Siouxland Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 6 - version 2

These boys are marching to help raise funds for the
annual Community Fund drive (today United Way).
YMCA was one of the many agencies in Sioux City
that receives funds every year from this charity drive.
Second, The United Way of Siouxland is focused on
funding agencies and programs that can demonstrate
impact. There is an expectation that agencies provide
data, reports, and stories that show the work they
do results in improved grades, better attendance
rates in school, families moving from poverty to selfsufficiency
and even senior citizens who maintain their
independence for years longer than they might have
without amazing programs.
The United Way of Siouxland’s current mission statement
demonstrates the nuanced change in philosophy over
the last 100 years, “To improve lives by uniting the
caring power of our community.” The United Way of
Siouxland is often a convener of groups and individuals.
The organization is a consistent presence in community
meetings focused on reducing juvenile justice
involvement, increasing access to quality childcare,
increasing mental health services, and responding to
disasters in Siouxland.
“In 2010, United Way of Siouxland partnered with
local emergency professionals to launch the Siouxland
Recovery Fund which helps coordinate resources for
local disasters,” Hennings explained. “The fund first
became activated in 2011 with the Missouri River flood
and was activated again for flooding in both 2018
and 2019. In 2020, the fund helped organizations and
individuals weather the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
Our role is to bring people, organizations, and funding
together – we are uniting the power of caring in our
community.”
This power of collaboration is reflected in other changes
that have occurred in the organization’s 100-year history.
“In the 1960’s, Community Chest organizations around
the country formed an alliance to better serve their
communities and grow the fundraising campaigns in the
workplace. This alliance became known as the United
Fund and the Community Chest of Sioux City became
the United Fund of Siouxland. A total of 16 agencies were
members of the United Fund of Siouxland,” Hennings
shared. “It did make a difference. In a few years we had
grown to involve 22 agencies and set our first goal to
raise $1,000,000 in the annual campaign in 1979. That’s
quite a difference from the $165,000 goal of the very
first campaign in 1921.”
And while data and dollars are important to decisionmaking
at the United Way, the impact on individuals is
never far from mind. “We want people to know the impact
even one dollar can make,” said Hennings, “and the best
way to do that is to share stories of success. Our website,
our quarterly posters, and our workplace campaigns
always feature an agency or a recipient sharing a story of
how a life has been positively impacted. We do what we
do so every person in Siouxland can have an opportunity
to know they are cared for and cared about. Many of us
take this for granted, but for others it is life-changing, it
sparks hope.”
United Way kicking off 100 year celebration.
Over the last 100 years, United Way of Siouxland has
raised $132,038,989 and has served thousands upon
thousands of individuals. One in three Siouxlanders will
utilize support and services of United Way of Siouxland in
their lifetime. Last year alone more than 34,000 services
were provided by agencies receiving United Way funds.
This year’s campaign slogan of “Get On The Bus” is an
invitation to every person in Siouxland to become part of
the impact. “People can get involved in so many ways,”
Hennings added, “of course monetary donations are
important, but we also need volunteers in our community.
We need people to serve on boards, dive into data, serve
as mentors, and more. Whatever your skill set or gift,
there is a place for you to be part of the caring power of
our community. Join us and ‘Get On The Bus’ as we drive
forward into the future.”
Dr. Cyndi Hanson, Executive Director for Northeast
Community College’s Extended Campus.
Photos Contributed by United Way of Siouxland.
Siouxland Magazine | LEGACY / 13