United Way Begins 2015 Campaign

There was a good deal of fanfare as United Way of the Concho Valley kicked off its 2015 Annual Campaign at San Angelo City Hall on Thursday. This campaign calls organizations to donate funds to United Way, which will then be distributed to nonprofit organizations throughout the community.

United Way’s goal is to care for the needy in the community, especially those that cannot care for themselves.

“If we don’t help them, no one will,” Patti Breitreiter, president and CEO of United Way said. “So that’s why it’s critical. Not only that, but it brings the community together. It brings people together for a united purpose, and that’s to make sure that everybody that lives in this community has a chance for a good life.”

Thursday’s event began a program for which United Way will visit businesses in the Concho Valley and explain their cause in hopes of receiving donations. Breitreiter called this program a “workplace campaign.”

“We tell them why it’s important to give, why it’s important to help United Way, and some of what we do,” Breitreiter said. “Then we ask them to make a donation to the United Way and they do.”

United Way’s community impact council determines which nonprofit agencies are eligible for funding each year. After all the finances are collected, this council of 60 volunteers also determines how much money each organization will receive.

“Every year, any nonprofit, can go ahead and apply for funding,” Breitreiter said. “There’s strict review of their audit of the things that they’re doing, whether or not they’re duplicated, who they’re helping, and how much they’re helping.”

Breitreiter encouraged those interested in volunteering or donating to the organization to visit United Way’s website.

“The number of people that need help [in the community] is very high,” Breitreiter said. “So if you need help, you’re going to be in the situation where somebody is going to help you [thanks to United Way]