man carrying a boy holding a crutch. Years after its use by United Way organizations, those words became the trademark of Omaha-based Boys’ Town. Thanks to George Eastman’s film business, Rochester’s 1920 to 1927 campaign theme became the title of United Way’s first campaign movie: “Suppose Nobody Cared.” We’ve earned our livings surrounded by posters that read, “Give Where You Work.” At the borders of many bedroom communities, competing billboards said, “Give Where You Live.” And if we lived or worked abroad, the words appearing with the United Way helping hand logo in Hungary read “Elj Egységesen” (Live United), in Poland, “Zyć Zjednoczony,” and in China, “活着团结.” Author: Dick Aft, UW Historian and UWRA Emeritus Board Member |
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