Harnick:  "issue based"

MONTGOMERY – Orange County United Way will be distributing over $1.1 million to health and human services agencies and other nonprofit organizations this year.

Given the state of the economy, the $100,000 drop from last year’s raised funding is not that bad, officials said Friday.

United Way is also shifting its giving based on a community-wide needs assessment it conducted last year, said Martin Harnick, community impact council chairman.

“Orange County United Way’s Board of Directors established three areas of focus that represent the highest priority needs,” he said. “These include children and youth, financial stability, and health and well-being.” The United Way is also continuing its transition to a community impact focused organization. “We are funding programs that will foster measurable and sustainable change in our communities. We are tending toward a more issue based organization, rather than our former agency based focus.”

Funding many programs that serve a broad spectrum of needs “only places a band-aid on the problem,” said United Way President John Checklick. “Setting forth clear objectives and addressing the priority needs first will make the most impact on the community and effect positive change in many areas of the lives of Orange County residents.”