Paul Logli spoke about the United Way of Rock River Valley. The United Way focuses on the issues of the entire community, hunger, homelessness, victimization, etc. It has been around this community for about 90 years and oversees and reviews 49 programs in Winnebago and Ogle County. United Way does not provide direct services. As an organization, they promote awareness, collaboration and participation with agencies and governments that provided the direct services.

Their fund raising runs from mid-summer to the end of the year and possibly into the first couple months of the next year. Last year, 2008, despite the terrible economic climate, United Way raised over $4.4 million. Less than 14% of that money goes to administration. Over 83,000 people in Winnebago County were served with these funds.

They are currently working with Rockford College to set up a volunteer center, where someone with a skill can be matched up with an organization that can use their talents. They are also working to get a 211 system organized, which would be a referral and information center, where people could call with a specific need and be put in touch with a group that could help.

Thank you Paul, for a very informative talk about the United Way and how exactly what it does.