Category: Board & Staff

This past year, the spirit of collaboration and community has never been more important as the collective response to the needs impacted directly and indirectly by COVID-19.  This was seen through multiple partnerships whether it was the regional healthcare/public health response of working together, first responders coordinated on-going efforts, support among nonprofits, assistance with business recovery and promotion, coordination among education systems and community members stepping up in numerous ways. The county has seen well over 500 volunteers that has assisted in various community responses to include our clinics.

The United Way has been a key community partner all the way through this past year.   From helping getting information out, assisting in filling in gaps to include providing emergency COVID-19 funding for partners, helping with transportation efforts, to assisting with emergency housing challenges.  Further, they have worked with the nonprofit community to assist in meeting their needs and challenges they face today and the future.

The county continues to engage with the United Way on multiple levels. First, we continue to support and partner on the volunteer platform available for all our communities.  The goal is to support opportunities and efficient ways to make individuals aware of volunteer opportunities and allow an easy way to sign up.  This is a great resource.  Second, the United Way partnered with the county on being the eyes and ears for the nonprofit community this past year, to help identify challenges and opportunities in providing support to those in need. Finally, we sponsor a campaign within our organization.  Many of our departments work closely with the United Way and other nonprofits to align resources to serve many aspects of our community needs.

As the county looks ahead to the remainder of 2021 and beyond, the intent is continuing the efforts to recover and collaborate with numerous partners.  This includes the focus on issues brought forward through the recently approved comprehensive plan.  Further, we intend to work closely among our stakeholders from other local government, businesses, and nonprofits for the best use of the American Rescue Plan Act dollars the county has been allocated.  The goal is to use these funds to help with on-going recovery needs to move the county and region forward together.

Ben Wehmeier
Administrator, Jefferson County
Board Member, United Way

Spring is finally here! The flowers are blooming and there is something about the fresh air that brings new life and opportunities. I thought it would be fun to highlight a few of the ways I’m trying to support our community now that it’s warming up. I hope that these ideas will inspire you and your family to get outside and support local.

• Get Outside – Biking or walking, the Glacial River bike path screams summer. There’s nothing better than catching up with a friend, or taking the family for a nice walk or bike ride on this well-kept path. Bonus points for stopping at Frostie’s or the Jones Market for a delicious treat.
• Eat Al’Fresco – As a mom of two now, coffee gives me life and my favorite place for coffee is Beauty and the Bean. My go-to order is an iced coffee and a gluten free peanut butter cookie, always. I love how Beauty and the Bean offers options for all and has outdoor seating.
• Gardening– Gardening is a hobby I’m trying to learn. I love how the whole family can be involved in growing your own vegetables and fruits. My personal go-to location is Blodgett’s If you don’t have a green thumb, Farmer’s Markets are making their way back in our lives again (Fort Atkinson, Whitewater and Watertown, to name a few) and I’m here for it.
• Volunteer – What a wonderful way to support our community! Whether you volunteer to clean up a local park, donate items to a local charity or family in need or even simply spending time with someone who needs it; the benefits of taking the time to do something kind for someone else fulfils our innate desire to have purpose.

Happy Spring!

Lisa Caras
Marketing Manager, Jones Dairy Farm
United Way Board Member

I had the pleasure of serving on the United Way Board for 6 years!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this leadership position. The Board consists of a dynamic team that involves professionals from local and surrounding communities that want to help make a difference in the lives of people in Jefferson County. The leadership on this board is strong and dedicated to working hard to help organizations that have the ability to help people in need.

I have seen this impact first-hand in grant interviews. I have seen and heard some amazing stories over my six years.

Thank you to all who donate to the United Way. It is a very worthwhile cause that makes a great impact in our communities.

You are truly a difference maker when you donate to this organization.

Let’s continue to work together to help each other!

Dave Geiger
United Board Member – 6 years – January 2015- 2021
School District of Fort Atkinson Employee

The United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties will open its annual pillar grant funding application on Monday, March 22nd at 9am. The application will remain open until 5pm on Friday, April 23rd, with award decisions announced by Friday, May 14th.

“Our United Way is so excited to welcome back our pillar grant funding opportunity after suspending it last year to provide additional financial support for our COVID Relief Fund.  Since launching our pillar grants in 2014, we have allocated a total of $101,513 in pillar grant funding to 50 different community projects and programs, and we are eager to continue that support now in 2021,” states Megan Hartwick, United Way executive director.  “Our pillar grants have been a very successful program for our United Way since their launch in 2014. Although it was difficult for our board to temporarily suspend them last year, we knew it was important to concentrate our efforts on the immediate needs our communities were facing. Now, we’re excited to offer some additional support to our communities, especially as so many groups faced a year of difficult funding but also of increase innovation in the way they deliver important programs and services to our communities.”

