QUOTES
"It's so important for an organization to get the nuts and bolts right. By that I mean, that a customer or client should know absolutely what services (delivery, content, specifics) to expect from the business or organization. A well-organized business is always consistent."
"Our parent company, Illinois Tool Works, is a quiet but very successful large corporation. The overriding philosophy which permeates all the divisions is the 80/20 philosophy- 80% of the value is in 20% of the elements of the organization's activity. If you spend your time focusing on the key elements, you will focus on what matters and you will be successful."
“Seeing my brother after the accident and then a year later, I never thought I would ever see him return to a more “normal” life.”
“What I value about volunteer work is learning people’s stories, and how their story interweaves with my own.”
"The NPUW is the “Cream of the Crop” "The NPUW works smarter not harder"
"We hit the bottom and knew it, Indian Valley Housing was there for us when we needed help. We established a focused approach to the Bridge Program and established goals for ourselves so we would never have to go through this situation again."
"If you are going to be homeless this is the best place to" because of IVHC. I could cry everyday, but I don't pick out the sad reasons. I cry about the good stuff."
"NPUW is on the right track…Our Community Has Talent draws in the community. It’s far more contagious than mailings pleading for money. People need to see human beings getting dirty (like in the Harleysville Senior Center makeover story), doing something concrete. I don’t want to see your PowerPoint. Don’t show me fancy programs. Tell people’s and the United Way success stories. Stories strengthen people; they do not divide. In the age of high tech, people yearn for high touch; they want someone to hear their story. The human element is vital."
"The UW needs to bring an “Entrepreneurial Spirit to all of our organizations. The United Way is reinvesting your dollars in the community. Our business is to be out of business.” We need to get people’s attention to get involved. If the North Penn United Way sees an emerging need, they should be the catalyst who creates a new entity to serve these needs.”
“Working hands-on. See the results of your work and the use of your money.”
"Interviewee's story regarding the Community Summit on Diversity was inspiring. It was a great example of how many different organizations, all with different focuses, could come together as one to improve our community. Interviewee's story on the S.T.A.R. program and how it would clearly not be able to run without the funding of the North Penn United Way was also stimulating. To think that without the funding of the NPUW, these people would no longer have the opportunities that they have now, is moving."
"Interviewee feels the mid- to late-90s were the hay days for the NPUW. The sense of community is not the same, he feels, due to the following factors: 1) More people are moving in; not long-term supporters of United Way. 2) The community is not tight-knit anymore. 3) We are a commuting community. 4)Agencies are more self-focused (they are raising funds on their own more successfully and taking away United Way dollars from the community) 5) Our image is that of an “old charity”; young people think about it as voting for John McCain, which they would not do."
"More courageous, more diverse, more relevant, and more in tune with the trends in the community. It is less concerned with “having well known figures on the Board” and more in touch with the needs of the most vulnerable/least included segments of the population."
"Right now, the NPUW has great, enthusiastic employees, a great Executive Director and a good team in place to develop a good group and move NPUW forward."
"In the year 2018, 1. NPUW will be known in every large corporation through active participants; 2. NPUW will be very visible for people in need - knowing where to go to get needed help, payment structures, services provided, and service locations; 3. NPUW will know where the homeless of this community are and how to provide help to those individuals and; 4. NPUW will be an example for other UW organizations within the country."
"Lots of community involvement - which is the backbone of United Way." I know that the money I contribute has been wisely spent. There is a group of people from the community that does the research into the communities most pressing needs and does the research that an individual can’t do.”
"MCC thrift shop – she was involved in starting it and it gave an opportunity to help people locally and globally… to address poverty and need. The work was clearly related to the mission of the organization. And, the mission of the organization is clearly understood and known to others. It was the alignment of the mission of the organization and the work of the volunteers that made it effective. Being able to see the impact of what you are doing with individuals you are helping to serve."
"We need to bring the community together"
"The best time volunteering is when you see the benefit of your time volunteered. It is truly a feel good moment."
"Being able to see the impact of what you are doing with individuals you are helping to serve."
"We need to start focusing on tapping into where people's interests lie. We have 36 agencies - there has to be a connection there. Once they're involved, their support follows. We need to do a good job with matching people with their interests and finding the niche. If you get people involved, you get ownership."
"I think it is important that we all look out for the best interests of the people we are with. Expansion of the North Penn United Way to include more sponsored agencies will not grow NPUW's impact. No overall benefit increase and we may lose some volunteers."
