 UWRA: In what roles have you served during your United Way years?
Marian: I began my 30-year United Way career in 1974 as the childcare coordinator for United Way of Eastern Fairfield County (UWEFC) in Bridgeport, CT. With UWEFC, I served as the Associate Executive Director, Executive Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer. The title of President and Chief Executive Officer was rare in those days! In 1992, I joined the United Way of Massachusetts Bay in Boston (UWMB) as the President and CEO. I also served as CEO of the United Ways of New England. I retired from United Way in July 2004. UWRA: What were some of your early successes? Marian: UWEFC was chosen as the best United Way program in America and featured in the annual Presidential Message delivered by President George H.W. Bush. We were honored for our "Regional Youth Substance Abuse Prevention'' initiative. I was blessed with a great staff, a very involved board, and a fantastic group of volunteers, which allowed us to earn this type of recognition. Another successful venture was our Alexis de Tocqueville efforts. I had my broker buy 1-5 shares of stock of every public company in our area, and I would take the annual reports with me when meeting CEOs and “encourage” them to increase their giving, host dinners, or help by recruiting others. Also, whenever a local couple was featured in Architectural Digest or another national magazine, I personally made cold calls to confirm their willingness to host a United Way dinner—and, they all said yes! UWRA: You have worked with several U.S. presidents. Can you elaborate on some of those experiences?Marian: Early in my tenure, Bill Aramony suggested I represent United Way with President George H.W. Bush's "Thousand Points of Light." I agreed to meet with philanthropic giant Raymond G. Chambers, the chairman of this newly formed foundation. We discussed our thoughts about childcare in America, youth development, and the importance of volunteers. The following week, I was invited to the White House to talk about being the founding President and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation. I accepted a three-month position, which turned into almost a year. During this hectic time, UWEFC surpassed campaign goals and received six awards for community leadership and programming. We were invited by President George H.W. Bush to meet him in Westchester as he arrived on Air Force One. My husband, the board chair, the incoming board chair, and the campaign chair attended this meeting. This meeting led to a long-standing relationship with the Points of Light Foundation. I have now worked with six United States presidents: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. With board support, I took a leave of absence to serve as the President and CEO of the Presidents' Summit for America's future. Presidents Bush and Clinton were the co-chairs, and retired General Colin Powell was the honorary chair. First Lady Hillary Clinton also played a prominent role. UWRA: Who were your mentors? Marian: My mentors included George Wilkinson. He demonstrated how critical it was to focus on research and data analysis as a part of our reports and presentations. That served me well! One of our innovative programs was the Ambassador's Circle. The first Chairman was Oz Nelson, the CEO of UPS. Our first speaker was Jack Welch, CEO of GE. That was a fateful meeting, because Jack became my mentor. From Jack I learned the concept of wild-card planning and "how to plan" for success. Jack continued to be my mentor when he moved GE's world headquarters to Boston. I could write another book about Jack's words. During 2018, we lost my great friend and long-term supporter, President George H.W. Bush. During 2020, both Jack Welch and Ed Ansin, another mentor, passed away. I feel blessed to have had these and many, many others in my life. UWRA:Tell us about your time in Boston. Marian: In 1992, I was asked to take over at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay in Boston (UWMB). Bill Aramony has just resigned amid an internal investigation and unfavorable news reports about the misuse of funds. To help reset the trajectory of the situation, Ray Chambers, a tremendous supporter and friend of mine, asked me the amount of the largest gift in Boston’s history. I confirmed it had been $35,000. Ever generous, Ray sent a check for $50,000 and asked me to tell the Boston United Way Board that someone they didn't know believed in me and offered this gift as a vote of confidence. From there, we simply got down to business!
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 We are excited to announce one of our newest Board Members Robert Hines. Robert brings a plethora of experience and executive leadership to the UWRA Board.