Pillar grants are a unique opportunity that differentiates from traditional nonprofit agency grants United Way provides, in that applicants do not have to be nonprofit organizations to be eligible for funding, although nonprofits are still able and encouraged to apply.  Consideration is open to all community members, organizations/groups, schools, etc. that may have a great community project idea or an existing program that they need additional funding for.  The main requirement is that the project must be aimed at improving the health, education and/or financial stability of the communities which United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties supports. Specifically, all applications must focus on one of United Way’s three strategic impact areas – early intervention care, mental health/AODA, or barriers to self-sufficiency. Also, to ensure proper use of grant funds, pillar grant payments are made on a reimbursement basis after the receipt of paid invoices or on a direct invoice basis.

“It was important to our board of directors that our pillar grant funding aligned closely with the main issues facing our communities, so two years ago we transitioned our pillar grant funding a bit to focus on these three strategic impact areas,” Hartwick states. “The focus on early intervention care, mental health/AODA, and barriers to self-sufficiency comes from direct community feedback, 211 call data, county-wide data and input our partners provide regarding their clients major needs.”

A total of $8,000 is currently set aside to support pillar grant proposals, although Hartwick noted that number may increase prior to the May 14^th decision-making date, but also added that the United Way board of directors has full discretion to allocate some, all or none of the funding.

Some examples of past recipients of pillar grant funding are: mobile railyard equipment through Fort Healthcare; scholarships for local children to participate in the Working for Whitewater’s Wellness Fit Kid Shuffle; improvements/additions to school and community gardens; Parents Cafes for Jefferson County Head Start; KIND News publication through the Humane Society of Jefferson County; a handicap accessible fishing pier at the Rivers Edge Nature Preserve, Women Who Care school-based behavioral health & school nurse training programs, the Whitewater Little Free Pantry, Recovery Support Center recovery coach training, Bethel House financial literacy curriculum development, a zen den at Fort Atkinson Preschool and Childcare, , an opiate awareness toolkit through the Jefferson County Drug Free Coalition, and many more.

“Our board of directors is eager to review this year’s applications and we strongly encourage any and all community groups to review the guidelines and consider applying if they have a project or program that would qualify,” Hartwick states. “We are looking forward to offering additional support to our key strategic impact areas and continuing to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our communities.”

A copy of the 2021 guidelines and application can be found on the United Way website at www.uwjnwc.com.  All pillar grant applications must be completed online, and log-in details can be obtained from the United Way office at 920.563.8880 or unitedway@idcnet.com.

It is hard to believe that we are already two months into the long-awaited new year of 2021!  While we all eagerly look to the future, it seems incredible that the United Way Partner Agency Grant Review Process is already complete!

While we often think of the United Way at the same time we are enjoying watching our favorite professional Football teams, the United Way is very active all throughout the year.  Now that most fundraising projects are completed, it is time for a comprehensive review to determine which local  organizations will be the recipients of these generously donated funds.

Partner Agencies, listed on our United Way website, are organizations that are approved for quarterly grant funding from our United Way.  To qualify for consideration, these Agencies complete an all-inclusive application which is reviewed in detail.  There are also established expectations and clear agreements that must be agreed upon in advance of application.   A comprehensive conversation occurs between representatives of the Partner Agencies and a team of a very dedicated United Way Board and Community Volunteers that ensure these partner agencies meet specific criteria that align with the mission and vision of the United Way.  Everyone involved truly treats these dollars as if they were their own!  It is certainly difficult to select from the many deserving recipients.  The United Way board of directors completes a final review and approval of allocations.    We are very appreciative of the Partner Agencies, who are very diligent with use of program funds.

I am truly proud to serve as a Board Member for the United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties, where we truly embrace the United Way theme of NOW MORE THAN EVER.

Nancy Alstad
Senior Director Human Resources, Fort Healthcare
United Way Board Member

The United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties is joining forces with the United Way of Wisconsin to offer a state-wide 21 Week Equity Challenge available at no cost to all community members.

“Our United Way is grateful to be able to participate in, and help promote, this amazing educational series offered by the United Way of Wisconsin,” states Megan Hartwick, United Way executive director.  “The 21 Week Equity Challenge will provide a powerful opportunity for individuals to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect all of our lives and our communities.”

The 21 Week Challenge begins on Monday, February 1^st to kick-off Black History Month, and continues with weekly Monday emails through June 21^st. Each week, participants will receive emails focused on a specific topic, taking them through a journey that starts with understanding internalized racism and explores how racism permeates person-to-person interactions, institutions, and social structures.

“United Way believes that participation in this educational challenge will help deepen understanding, suggest ways to act, and help launch people into a lifelong commitment to improving equity and inclusion in our communities,” Hartwick adds.

