Supporting families and ensuring children are ready to succeed when they enter school, as well as beyond.
* 16% of children in Androscoggin County live in poverty.

A Dynamic Community:
Promoting, supporting, enhancing independence and self-sufficiency
* 49% of local residents cannot read higher than a sixth grade level.

Meeting Basic Needs:
Ensuring individuals and families have food, shelter, clothing and access to services that promote physical and mental well-being.
* 60 people in our community are homeless on any given night.

Life-Long Learning:
Promoting opportunities for job training, education, collaboration and volunteerism.
* In 2004, 200 high school students in our county dropped out of school.

Advocating that individuals and families are safe and protected at all times
* Over 3,000 crimes were committed in Androscoggin County last year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is the United Way of Androscoggin County needed? Why can't people just give directly to the charity of their choice?
A: United Way is needed because it is more efficient to conduct one large fundraising campaign than for every agency to conduct a separate campaign. People can certainly give directly to their charity of choice, but United Way not only provides an annual reminder that their support is needed, it provides a convenient way to give, and most people prefer to give through a payroll deduction plan. Best of all, United Way provides yet another way for all of us to come together as a community and demonstrate our great spirit of caring for one another.

Q: How is the board of directors chosen and what part does its members play in day-to-day operations of the United Way?
A: The members of United Way's board of directors are nominated by the board's nominating committee and elected by the board. The board has full governance over the agency and oversees all its operations in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations.

Q: How will the money raised during the campaign be distributed? How much of the funds will actually be given to United Way agencies and how much will fund United Way administrative costs?
A: The money raised in this year's campaign will be spent as determined by panels of volunteers who will meet with representatives of each of the funded nonprofit agencies. The volunteers will review each agency's budget and service delivery programs and make a decision based on that information. Their recommendations will then be brought before the United Way board of directors for final review and approval.

Approximately 90 percent, more whenever possible, of the campaign will be distributed to the agencies and the remainder will be used for administrative costs and support services to the agencies. United Way of Androscoggin County's overhead cost is 10 percent.

Q: How do I know United Way is financially accountable for its actions?
A: Our organization is accountable for its actions by working with committed volunteer leaders in our community, developing and implementing fair and thoughtful policies, and having our books audited every year by a local, independent firm, which ensures that our financial statements are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.