UWRA: Tell us about yourself. Robert: I served six years in the United States Navy before being recruited by Amoco Oil Company (now BP Oil), where I spent 20 years of my professional career in various executive roles. My family and I moved seven times and lived in almost every region of the country during that time. While living in Scottsdale, AZ, I was recruited to become President of the Upward Foundation, a school for K-12 special needs children. This opportunity was my initial introduction to working in the philanthropic world and led to my professional tenure with the United Way. UWRA: Describe your history with United Way. Robert: A United Way colleague invited me to assist with a unique project for the United Way in Albany, NY. As I was leaving Albany at the end of the project, I was offered the position of Campaign Director and humbly served in that role for three years. In 2004, I was selected as the fourth President & CEO of United Way of Cumberland County in Fayetteville, NC, where I served for sixteen years, retiring in July 2020. My time in Fayetteville filled me with such a sense of purpose and belonging. My proudest accomplishments include launching the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (which delivered nearly a half-million books to children in our community over the past 15 years) and collaborating with the Cumberland County School District on the Character Playbook (which helps students cultivate and maintain healthy relationships). The most lasting accomplishment of my tenure will undoubtedly be the United Way of Cumberland County Endowment. We invested $25,000 from our reserve account in 2004, and the investment is now valued at nearly $300,000.  Join us in welcoming one of our newest UWRA Board members Robert "Bob'' Ferriday II. Bob adds rich leadership experience to the UWRA Board as we embrace strategic initiatives and growth in 2021.
UWRA: Tell us about yourself. Bob: I was born and raised in Indiana and earned a BS in Business from Purdue University. I completed my MBA from The Ohio State University while serving in the Air Force in Dayton, OH. In 1964, my late wife Sally, three young daughters, and I moved to Milwaukee. I spent the next 13 years of my career with Globe Union. The game-changer came in 1977 when I responded to a blind job posting that turned out to be a position with United Way of Greater Milwaukee (UWGM). Family has always been most important to me. My wife Barbara and I were long-term good friends and both widowed. We married in 2003 and continue to share in the joy of our big extended family, including our six children, 18 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. UWRA: Describe your history with United Way. Bob: I retired from the Milwaukee United Way in 2003, after serving 25 years as CFO and Operations Director working with four CEOs. It was a remarkable journey. I enjoyed learning about this caring business and will always cherish the relationships built with volunteers and staff. Significant highlights during my time with United Way include growing resources, introducing new technologies, and finalizing a new UWGM headquarters site in a vacated Schlitz brewery. Participating in a four-community collaborative technology initiative to build out an electronic campaign information system to expand our reach and streamline giving was significant, too. After retiring, I returned on a part-time basis to head up a planned giving initiative where we secured a million-dollar foundation honorarium gift. My years with United Way instilled a love for service and my community. I currently volunteer with several United Way funded agencies and other organizations close to my heart. Meet Ann Murtlow, President and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana UWRA: Please introduce yourself and recap your United Way career.
Ann: I’m Ann Murtlow, President and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana since 2014. I’m an east coast native, but now a proud Hoosier. Prior to leading United Way of Central Indiana, I spent my entire career in the corporate sector, primarily in leadership roles in engineering, construction, and utility companies. Since my first day on the job, United Way has gone through extraordinary change, much success, and celebratory milestones. Our United Way led the significant effort for high-quality early education opportunities for low-income children throughout our region and statewide. We have signed strategic partnership agreements, beginning with Eli Lilly and Company in 2016, to drive measurable, social change. We secured a multimillion-dollar federal Social Innovation Fund grant to put the two- generational (2Gen) approach to work, helping entire families become financially stable. And, we had our huge 100th birthday celebration in 2018 on one of the most cherished institutions in Indy -- the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. UWRA: Describe what this year has been like for you, your community, and your United Way. Ann: We started 2020 with our charge of driving impact in basic needs, family opportunity, and social innovation initiatives to help 216,000+ households in Central Indiana who struggle to make ends meet. But then COVID arrived, and our world stopped. Hoosiers were losing jobs at a rapid pace. Our partners in human services faced significant disruption in delivering services to those in need, so we rallied. Together with our large philanthropic partners, we were the first United Way in the country to announce a significant economic relief fund to help our community through the crisis. We started with $16.5 million on March 13, and it quickly topped $23 million in two months. More than 200 organizations received grants across our six-county region, helping tens of thousands of Hoosiers. This year proved to all of us that our community needs United Way to be responsive, hopeful, and resilient. Now more than ever before, we must continue our work with a sense of focus, relevance, a strong message of hope, and motivation to charge ahead. UWRA: What keeps you going? What accomplishments are you most