Board themes that will be covered in the weekly emails will range from definition & general concepts, internalized racism, interpersonal racism, institutional racism and structural racism. The content will include an action related to reading, watching or listening to information, will ask participants to reflect using provided questions, and will invite learners to continue their work through suggested follow-up behaviors. Note taking sheets and a general guide for group discussions will also be provided.

United Way is encouraging community members to register and is also suggesting that other community organizations and local businesses considering registering members and employees, in an effort to expand upon their work related to racial inequity. Our local United Way will also be participating in the challenge, with the director, some board members and volunteers already registered.

“Our United Way’s mission is to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our communities. That mission calls on us to confront any challenges and disparities that exist within our communities related to those building blocks for a strong quality of life,” Hartwick adds. “Within our pillars of focus – health, education and financial stability – we are learning more about how residents in our communities face racial and ethnic disparities. Most importantly, we are eager to learn more about how our work can address those barriers and how we can involve others in that work.”

The challenge will be hosted by the United Way of Wisconsin, with full and active participation from our local United Way. Residents are encouraged to visit the United Way of Wisconsin platform to register:  www.unitedwaywi.org/equity. The link can also be found on our local United Way’s Facebook page and website at www.uwjnwc.com.

“We hope to have a strong turnout of Jefferson County residents participating in this opportunity,” Hartwick states. “Our office looks forward to connecting with those who join, so we can further our local work related to ensuring equity for all of our community members.”

Participants are encouraged to follow the Facebook pages for both United Way of Wisconsin (@unitedwaywi) and United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties (@uwjnwc), and to share their own participation and learning experience throughout the 21 weeks.

Any questions, comments or requests for further information can be directed to the United Way office at 920.563.8880 or unitedway@idcnet.com.

As we all prepare to close out this unprecedented and challenging year, I find myself filled with so many emotions related to successes, struggles, changes and transformations. But mostly, I am filled with with immense gratitude and cautious optimism.

Grateful barely seems like a qualified description for the way I feel as we near the end of our fundraising efforts for our 2020 United Way Campaign. As the United Way director, I prepared myself, my board and our partners for the reality that this was going to be the most challenging fundraising year, we have seen certainly in the seven years I have been leading this organization. Approximately 75% of our annual donations come directly from the generous employees of the local businesses that run workplace campaigns, and we know so many individuals and families have spent the year struggling, worried and fearful. We knew that asking folks to invest in our work, even if they wanted to, was going to be a difficult request. We also knew what a difficult year this has been for our small business, many of our corporate leaders, our school districts, and our healthcare systems.

This campaign season also found me unable to meet with employees, give presentations, and personally share the message of our mission and our local impact. It was a year in which we knew our support would be needed “Now More Than Ever,” but our ability to fundraise would be drastically limited.

And yet, so many of you stepped up to support to our efforts, to show your commitment to your communities, to use your investment to say that you want to lift up others during this incredibly hard time. And I can’t say THANK YOU enough. Although we will end this campaign season down from past years, we will still end it with SO much gratitude, the ability to support MANY local nonprofits, programs & initiatives, and the knowledge that we will continue to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our communities as strongly as we can!

And that fills me with so much hope as we enter 2021. It will not be an easy year. The struggles and challenges of 2020 will not disappear, and may in fact actually compound for a time being. But I was given a front row seat to the dedication our communities have to supporting one another, to investing in assistance for those in need, and to choosing to love and care for one another.

I believe in the power of community, but even more so, I believe in the power of OUR communities. 

Thank you for being with us throughout 2020 as we did all we could, and we hope you’ll continue with us in 2021 as we learn how to do even more.

On behalf of United Way, I wish you and your families all as safe, healthy and happy New Year!

With sincerest thanks,
Megan Hartwick
United Way Executive Director

No chili cook-off this year? Let’s just “chill” instead!

Since our Board has been blogging, I have always been the chili blogger. Why? Because I LOVE making and eating CHILI and I LOVE the United Way CHILI COOK-OFF!  This year, however, has been a year of learning to “love” and appreciate differently for all of us. I am still loving making and eating chili, but I have now taken on a new love and it’s called “chillin out”. Trust me, this newfound love was hard to grasp at first. If you are like me; “chillin” does not come easy. So, I decided to do what I always do when I want to succeed and make a plan. I thought this may be perfect time to share it and hopefully it will encourage others to “chill” too! And no sooner will we all be “chillin”, and the CHILI COOK OFF will be back!

Robin’s “Chill” Plan:

#1 – Commit to “chill” daily.

#2 – Get a pair of bluetooth, wireless earbuds. (this is very important to keep yourself free of wires during your chill time, it makes a huge difference!) Plus, they work great when you are doing yardwork, cooking, cleaning too. Tip – only put one in so you can hear your family too!

