Marshfield Area United Way
OPEN YOUR HEART
LEND YOUR MUSCLE
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Real People. Real Stories. Right Here in the Marshfield area.
Our vision is to create lasting change and prevent problems from happening in the first place. We will prepare children for success in school, give people the tools they need to become financially stable and improve the health and well being of all residents.
Have you been helped by a United Way funded program? Tell us your story.
Take a look your contributions at work to improve lives in the Marshfield area:
Al and Donna and their three children are a typical family in central Wisconsin. They had good long term jobs and above average incomes. Through the years of raising their children they paid their bills, mortgage payments and other expenses the family needed, but no real budget, planning or goals.
As unforeseen cost arose they used credit cards. Over time the totals increased so much that they were only able to make minimum payments on each card. They were barely surviving until recently when Al’s pay was reduced and Donna’s hours were cut.
They went from break even to a negative $550 monthly cash flow. That is when they sought help from Catholic Charities, a United Way funded program.
When they met with the counselor, they reviewed their new income level, monthly expenses, debts. In creating a budget, they agreed to work together to find a way to increase cash flow through decreasing expenses.
They came back in a week later with very specific ideas they jointly worked on that should increase their cash flow. Now, Al and Donna work together to make sure they spend within their budget, follow Catholic Charities’ debt management program and have regular “money meetings” and work on family finances together.
Because of their wiliness to work together and make lifestyle changes, Al and Donna have a good chance to succeed and improve their financial stability.
They never thought they would be in a situation that they could have lost everything they worked for. Your contributions to United Way made it possible for Al and Donna to receive this help.
Extraordinary 8th Grader breaks through
My name is Pattie. I volunteer with Big
Brothers Big Sisters, a United Way funded program that matches
adults to mentor
children and teens. When I met Teri she was struggling. She was
12, and felt as though she just didn’t fit in.
So she stopped trying. Her grades were poor and she was just as unhappy at home as she was at school. So we talked, about everything—school, her interests, boys and more.
What Teri discovered is she just had to
find her niche to fit in. And Teri’s was the arts. She writes
poetry and plays violin,
and with a little bit of help, she found people who were
interested in the same things.
Now, just two years later, Teri is an extraordinary 8th Grader. She’s earning a 4.0, having her poetry published and performed a solo for Solo & Ensembles.
But none of this would have been possible without United Way funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Your contributions gave me the chance to help Teri. In the time you give today, you give a wonderful, bright and vibrant teenager the opportunity for a happy and successful life.
Helping Teri realize her goals, that’s how I LIVE UNITED.
Early help
keeps a family going
Michelle’s car
broke down. She didn’t know where to find help and she didn’t
have the money to have the repair work done. She dialed 2-1-1, a
United Way program, and a trained information specialist
assisted her in locating the Care Fund with Faith Lutheran
Church which assisted her in repairing her car.
Without this early intervention, Michelle’s life could have
spiraled out of control. With no transportation, she wouldn’t
have been able to go to work or take her children to school.
This absence would have made the children fall behind and
Michelle would lose the income she so desperately needed as a
single mother to keep up on bills and house payments with no way
to regain financial stability.
Through your generous gift to United Way, the operator at 2-1-1
allowed Michelle and her family move past an already
difficult situation without as much stress, and maintain their
normal routine of attending school and work.
On behalf of
Michelle and her children, thank you for your support to create
opportunities for a better life.
A woman sits alone, unable to cook for herself, unable to leave
her apartment to shop for food. Her fears and other mental
health issues have finally overcome her ability to go about what
others consider a normal life. Without help, she will starve.
Because of the generosity of the Marshfield area, this woman,
along with the thousands who are struggling, will receive help.
This woman's sister contacted Home Delivered Meals, a United Way
funded program, and signed her up to receive a hot, nutritious
meal. Now, her physical health has improved and she's having
more good days than bad.
Contributions to the United Way campaign helped this woman and others like her receive the basic needs essential to living every day.