proud of for 2020? Ann: I’m generally an optimistic person. I’m proud that we were able to move so quickly to launch our COVID relief fund. Two years ago, we completed a massive transition to a new strategy and funding model focused on those who need us most. I’m proud of that work, which positions us well to help our community recover and rebound in the long term. As racial tensions reached their highest point this past summer, it was past time we all stepped up and said, “Enough.” United Way stepped out early and united with our community in opposing racism. Locally, United Way of Central Indiana pledged that racism, both implicit and explicit, presents significant barriers to our communities of color. And, we pledged to do something about it -- in all areas of United Way’s work. You can read more about our pledge, alongside Indy’s leading companies, at www.indyracialequitypledge.com SPOTLIGHTING SUCCESS IN THE NETWORK: UNITED FOR CAREGIVERS@WORK IN PITTSBURGH  This feature story is an extension of UWRA’s Aging in Place research conducted in 2019, funded by a grant from the Cinda A. Hallman Memorial Fund, which addresses two of the recommendations made by UWRA:
1) Amplify United Way’s commitments to older adults, and 2) Drive knowledge sharing across the United Way network. According to estimates from the National Alliance for Caregiving, during the past year, 65.7 million Americans served as family caregivers for an ill or disabled relative.1 Caregiving for children and older family members is nothing new in our society. Most adults spend a significant proportion of their lifetime caring for someone else, whether raising children or taking care of aging or disabled family members. Caregiving might include episodic tasks, such as helping loved ones fill prescriptions, paying bills, or transporting them to doctor appointments. For others, the care is more time intensive and may include regular check-ins, bathing, and meal preparation. Although caregiving can be a meaningful experience, the stress and strain of added responsibilities can impact mental and physical health, as well as personal finances. Individuals who balance their caregiving role with work responsibilities are even more likely to experience stress and feel overwhelmed in the workplace. Many forward-thinking companies are stepping up for working moms and dads. Working caregivers belong in this conversation, too. Much like new parents, employees who are caregivers need support from their managers and colleagues to feel safe, access resources, and manage their responsibilities. Heather Sedlacko, Vice President of Community Impact at United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, PA), said, “Needs for seniors grow as they age, but health services are limited. Nearly 80% of caregiving help is provided by family members. Families are stretched.”
 UWRA WELCOMES ADRIANNA CUELLAR ROJAS TO THE BOARD
Join us in welcoming our newest UWRA Board Member Adrianna Cuellar Rojas, President and CEO of United Ways of Texas (UWT). Adrianna’s perspective and experience are a valuable addition to UWRA’s Board as we embrace the opportunities ahead. UWRA: Tell us about yourself. Adrianna: My focus has always been on serving communities, especially our state’s most vulnerable populations. I consider myself to be optimistic, a collaborator, and a systems thinker. I joined United Ways of Texas (UWT) in 2014 as President & CEO. Before that, I spent 17 years advising community investments for one of Texas’ largest family foundations. I have also worked for several state agencies and the Texas Senate, where I focused on systems change and policies supporting children and families. UWRA: How did you come to know UWRA, and how have you been involved? Adrianna: UWT has been a long-time member of UWRA. On occasion, we have utilized UWRA’s network of consultants to support Texas member organizations through one-on one mentoring and by filling interim leadership positions. UWT values the mentorship, education, and guidance that UWRA brings to our members. Long Before Live United, Slogans Define United WayPublications, PSAs, posters, banners, letterhead, and clothing have long carried unforgettable messages from United Way organizations, defining themselves and their constituents from the beginnings of “Give Once for All” to today’s LIVE UNITED. Our slogans have been clever: “Put All Your Begs in One Askit” (Cincinnati 1925) and compelling: “Don’t Give Until It Hurts, Give Until It Helps” (Licking County, Newark, OH, 1964). Whether a multi-year hallmark like, “Thanks to YOU – it’s working the United Way,” or the one-shot, “If you don’t do it, it won’t get done,” our slogans have defined us. Innovation characterized Minneapolis’ slogans during the early years of that community’s campaigns. In 1920, posters carried the complex message, “All races, creeds, humanity smile when the Town Tea Kettle sings. In 1923, they simply read, “Have a Heart to Finance 65 Social Agencies.” During the early 1930s, their creativity continued to supply slogans that were copied by many other United Way organizations. Their 1928, 1929, and 1930 advertising read, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother,” and pictured a young man carrying a boy holding a crutch. Years after its use by United Way organizations, those words became the trademark of Omaha-based Boys’ Town. Thanks to George Eastman’s film business, Rochester’s 1920 to 1927 campaign theme became the title of United Way’s first campaign movie: “Suppose Nobody Cared.” We’ve earned our livings surrounded by posters that read, “Give Where You Work.” At the borders of many bedroom communities, competing billboards said, “Give Where You Live.” And if we lived or worked abroad, the words appearing with the United Way helping hand logo in Hungary read “Elj Egységesen” (Live United), in Poland, “Zyć Zjednoczony,” and in China, “活着团结.” Author: Dick Aft, UW Historian and UWRA Emeritus Board MemberMEET BRIAN HASSETT, CEO of United Way of Greater Nashville UWRA: Take us through your 40-year journey with United Way, including some of the many highlights.
