My City November 2022

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Living UNITED UWGC Celebrates 100 Years of Giving

BY CHERYL DENNISON

A nonprofit health and human service organization, the United Way of Genesee County is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

A ccording to CEO Jamie Gaskin, volunteers govern the United Way organization, their annual campaign, and how donations are shared with community partners. In conjunction with other organizations throughout the community, they work to develop effective solutions to community issues, reaching people from all walks of life and all income groups. “We use teaspoon philanthropy,” Gaskin explains. “We have 1,000 various local employees who take dollars from their paychecks to help others and support 200 different programs.” Gaskin, who has been the CEO of the organization for nine years, says there are a number of families in Genesee County who can’t meet their basic needs. “And it’s not just in the city of Flint,” he reports. “It affects the entire county.” Statistics show that families from all over – Clio, Davison – are struggling, and in Fenton 40 percent of the families are struggling to meet basic needs. “First, it was the pandemic and now people can’t keep up with the rate of inflation.” United Way works with core community partners that include the United Auto Workers and General Motors. “People who make a wage want to help others,” he notes. “It’s about people helping other people.Thousands of people giving a tiny bit can collectively help others.” The UWGC has been celebrating United Way’s 100 years of service.They partnered with the Flint Institute of Music

UWGC CEO JAMIE GASKIN AND UAW LABOR LIAISON, TERESA MCGINNIS. Uni ted Way’ s core communi ty partners inc lude the Uni ted Auto Workers and GM. ▶

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