United Way Officers
On March 13, United Way announced the appointment of a new chief professional officer, effective in July, to replace the retiring president of 20 years, Frank McNamara, and the election of three outstanding community leaders to top United Way volunteer positions. It was a “good news” story in every sense. Regrettably, it didn’t come out that way in The Times. By using image words like “troubled,” “beleaguered” and “problems,” the reporter conveyed a picture of United Way that does not square with current reality.
Many of us who have worked so hard these last several months to strengthen United Way’s governance and effectiveness at dealing with human problems in the community were disappointed by the tone of the article--not so much for the United Way leaders and workers, but for the fellow citizens they serve.
Had the reporter wanted more depth for the story, there could have been focus on the current challenge of raising social service dollars in a down-sized business economy and the extraordinary and innovative efforts of Frank McNamara and the volunteer campaign workers to meet that challenge. Instead, almost one-fourth of the article was devoted to rehashing old and resolved issues.
Those issues of last summer were fully reported and were faced head-on by United Way, reviewed by arms-length processes and dealt with by administrative actions.
How long must this recounting of old issues obscure the effects of the new? How long must old issues wrongly raise new doubts?
If the object is to provide historical context for today’s actions, then why not report such United Way facts as the low cost of fund-raising, now down to 12 cents per dollar? Or INFOLINE, which handles 30,000 calls per month from people needing help? Or the Shelter Partnership bringing focus to multiple efforts to assist the homeless? Or the administering through FEMA of 20 million meals and 1 million shelter-nights of help to the indigent of our city? Or the After School Child Care Program; the recent Food Partnership; not to mention the ongoing efforts of the Red Cross, United Way’s 14 Health Partners and 378 human service agencies?
We must get on with helping fellow citizens that need our help. That is the agenda that needs your reporting and our work.
W.F. KIESCHNICK
Chairman of the Board
United Way of Los Angeles
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