Hassett: I’ve been fortunate to work for 10 different United Ways over the course of my career; is that a record of some sort? I think it may be. I started as an intern with United Way of Greater Rochester (NY) when I was only 22 years old and then joined the United Way of America Intern program. In those early years, I moved around so much --everything fit in my car. It was a great way to gain experience and build my network of friends and mentors. I went to Cleveland (OH) after my UWA internship ended. I thought it would be a great place to learn fundraising, and I was right. The team there was phenomenal. I was fortunate to work with people like Bill Kerrigan, Joe Calabrese, Craig Chancellor, Harve Mogul, Ralph Dickerson, Karen Hummell, Irv Lauber, Viney Chandler and Ed Littig. My next stops included Richmond (VA) with Larry Walton, who I worked for as an intern in Erie, PA. While there, I became friends with Brian Gallagher and Mike Durkin, who had similar jobs in the network. My first CEO role was in Worcester (MA) and then on to Valley of the Sun United Way in Phoenix (AZ). Our campaign grew from $24-48 million over the course of my seven-year career in Phoenix. It was an incredible experience. Larry got me into the Key Cities Group at that time, and I am still a member today. Many UWRA members will remember that Mark O’Connell orchestrated United Way as the organizer of the famous Olympic torch relay for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. That was a definite highlight. In 2001, I moved to Chicago to help unite the 50+ United Ways in the area. We also changed the name from Crusade of Mercy to United Way of Metro Chicago. That was the same year I worked with Merl Waschler to launch United eWay, a highlight of my career. After Chicago, I moved back to Phoenix, due to a family health issue, and ran the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization there. My son ended up going east to play basketball in college, so I took a position as the CEO in Albany (NY), where I would be close enough to watch him play. That was a great experience leading a smaller United Way. Finally, in 2017, I moved to Nashville (TN). It is a wonderful community. 2020 looks much different than we’d planned for, but we’ve built strong momentum. UWRA: 2020 has been a challenging year, especially for Nashville. How are you managing? Hassett: A devastating tornado hit Nashville in early March, displacing a large part of our community -- including me. We were hit with COVID-19 shortly afterward. I have been through crises before, but this year took it to a new level. United Way of Greater Nashville raised $1 million right after the tornado hit and $5 million for COVID-19 relief. Thousands of those impacted by recent events have never accessed social services before. We were able to push money into the community very quickly, helping to keep people in their homes, providing childcare, and funding places where people turn for help. The state selected us to distribute $40 million in CARES Act funding based on our COVID-19 response, and the city is allocating another $10 million for COVID-19 support. The 2-1-1 data and Charity Tracker are real differentiators for us; we know exactly what people need. We will be able to move $50 million into our community before the end of the year. Equally important, United Way of Greater Nashville is taking a lead in community discussions about equity and inclusion. I see a real chance for change right now. UWRA: You are an ardent supporter of UWRA, personally as a Leadership member and through the contributions made by the United Ways you’ve served. Why is that a priority for you? Hassett: UWRA provides valuable services in the form of mentors, consultants, and interim leadership. I also see it as a resource for younger people to learn from those who built the United Way we have today. Personally, I find UWRA to be a great way to maintain fellowship with friends and former colleagues. Very few people know how hard these jobs can be, but UWRA members get it. UWRA: You have been fortunate to work with and for several United Way icons. What have you learned from them? Hassett: Joe Calabrese is a great golfer; when he bought new clubs, he’d have them shipped to the office, so his wife didn’t know. I have used that idea a number of times over the years. Seriously though, I was very lucky to have people looking after me early in my career. My association with them helped me learn how to become a CEO. I try to do the same now for others, especially those who come to United Way from other roles. After all these years, I believe the network of individuals leading United Ways at all levels is what makes us great. SPOTLIGHTING SUCCESS IN THE NETWORK ACTIVATING 600+ ALWAYS UNITED MEMBERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA  This feature story is an extension of UWRA’s Aging in Place research conducted in 2019, funded by a grant from the Cinda A. Hallman Memorial Fund, which addresses two of the recommendations made by UWRA: 1) Amplify United Way’s commitments to older adults, and 2) Drive knowledge sharing across the United Way network.
