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United Way set to kick off 2010 campaign

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Photo by Bill Olmsted

Addison, 4, joins her class and her teacher Wednesday in a counting exercise at the Janesville Community Day Care Center. Addison is able to take part in the program thanks to a scholarship from the United Way of North Rock County.

JANESVILLE — Without help from the United Way, Addison wouldn’t be able to spend 11 hours a day at Janesville Community Day Care Center while her mother works full-time.

“I feel good about leaving her there because I know it’s a safe, qualified place that’s licensed, and they put kids first,” said Addison’s mother, Chris, who didn’t want her last name published because she feels vulnerable living alone as a single mom.

Without a scholarship from the United Way of North Rock County, Chris said she wouldn’t be able to enroll Addison, 4½, at the local day care.

“It’s just too much,’’ she said.

Full-time child care for Addison is $185 a week, said Theresa Marshall, executive director of the center. United Way is paying 40 percent, Chris said.

More than 200 low-income families get help so they can afford child care at Janesville Community Day Care Center and Community Kids Learning Center and parents can work or go to school, according to United Way’s 2010 campaign materials.

The United Way’s 2010 fundraising campaign kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 15. It’s being led by the father/son team of Kevin and Andy Murray.

The 2009 campaign raised $1.25 million, about 8 percent short of the $1.35 million goal.

The goal this year is $1.29 million, a 4 percent increase over the 2009 total raised, said Tammy DeGarmo, resource development director.

“We feel it’s very realistic. It’s not just about giving to charity. It’s because the United Way dollars through the programs they fund are really important,’’ she said.

In an effort to reach new givers, this year’s campaign includes a direct mail and online social media campaign to reach people outside the traditional workplace campaigns, DeGarmo said.

“Both generated a lot of new money this year,’’ she said.

United Way has awarded more than $100,000 for child-care scholarships this year to four programs operated by three agencies, DeGarmo said.

“It’s really about giving parents the ability to be self-sufficient for their families and having the quality care for the little ones,’’ she said.

Marshall agreed: “Funding helps families that fall through the cracks and can’t get any support through any other programs out there. These families need to work, need a safe place for their children to go, and they’re struggling to pay tuition.’’

United Way contributions have an impact, DeGarmo and Marshall agreed.

“United Way does invest in specific programs that help people today, but it’s also investing in programs that are trying to change the future,’’ DeGarmo said.

“These are families that are working and part of our community. They’ve just had a crisis in their life, and child care is very costly if you’re not working at a high-paying job or have only one income coming in,” she said.

Of the 134 children enrolled at Janesville Community Day Care, about 20 percent are eligible for United Way scholarships, and another 40 percent qualify for Wisconsin’s W-2 program of low-income parents with minor children, Marshall said.

Marshall has been leading the center for 23 years, and she said need is greater today than ever.

“When I think back, we had maybe 20 percent of our enrollment that was W-2 funded or qualified for the child-care reimbursement,” she said.