Compassionate Capitalism - May 2003

United Way of Southern Nevada

What Matters Most?

by Dan Goulet

United Way of Southern Nevada is focused on what matters most – results. Investing in United Way is an essential strategy to improve lives and create sustained changes in our community’s human-care agendas. In addition to its traditional means of fundraising, which generates revenue allocated to more than 140 local health and human service programs, United Way is convening and joining with local industry, organized labor, government and health and human service agencies to focus on the following initiatives:

Assistance to Military Families

United Way of Southern Nevada is convening community and military representatives who volunteer to work with its staff to support the families of deployed military, especially the Army Reserve and National Guard who have been activated. Support includes: financial assistance to families through United Way’s agency partners; a phone line providing information and referrals to family members of deployed military; and town hall meetings to build awareness and provide resources to military family members seeking assistance. 

  To avoid duplication of services, this program will work in collaboration with: the Nellis Family Support Center at Nellis Air Force Base; representatives from the Army Reserve and National Guard; HELP of Southern Nevada; the local chapter of the American Red Cross; Southern Nevada Chapter, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Southern Nevada; and United Way’s network of agency partners. This collaboration will ensure that families who may need services beyond those provided by military benefits and programs can access health and human services programs in Southern Nevada.

To date, the Assistance to Military Families initiative includes the following elements: United Way of Southern Nevada’s Assistance to Military Families Fund; Assistance to Military Families Hotline (892-2319); human service agency trainings; and town hall meetings.

Community Needs Assessment

To initiate a Community Needs Assessment, United Way of Southern Nevada is involving a broad cross-section of the community, including Clark County School District, state of Nevada, Clark County, local industry and the Nevada Community Foundation. The goals of the assessment are to identify priority health and human services issues, which will eventually generate United Way’s community impact agenda – a plan representing consensus on the community’s most pressing needs. UWSN launched the assessment in March 2003 and a report of findings will be complete by the third quarter of 2003.

Problem Gambling Resource Guide

United Way of Southern Nevada is joining with the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and MGM MIRAGE to bring problem gambling information to representatives of over 70 United Way agencies in Southern Nevada. This initiative will be accomplished through interactive, small-group education sessions conducted by the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. The sessions will provide a comprehensive overview of problem and pathological gambling and offer practical tools in education, screening and referral of clients who may be affected by gambling disorders.

United Way of Southern Nevada Grant Initiatives

United Way grant initiatives add value to the community by generating and managing additional resources. This past year, its grants totaled $2.3 million. Through grant initiatives, United Way of Southern Nevada helps its partner agencies attract funding from federal, state and local governments, as well as private foundations, by acting as the managing agency and fiscal agent for the following grant projects: Making Access Possible (MAP); Emergency Food and Shelter Program; Success By 6; Raising Nevada; Senior Prescription Card Program; Clark County Neighborhood Small Projects Fund; Fire & Burn Victims Support Fund; and Nye Communities Coalition.

Dan Goulet
Dan Goulet is president & CEO, United Way of Southern Nevada. United Way may be contacted at 702-734-2273.