SB United Way shutting down
United Way of San Benito County is closing.
For more than 22 years, the local branch of United Way of
America solicited payroll deductions through local workplaces and
distributed funds to nonprofit organizations within the
community.
SB United Way shutting down
United Way of San Benito County is closing.
For more than 22 years, the local branch of United Way of America solicited payroll deductions through local workplaces and distributed funds to nonprofit organizations within the community.
The local organization’s board of directors announced Wednesday afternoon that it is no longer licensed to serve San Benito County.
The development, while abrupt, is not unique. More than 50 smaller United Way chapters have found themselves unable to meet the parent organization’s changing reporting requirements and have been forced to close.
“We can say this is terrible, but this is the direction the organization’s heading in,” said Chuck Obeso-Bradley, a board member for the past six years. Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way of America, has charged the organization with moving from community-based efforts to a global focus, producing measurable and lasting impacts on the world’s root problems. Gallagher called the organization’s history of generating local funds for local causes “yesterday’s reality.”
The local United Way is working with United Way of Silicon Valley to develop a plan for that larger organization to administer the program locally. The local board also met this week with Gary Byrne, executive director of the Community Foundation of San Benito County regarding United Way’s pending dissolution. The Community Foundation agreed to make the final round of disbrusement to local nonprofits.
Further details are pending, board members said.
The fatal blow to the local organizations were dramatically increasing reporting requirements, intended to assure “measurable and lasting” impacts. “We’re a volunteer organization,” Obeso-Bradley said. “We all have real jobs to do.”
A written statement prepared for the board explained the events leading to this week’s closure.
“Our efforts to obtain guidance and pool resources did not move as quickly as we had hoped and we missed a filing deadline in the summer of 2007,” it read. After missing a filing deadline last summer, the organization was given 60 days to work with United Way of Silicon Valley to pursue a merger and develop a transition plan, but an agreement was not reached prior to the deadline and the local United Way’s license was pulled.
People with questions about long-term plans for United Way in San Benito County may contact United Way of Silicon Valley at 408-345-4300. Questions about this year’s disbursement of funds should be directed to Community Foundation of San Benito County at 630-1924.
