Don Hammond”™s new position as president/CEO of the newly merged United Way offices in Orange and Dutchess, now the Mid-Hudson United Way, is another chapter in a storied life of the former seminary student.
Hammond and his wife of more than 30 years, Ronna, have been working towards the same goal ”“ sometimes together and sometimes apart ”“ trying  to make the world a better place to live for those in need.
The community had its first opportunity to meet the new president of the consolidated United Way at a breakfast at Newburgh’s Powelton Club recently, where he outlined his vision for the organization.
In his office in the United Way”™s building in Poughkeepsie, Hammond”™s keeping it simple. There are a few photos of his wife and two daughters, but Hammond himself doubts he”™ll have much time for much more decorating: There”™s a lot to do, he says.
His first goal is to use technology, human skill and know-how to consolidate the two United Ways to perform at maximum capability.
“The more we can do to streamline the Orange and Dutchess offices”™Â work means we will be able to give that much more financial help to the communities we serve,” said Hammond.
Although a lack of financial support has been a roadblock for many, Hammond says United Way has been an exception.
“Not only have people been generous with funding, but the spirit of volunteerism has not been diminished by the economic downturn…in fact, I think more people are reaching out to the community to see what they can do to help.”
Although his first experience in the world of business found Hammond a salesman, a temporary commitment he and his wife made to help in a refugee camp in the Philippines working with displaced Asian refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia became an assignment that lasted nearly two decades.
Ronna Hammond continued her work with refugees once the couple returned stateside:
“We had several children, from the age of 8 through 16, who came here and were placed in foster care. They had come here without any family or friends and managed to put their lives back together.
“My experience working with refugees in Bataan gave me the tools I needed to help these children through foster care,” said Ronna. “These children left behind their families and all they knew. They had to grow up and adjust quickly.”
One of the children she helped to foster, now an adult, went back to Vietnam to find his family.
“They may have had to leave their families behind, but many didn”™t forget and are trying to find them.”
Today, with Don at the helm of the new Mid-Hudson United Way and Ronna”™s commitment to the United Kingdom”™s Hospices of Hope taking her abroad, spending time together can be a challenge.
“Eastern Europe is in dire need of help for adults and children who are terminally ill,” said Ronna. “My role in Hospices for Hope is to bring awareness here in the U.S., do fundraising and grant-writing to make it possible to build a hospital for children and adults so they can be cared for with dignity. The suffering is great — many of the Eastern European countries do not have the drugs available to alleviate pain. Families often are struggling to cope with a terminally ill family member. It takes a special person who has the empathy to work with the dying — something many people struggle with. Instead of seeing death as a natural part of living, and finding happiness in each day, it consumes the healthy with foreboding. Hospice services are much needed there.”
Ronna travels to Budapest in mid-September to celebrate Hospices for Hope”™s 20th anniversary behind the former Iron Curtain, while Don will be spearheading Mid-Hudson United Way”™s  new fundraising campaign.
All in all, the couple still finds time to share together.
“It isn”™t easy,” say the Hammonds. But they manage to do it, despite the distances that can separate them. Deeper ties bind them together. Still, the goal of caring for those less fortunate takes precedence.
Ideally, both would like to make the world a better place to live and to bring comfort to those who need it ”“ a tall order but one the Hammonds believe they can deliver.
