"It is so hard and emotionally wrenching because there are a limited number of resources and nothing you want to turn down." Lisa Abbott, current United Way board member who also served as an allocations and campaign volunteer for many years, spoke with us about her experience on the Vision Council.
The volunteers on the United Way Vision Council review allocation applications and determine how much campaign money is granted to each certified member agency. This ensures that services people need are available and donor dollars have the most impact. "The allocations committee is a group of people who care about what happens in the community," says Abbott. "They pour their heart and soul into these decisions. But it is the most rewarding experience you can have as a volunteer. Your decisions touch people's lives."
"I appreciate the long hours the volunteers put in reading, reviewing, and discussing the applications. Everybody brings a different viewpoint, demographic, and life experience. The resulting decisions are more valuable because of the differences."