"I like to give back because it makes me feel that in a way I am giving back to someone who gave to me. My involvement gives me a sense of accomplishment since people look to me for solutions."
"I've had many high points/peak experiences in my life; I am very blessed. "That moment"…Knowing this is what I should be doing, doing what our Creator wants me to do, this is what it is about."
"My experience with IVHC as a board member. Particularly the night I slept over at the Church with the families of the Inter-Faith Hospitality Network; I will always remember that night. It was almost the ordinariness of it…all of us together in this world…it could have been my sister, my niece, my neighbor there and I was part of them. That moment"…when you know you made a positive difference, moments that you know you are doing the actual and real work of caring, which, I believe is what the Creator has asked us to do!"
"With IVHC, the mission of the organization was so spiritually and professionally relevant. I sensed an almost immediate connection to their mission of providing shelter and housing - and how they do that! I became involved because Charlie Allebach (former Souderton Mayor) said, "Come join us." He personally asked a couple of us (who had previously worked together) to join the IVHC Board. We tend to overlook the importance of the personal 'come join me'."
"Who is delivering the message is very important." This means that the message is more meaningful if the person receiving the message has something in common with the person giving the message. (i.e. student to student)"
"NPUW could be the clearinghouse that matches donors with recipients. Identify the need and find a way to fulfill it. Match the heart with the money."
"I was involved in the Capital campaign of 1995 and assumed a position of Chairman. The support of North Penn United Way and the participation of many volunteers helped to raise $1.6million. I was very satisfied and felt that all the process was successful and an inspiring moment."
"Have always liked the 'Local' video done by the NPUW. Seeing United Way more at events now."
"I like to help people. I can feel their hurt".
“It is not about me, it is about the organization and the community.”
"Life is about relationships and it is the quality of these relationships that determine the quality of your life. Growing up in a family business in the community, my faith and my education through Penn View Christian and Christopher Dock provided me with a solid understanding and appreciation of the value of community service. Time and energy is relative to your attitude. If you have the commitment, the fulfillment achieved through community service overcomes challenges of limited time and fatigue. Listening versus knowing is an important value. If you listen to others, you will eventually "know" what there is to know, what is valued and important."
"Volunteer work projects take you out of the day to day stress from your job and it is a meaningful experience. NPUW should be the seed to get things started creating a snowball effect when getting other organizations involved."
"Interviewee was commenting on the theme, "Capturing Your heart" concerning what the North Penn United Way and its volunteers can do to capture more hearts throughout the community we serve she said "We need to continue to focus on 'hands not just wallets' not just at campaign time but throughout the year. The NPUW was at its best during the " Day of Caring" when volunteers pitched in and helped to renovate the Harleysville SAAC Center."
"The best result is when those who cannot give money give time, companies provide resources, materials, the time of their employees and all these things come together effectively to do something for the community."
"Interviewee is thankful for the role his parents played in instilling a desire to give back. He always receives more than he gives."
"When working with the campaigns of the NPUW, the leadership would rally the employees to support the cause.A large percentage of the employees were participants, even at the lower income level. They worked through all levels of the organization. Capturning your heart - "There is a sense of accomplishment with involvement in an organization. You see first hand what they are doing and where the money goes. Working with raising funds with an organization allows you to see what the community is doing and how the community responds."
"United Way is diverse and there are some proactive ways to mix. United Way should focus on 50-80 year olds (volunteers) because of their time and money."
"Interviewee is dedicated to serving community members who are considered the "least of these". For instance, she notes that the members of the Senior Center and the seniors who come to the library are not the "Country Club Set", but deserve a place to go where they are all accepted. She also noted her volunteer work with the Indian Creek Foundation population. Interviewee would also like to see the NPUW collaborate with corporations/institutions on maintaining the "Main Streets" of the community. She noted that she would like to see our communities and towns "healthy" and this is most evident on the Main Streets and institutions of the town. Unfortunately, these programs and institutions seem to be ignored. When asked how the NPUW is applying the "2+2=5" principle now, Interviewee commented that as a Board Member, she feels that the NPUW is very vigilant with the programs they service, making sure that the programs are making a difference and that donations are being maximized."
"Special Olympics does a great job of establishing an emotional attachment with their donors. People seem to connect with those organizations because they link them to a personal experience."
"My father taught us it was very important to give back to the community. Being involved I have found a personal satisfaction. Like giving a gift, you end up enjoying giving more than receiving."
"When we look out for our young people, steering them away from violence and towards personal achievement, everyone wins -- the young person, our schools, parents and our overall community."