United Way raises $1.2M, doles out first grants
Mar. 14—When Dana Neer took over as the executive director of the United Way Serving Howard and Tipton Counties last fall, he inherited a leaner but, in his own words, a highly dedicated workforce.
The result of that dedication was on full display Thursday night during the nonprofit's fundraising campaign celebration held at The Hobson as it announced it had not only reached its goal of $1 million but surpassed it, raising a total of $1,219,322.56 in two and a half months.
"The United Way is back, and our communities are stronger with a strong United Way," Paul Wyman, the 2023-24 campaign chairman, said.
In September 2022, amidst falling cash reserves due to several years of running deficits, the United Way temporarily halted its distribution of grants. The move sent a shockwave throughout the community and affected several local nonprofits.
A year and a half later and a revamped board of directors, its new executive director got to name off the 13 separate nonprofits who will collectively receive over $200,000 in grants.
It's a quick turnaround for the nonprofit and one that its leaders said shows the community still supports United Way.
"We love Kokomo, and we love our community," Neer said.
Wyman compared United Way's turnaround to Howard County's resilience in the face of economic downturns and natural disasters.
"We've been through a time in our community where the United Way wasn't where we all wanted the United Way to be, but as I've always seen time and time and time again, the community has risen up and come back stronger and stronger every time," he said. "We took a setback and turned into a come back."
The fundraising campaign, given the name "Be the Change," was headed by Allie Tomlinson, who was hired in January 2023 as United Way's campaign director and director of communications and marketing.
During her speech thanking the community for support, Tomlinson fought back tears.
"I could stand here and cry just thanking God and seeing how he's delivered for United Way, and not just United Way, but our community," she said.
A second round of grants will be given out late summer. Money raised in this year's campaign always pays for United Way's several internal programs, including Buddy Bags, tax preparation and more.
The United Way celebrated last month moving into its new headquarters at 125 N. Buckeye St.
Tyler Juranovich can be reached at 765-454-8577, by email at tyler.juranovich@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @tylerjuranovich.