Claudia Brooks may refer to her 14 years with United Way of the Midlands (Columbia, SC) as her “encore career,” but to her United Way family, her time with the organization is anything but a repeat performance. Claudia’s initiative, creativity, and passion helped guide United Way of the Midlands in new directions, overcome challenges, and expand its donor base. RE-ENTERING THE WORKFORCE, REINVIGORATING AN ORGANIZATION Claudia began donating to United Way back in 1974, through a workplace campaign, and continued to give during her 30-year career in television and media. “After decades of hearing the heartwarming stories of how my donations changed lives, I decided I wanted to continue to support United Way,” she says. “I realized that retirement wasn’t for me and accepted a position with United Way of the Midlands.” Claudia held numerous roles during her time with United Way, including VP of Communications and her most recent position as Director of Always United, a group of more than 600 late-career professionals and retirees in Columbia. Claudia’s many achievements during her time with United Way include developing stronger connections with partners in rural areas, establishing the Live United Storytellers group, and increasing donor retention and retiree engagement. In addition to working with talented and enthusiastic volunteers, Claudia says, “the best part has been meeting people who have weathered some of life’s most difficult storms, thanks to the work of United Way.” ALWAYS UNITED In mid-2016, Claudia led the launch of Always United, an affinity group of United Way of the Midlands, to increase donor retention and engagement among retirees. Claudia saw an opportunity to connect and engage an entire population -- if only she could reach them. Faced with the enormous barrier of tracking down contact information for people who had already left the workforce, Claudia’s to-do list was lengthy. “Luckily, I had a core group of determined volunteers who were willing to roll up their sleeves and meet this challenge with me,” she says. Claudia and her team spent more than six months collecting information, holding focus groups, and meeting with other retiree organizations to establish a game plan for their Always United group. Their efforts paid off; by the end 2017, Always United boasted more than 100 members. Only three years later, that number has increased to more than 600. SPOTLIGHTING SUCCESS IN THE NETWORK ARIZONA END OF LIFE CARE PARTNERSHIP This feature story is an extension of UWRA’s Aging in Place research conducted in 2019, funded by a grant from the Cinda A. Hallman Memorial Fund, which addresses two of the recommendations made by UWRA: 1) Amplify United Way’s commitments to older adults, and 2) Drive knowledge sharing across the United Way network.
UWRA had the opportunity during its Aging in Place research to learn more about the Arizona End of Life Care Partnership (EOLCP), which is anchored at United Way of Tucson & Southern Arizona. According to Sarah Ascher, Senior Director for the Arizona EOLCP, “The EOLCP is a collaborative partnership, dedicated to creating a comprehensive network of end of life care support and resources in Tucson and Southern Arizona.” Tony Penn, President & CEO, United Way of Tucson & Southern Arizona, noted, “The EOLCP’s mission is to fundamentally change the way we talk about death.” Since its formation in 2017, the EOLCP is becoming a national model and is now one of the largest funded partnerships of its kind in the U.S. Discussing death can be a difficult conversation. Bree Johnston, Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Banner University Medical Center – Tucson, said it this way: “In this country, we’ve sidelined death. We have pretended that it is optional.” She further explained, “We, in medicine, tend to be very focused on what procedures we can do, but we need to talk more to people about what’s important to them, what gives them meaning in their life.” A goal of the EOLCP is to normalize that conversation. Maribel Alvarez, Associate Dean, Community Engagement for the University of Arizona, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, acknowledged an unexpected benefit of the EOLCP when she observed, “We are beginning to see that death is just one of the doors through which we can talk about other things.” Nancy Johnson, CEO of El Rio Health, went further to say, “This is a fabulous opportunity for our community to create better lives for everyone.” The EOLCP continues to evolve into a network of organizations and individuals committed to promoting quality of life at every stage through education, support, sound policy, and choices, ensuring that Tucson is a great place to live and end well. Learn more here! |
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