United Way of Walworth County lends a helping hand
By Heather Ruenz
SLN staff
Many people have likely noticed United Way signs in their communities, which feature a thermometer to update the progress of fundraising efforts. Maybe some have even made a donation. What might not be as clear is what the organization does on a local level.
In the past year, United Way of Walworth County raised about $280,000. In late July, a ceremony was held to allow the organization to award grants to the agencies it supports.
Chris Stebnitz, outgoing board chairman for United Way of Walworth County, is a third-generation volunteer with United Way, following in the footsteps of his grandmother and mother.
“Understanding how this impacts agencies and people has been amazing to see,” Stebnitz said.
Sharing their stories
Representatives from many of the programs that received grants spoke at the ceremony, about their mission and how United Way helps them achieve goals. Below are a few highlights of the speeches given that day.
Jan Baker, of Agape House for Girls, Walworth, said the support allows the organization to continue to “help young girls and their families. Most of our girls are dealing with depression.”
Agape House is celebrating its 20-year anniversary and Baker announced plans to open a home for junior high girls.
“We thank you for the number of lives you’re changing,” Baker said.
Wendy Wolman, a clinical manager for Aurora at Home Hospice, said the support from United Way is important because of the changes in healthcare.
“We have families that are reaching their maximum benefit and private insurance is not paying for respite care so we use the money for that,” Wolman said.
“We cannot thank you enough. Your kindness will never be forgotten by the families we serve,” Wolman said.
Frank Raidl, the self-described “husband of the lady that runs the Elkhorn Food Pantry,” said the pantry serves an average of 50 families each month and the United Way funds help with a variety of needs including a voucher program through Frank’s Piggly Wiggly for eggs and milk.
Sarah Nichols, of the Open Arms Free Clinic – the only free clinic in Walworth County, said they’ve served more than 2,000 people since opening in 2012 and are 100 percent supported by grants and donations.
“It’s amazing when you can change a life. With United Way’s support we’ve added dental services and now have eight dentists working with us. We recently did our first dentures and it was amazing. Our doctor and a dentist worked together to help a man who needed teeth so he could eat nutritional food,” Nichols said.
Gay Stran, of SMILES, Inc., said the organization has provided special methods in equine skills to people with disabilities for 32 years.
“We started in a home but now have a facility and we’re dependent on 10,000 volunteer hours. We’re very thankful that United Way helps us bring joy to people,” Stran said.
Ethan Zorn, the husband of Nicole Zorn, executive director for Safe Families for Children, said at the heart of what they do is helping families in crisis.
“We try to get parents to voluntarily – if moving to a time of crisis – put their children in a safe home temporarily. We try to keep families together. United Way has helped us add counseling and we’re sending some kids to Holiday Home Camp, too,” he said.
Lynn Curtis, director of the Walworth County Emergency Shelter, which rotates among churches throughout the county during the colder months – said the organization changed its name this year because there was a belief the shelter was funded by the county.
“We became Spirit of Hope. We’re open October to April and our last cycle had 65 men. Of the 21 who were in the shelter for more than 30 days, 19 became gainfully employed. We provided transportation for them to jobs – most in Whitewater – and helped them get into apartments,” Curtis said.
She said Spirit of Hope has begun looking for its own site and once that happens, churches will still assist at the shelter and provide food but it will take away the need to move the men each week, from shelter to shelter.
“We wouldn’t be successful without United Way so thank you,” Curtis said.
Stebnitz said he genuinely appreciated hearing all of the good things going on throughout the county.
“Being able to hear the things happening out there was really great. The needs of one filled by another … There’s a unity in living united,” Stebnitz said.
Get involved
United Way of Walworth County will kick off its annual campaign with a dinner, Tuesday, Sept. 26 at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva. The new campaign theme is, “Live Heroic. Live United.”
The event will feature cocktails from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and dinner and a program from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m.
Individual tickets are available for $40 a person. Table and event sponsorships are also available, for up to eight or 10 people depending on the level chosen, and range from $500 to $2,000.
For more information about United Way of Walworth County, to volunteer, or to purchase tickets for the kickoff dinner, stop at the office, 203 E. Walworth St., Elkhorn, call (262) 374-4474 or visit uw-wc.org.
To get in touch with United Way in surrounding areas: Jefferson County, (920) 563-8880 or uwjnwc.com; Kenosha County, (262) 658-4104 or kenoshaunitedway.org; Racine County, (262) 898-2240 or unitedwayracine.org; Waukesha County, (414) 263-8100 or unitedwaygmwc.org.
Partner programs
United Way of Walworth County supported the following agencies in its most recent campaign:
AGAPE House
American Red Cross of southeast Wisconsin
Association for the Prevention of Family Violence
Aurora at Home Hospice
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boys and Girls Club of Walworth County
Catholic Charities, Behavioral Health and Outreach
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Community Services and Family Counseling
Community Action, Transitional Living and Twin Oaks Homeless Shelter
Delavan Human Concerns and Food Pantry
East Troy Family Community Resource Center
Elkhorn Food Pantry
Girl Scouts, Badgerland Council
Hope Now, Inc.
Lake Geneva Emergency Food Pantry
Mt. Zion Food Pantry and House for Men
Open Arms Free Clinic
Pregnancy Helpline of Walworth County
Safe Families for Children
Side by Side
SMILES
VIP Services
Volunteer Connection, Quality of Life
Volunteer Connection
Walworth County Alliance for Children, Treehouse
Walworth County ARC
Spirit of Hope Homeless Shelter
Walworth County Housing Authority
Walworth County Resource Center and Food Pantry
