In a year marked so far by unprecedented national uncertainty, federal funding for nonprofits that serve our most vulnerable people is in deep question.
Meanwhile, United Way Blackhawk Region, which supports local nonprofits through its longstanding annual grant program, is in its own moment of transition.
In February, President and CEO Lisa Hurda departed after just four months on the job, with no public explanation yet for the split and no announcement yet of a permanent successor.
We hope that questions about United Way Blackhawk Regions leadership, with Vice President Denise Peters-Kauihou now serving as acting president and CEO, dont deter local giving.
We, in fact, urge those with the means to keep giving to the United Way in our region that includes northern Illinois and southcentral Wisconsin, and to consider upping your support to help make up for potential lost federal dollars.
Because the reality is, many local organizations that support our most vulnerable local residents, from Meals on Wheels to Boys & Girls Clubs to food pantries to groups that provide emergency help in disasters from tornadoes to house fires, are at least in part funded by United Way Blackhawk Region. Local nonprofits may need United Ways local dollars now more than ever, as federal funding is threatened.
Nationally, Meals on Wheels is just one organization that has made headlines recently as coming under the Trump Administrations DOGE chopping block.
All may not be lost, however, here in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois for those who rely on Meals on Wheels, because we have an umbrella funding mechanism already in place via United Way, to directly support such programs with local dollars.
In 2023, based on United Way Blackhawk Region’s federal tax forms posted on its website, , United Way Blackhawk Region gave $80,000 to Beloit Meals on Wheels.
And, Meals on Wheels is only the tip of United Way Blackhawk Regions local commitment.
Every year in recent years, it has awarded about $1.5 million in annual grants to local organizations. Those boots on the ground recipient organizations have included: Beloit Meals on Wheels, Boys & Girls Club of Janesville, CASA of Rock County, Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties, ECHO, Edgerton Community Outreach, Family Promise of Greater Beloit, Family Services of Southern WI & Northern IL, HealthNet of Rock County, Janesville Community Daycare, the Retired Senior & Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Rock County, Stateline Boys & Girls Clubs, Stateline Family YMCA, Stateline Literacy Council, and The Salvation Army of Rock County.
There is nothing to suggest in the years of financial documents disclosed on its website, that United Way Blackhawk Region is critically wobbling, financially or organizationally. Its good stewardship has come from its staff and board which includes local municipal, school district and business leaders.
Independent evaluators, United Way Blackhawk Region notes on its website, have long given it the highest of marks for good governance, transparency and other best practices.
United Way Blackhawk Region wrapped up its annual giving campaign in February and has since recognized its major donors at its Live United Celebration at Blackhawk Technical College. Its annual community campaign kicks off in September with its annual Day of Caring community volunteer event.
As you enjoy the coming summer, we urge you to consider, in this moment of U.S. political uncertainty, about the need to give locally, and to up that ante if possible when United Ways campaign rolls around again in the fall.
Theres a lot to currently worry about in the U.S.; the health of the United Way Blackhawk Region doesnt seem to be on that list.
We look forward to an announcement soon about its new president and CEO, and continued community support for its initiatives and efforts that, going forward, may matter more than ever.