Gift of time proves valuable
Ruth Stevens
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The two serve together on a committee that helps decide how funds are spent in the Center for Promoting Health and Well-being for the United Way of Greater Mercer County.
"The experience has been very valuable for both of us," says Applegate, the office manager in Princeton's Office of General Counsel. "Sometimes, it can be hard to see how you're helping when you're simply donating money. Through the presentations we've seen and the site visits we've conducted, we've learned more about where the money is going and feel really good about it."
At last year's United Way luncheon on campus, Applegate responded to a call for volunteers. She and her son, Steve, a high school senior, previously had volunteered at a soup kitchen. But with his involvement in hockey, their weekends were pretty busy.
They decided a weekday commitment might be more manageable, and volunteered for a committee that reviews funding opportunities for one of the United Way's four focus areas: building self-sufficiency, strengthening families, promoting health and well-being and responding to crises.
Each area has a committee of nine to 18 members that reviews and rates written funding proposals from health and human service programs and community service agencies. The committees then listen to presentations by representatives from the groups and conduct site visits.
Based on what they've seen and heard, committee members decide which agencies should be funded and at what amount. Their recommendations go to the United Way board, which awards the three-year grants. During the years when grants are not awarded, the committees continue to review information about the programs to evaluate their effectiveness.
"It's a very intensive process," Applegate says. "We learned about so many organizations that we never knew were in our community. For their presentations, many of the organizations brought in people who were being helped by their programs and services. It made me feel really good about what I was doing."
Applegate's committee reviewed funding proposals for nearly 30 organizations. The group began meeting in December and finished the process by July, making recommendations for dividing approximately $600,000.
"I was very impressed with some of the agencies and their presentations," she says. "One organization that helps people with AIDS brought in a client who wasn't much older than my son. He needed somebody to help him, and this agency provided a service that was very valuable.
"There are so many good things happening in Mercer County and there are so many people who have needs," she said. "It also makes you appreciate what you have more."
Applegate, who had contributed to the United Way for many years, says her work on the committee also confirmed her commitment to non-designated gifts.
"A lot of times, people put down a specific organization that they want to fund. Sometimes, that's already a highly funded organization," she says. "There are many smaller places that are very vital and are helping the community in ways that many don't even know.
"People should know that if they put their money in the general fund, it doesn't just go anywhere," she continues. "It goes through a very intensive process. There's a group of people who are very dedicated to making sure all of the resources go to the best organizations."
Applegate says she would encourage others at Princeton to become involved in the allocation process. "It's a significant time commitment," she says. "But it was very interesting to learn about the organizations and to work with such a dedicated group of people."
The United Way of Greater Mercer County is seeking more volunteers like Applegate to review funded agency programs and determine continuing eligibility. For more information, call 637-4900.
Drive under way
The University's annual campaign in support of the United Way of Greater Mercer County runs from Nov. 15 through Dec. 15 on the main campus and on Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab.
Campus volunteers are distributing pledge cards. People who have questions or need another pledge card should contact their departmental campaign volunteer, look at the United Way home page at <http://www.princeton.edu/pr/uw/> or contact the main campus United Way coordinator, Karen Woodbridge, at 258-5656 or <mailto:karenw@princeton.edu>. Plasma Physics employees should contact the lab's United Way campaign chair, Mary Ann Brown, at 125-3045 or <mailto:mabrown@pppl.gov>.
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November 20, 2000 Contents • Center
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