The United Way of Westchester and Putnam is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Ask its president and CEO what makes her proud about the White Plains-based organization, and Naomi Adler has a ready, if broad, answer.
“Well, there”™s a lot,” she said during a conversation this past week. “It”™s been an amazing 50 years.”
And as the agency approaches the official celebration of its milestone, Adler (who assumed her post in 2008) pauses to look back at how United Way has helped the community ”“Â all of the community.
“We don”™t just help kids. We don”™t just help the elderly. We help everyone,” she said, before adding, “I would always say help because United Way never does it alone.”
And that, to many, is a reason to support the United Way.
It”™s a far-reaching organization that has a hand in most every aspect of community life. United Way works with agency partners, government, businesses and community leaders to try and solve problems that reach beyond the scope of any single organization. Its focus areas are education, income and health.
“We”™re the go-to people for information on the community,” Adler said.
A major point of pride, Adler added, is United Way”™s Hudson Valley Region 2-1-1, a helpline that fields up to 500 calls and 1,000 online queries each day.
The United Way is also a major force on the volunteer front, as the Volunteer Center of United Way connects 18,000 people with volunteer opportunities each year.
Through the years
The United Way traces its local roots back to Westchester”™s first Community Chest formed in 1919 in Tarrytown. In 1962, the Westchester County United Fund, the first regional United Way in America, was incorporated. A Putnam County office opened in 1978 with the agency”™s name amended in 1985 to reflect both counties.
United Way”™s strong bond with the business community dates back to its start, with IBM first mentioned in 1964 board minutes.
“We”™re very proud of our partnerships with our business leaders,” Adler said.
Over the years, the work of United Way has progressed, adjusting to the growing needs of the times.
The ”™90s saw the agency face a major scandal when its national president, William Aramony, left amid questions about misuse of funds.
But Adler said the organization came back from the scandal stronger than ever with a renewed dedication to accountability.
“We have an amazing amount of regulations associated with where the money is going,” Adler said.
Donors, those who support United Way through payroll deductions or individually and those corporate sponsors, continue to be attracted to the devotion to the local community.
“Everything that”™s raised here stays here,” Adler said.
Business partners
Many corporations are involved with United Way in a variety of ways. They loan employees to share their expertise. They donate goods. They conduct fund-raising efforts.
In 2010, Swiss Re American Holding Corp, with its headquarters for the Americas in Armonk, encouraged all its American offices to run United Way campaigns to help their local communities.
“We were really trying to establish a local footprint in terms of our local philanthropy,” said Karen Ferris, senior vice president of human resources for Swiss Re.
And the way United Way operates was key.
“They do what”™s appropriate for each locale,” Ferris said. “Ultimately, that was the appeal.”
Accountability, she added, was another attraction.
“They do a really good job of having metrics and delivering on their commitments,” Ferris said. “There are actual things that are measured and completed.”
Gregory Bassuk, the CEO of IndexIQ, a financial-services firm based in Rye Brook, will become the board chairman of United Way of Westchester and Putnam this November.
He came to know about the nonprofit organization attending its many workshops that touched on the financial field ”“ and liked what he saw.
“They focus on building community alliances,” he said, noting the initiatives bring together expertise from all facets of the community.
Bassuk adds that it”™s a plus that the United Way is able to help as a “resource to other nonprofits to help them do what they do best.”
Looking ahead
Adler says the United Way will continue to expand and fine-tune its reach.
The organization will soon launch the latest edition of its “Community Conversations.” Thousands of residents will be surveyed about pressing issues in the two counties.
“We don”™t just want their dollars. We want their opinion,” Adler said.
The survey, Adler said, “results in major initiatives that we take on.”
And that will set the agenda for the next 50 years.
The United Way of Westchester and Putnam anniversary events will include the annual meeting, awards presentation and “Top Chefs Celebration” Oct. 3 at the Westchester Country Club in Rye; the “United Way”™s 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert” with classical pianist Ang Li Oct. 17 at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains; and an online fundraising auction. For details on all, visit uwwp.org.
