Hope is not a strategy, but it is the inspiration for one. These unprecedented times require both hopefulness along with practical and clear thinking. For the last several months I have had the pleasure of participating in a rich partnership among the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, the Eau Claire Community Foundation and the United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley (UWGCV). The partnership has focused on helping Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties respond to and work towards recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Phase I of our partnership focused on helping through an initial response. Many of our community non-profits were forced to cancel their fundraisers. Shelters, meal sites and after school programs needed to adapt to meeting needs while keeping everyone safe. This response resulted in assisting 42 local non-profits with grants totaling nearly $275,000.
After this granting, the Trustees of UWGCV’s endowment fund released $500,000 to assist the community in recovery efforts. To learn how best to invest in the community, UWGCV and both Foundations reached out to school superintendents, public health officials, hospital administrators, county and city administrators and chamber leaders to gain their perspectives. Through these conversations two common themes emerged. After many discussions, the partnership decided on two fundamental community investments. First, we recognize that recovery for non-profits is essential, especially for non-profits offering the basic needs of food and shelter to the most economically vulnerable. Second, we recognize the need to assist our youngest community members in their development and their education. Families of these young children will need our attention as they balance caring for their children and assisting our schools in education activities. In fact, the partnership concluded that this latter need is so important to the future success of our communities that UWGCV’s request for proposals will focus on our youngest community members and their families. The Foundations will focus their grants on the needs of non-profits serving others in our community. Granting will be collaborative between all three partner organizations.
I have personally volunteered with the United Way for decades and never has it felt so right. We need each other now more than ever, and we need to recognize that no one of us is in this alone. These are very uncertain and troubling times. Participating in this partnership gives me hope that we can tap into our unique talents, come together to solve problems and lift each other up for a stronger future.
-Marc Goulet, UWEC Administrator
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