#3 – Pick 3 – 5 activities that promote “chillin” out and rotate daily. This keeps it fresh. Here are a few of my favorites:
a. Coloring (yes, I do love to color, it is a great activity for calming your mind)
b. Walking…..with my family, my dog, or just on my own.
c. Listening to music or inspirational Podcasts. (This has been a wonderful new world for me. There are so many great people podcasting.)
d. Reading. (Yes, this one NEVER goes out of style!)
e. Online shopping. (Yes, it’s true, shopping is therapeutic).
f. Meditation, praying, connecting with your spiritual self. Find your peace.

#4 – Schedule time each day to “chill”. (Yes, easy to say hard to do) Keep in mind:
a. Pick the time of day that works best for you and your family.
b. Don’t break your date with yourself! You are worth it.

#5 – Keep a calendar (you can use any calendar) and check off every day you “chilled out”. You will be surprised how it becomes part of your day.

Let’s all take a lesson from an anonymous wise person who said “Life is much easier when you just chill out.”

Robin Kennedy
United Way Board Member
VP of Mission Advancement, Opportunities, Inc.

Happy October, everyone! It’s hard to believe we are only nine weeks away from Christmas and a busy (albeit sure to be unusual) holiday season. Just because the year is almost over does not mean that the United Way is done helping people! Now more than ever there is a need to continue to provide support for our community as we continue to face unprecedented times.

First and foremost, it would be extremely remiss if I did not use this opportunity to send a sincere “thank you” to Megan, the Executive Director for the United Way of Jefferson and Walworth Counties. The dedication, determination, and passion that Megan has for helping people, no matter the situation, is unmatched and is certainly deserving of recognition. I think that we all can agree that this year posed and continues to pose a challenge for all in a variety of ways, and the United Way is no exception. Megan did not allow these circumstances to put a halt to the United Way’s vital work, but rather, she thought outside of the box to make this year’s campaign just as successful as any. Again, thank you, Megan, for your leadership and your commitment to your community.

At Festival Foods, we are very honored with the privilege of kicking off, if you will, the United Way campaigning season. In honesty, given the circumstances of this year, I was unsure how successful our campaign would be. The global pandemic has undoubtedly played an impact on an individual’s finances. However, with a desire to serve the community, the Festival Foods team came together to have a successful campaign. I beyond proud to share that this year the Festival Foods team raised more money than any year in the past, despite the season of uncertainty in which we currently live. Now more than ever, the Festival Foods team came together to support the community in which they serve.

Again, now more than ever, the Jefferson and Walworth counties need our support, and the good news is that it is not too late to show support to the United Way. In a season of uncertain times, we, too, like Megan, need to think outside of the box.

And remember, support, no matter how small we may feel it is, is much appreciated.

Cory Krisher
United Way Board Chair
Store Director, Festival Foods

Our mission at United Way is simple – to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our communities. And while that fight always includes things like fundraising, advocacy, marketing & PR, and relationship building, it also always includes kindness. And compassion. And generosity. And support.

Our communities are facing incredibly difficult times right now – parents & children, educators & students, employers & employees, first responders, healthcare workers, small business owners and so many others are dealing with overwhelming weight of daily stresses and difficult changes. It is an unprecedented time that is begging for our communities to make the decision to come together, support one another, and consciously choose to be more compassionate and supportive.

We are asking you to make that choice. We are asking you to join us in our fight. We are asking you to commit to actively participating in our first-ever Virtual Week of Caring.

What will that entail? We’ll ask you to share positive words of encouragement with a community worker who has helped keep us all safe and healthy. We’ll ask you to support a local business through a purchase or a positive review. We’ll ask you to commit to becoming an active volunteer and community advocate. We’ll ask you to lend your support to others and prioritize taking care of yourself! These missions can be as simple or as grand as any participant wants them to be. We don’t have a lot of requirements or expectations, other than your pledge to share positivity and joy across our communities.

Because while our communities have been hurting, so many people, organizations and businesses have been working tirelessly to do everything they can to keep people healthy, safe, connected and employed. While we all may not agree on policies, protocols and procedures, I think it’s safe to say we can all agree that our communities are filled with hardworking, generous, amazing people – people who deserve our thanks, recognition and support.

We know that spreading caring power won’t solve all of the complex issues our communities are facing. But we do know that the impact of caring power is infinite and has the ability to strengthen communities like nothing else can.

So we hope you’ll join us. We hope you’ll join our team, our board of directors and everyone else who chooses to step up for seven missions across seven days – seven impactful ways to show you care.

And let’s never underestimate the power of kindness, compassion, generosity and support. Let’s never forget that we can always make the choice to actively add positive value to our communities and to show others how much we appreciate them and their efforts.

Let’s all contribute to the future strength & stability of our communities.

Let’s all lend a hand, raise our hand, and offer positive words of encouragement.

Let’s all care.

Megan Hartwick
United Way executive director