Anonymous
United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) and Cottage Health employees teamed up to ensure 30 elementary age students all had gifts to unwrap for the holidays.
Cottage Health employees contacted UWSBC in the fall to arrange an Adopt a Family collection for the holiday season. UWSBC worked with the schools to identify families and their wish lists. Cottage’s generous employees collected and donated gifts for 20 students, split evenly among Harding and Franklin elementary schools in Santa Barbara. UWSBC donated gifts for another 10 students at Franklin.
Excited students and grateful parents picked up the gifts – bicycles, clothes, toys and more – on the campuses Dec. 18 and 21, 2018.
“The reaction and joy in the faces of these students was truly heartwarming,” Melinda Cabrera, Director of Strategic Partnerships for United Way of Satna Barbara County. “The Cottage team really did an amazing job bringing some cheer to these families, and we’re so thankful for their generosity.”
For information on participating in the Adopt a Family program, contact Cabrera at mcabrera@unitedwaysb.org 805-965-8591.
About United Way of Santa Barbara County
United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) has the unique and positive vision that “in our community, everyone has a hopeful future.” Since 1923, UWSBC has served Santa Barbara County community through funding, volunteer development, and by utilizing its own unique initiatives that involve dozens of local non-profit and public sector agencies. UWSBC’s local community driven Power of Partnership™ priorities help children, families & seniors with a focus on Education, Income and Health.
I work at cottage and participated in this and we used our money, bought and wrapped gifts and then took them to United Way. They didn’t spend money on this but facilitated it. It may have been cottage’s idea to do it, not sure. Anyways, it’s a good thing to do, helping to make Christmas special for our youth. Lead by example… Your vent session is totally off base but if it makes you feel special then by all rights be mad.
Actually, the “vent session” you refer to was completely warranted. If people had any idea just how much $$$ was going to very generous salaries for United Ways honchos, they’d think twice before giving them another nickel. And as the other poster pointed out, UW seems strangely selective about who gets the money.
This is exactly what the comment expressed, Cottage employees hard earned money and time spent which is incredible generosity. The question is why didn’t United Way Fund it. And, Cottage doesn’t need the United Way to identify families…there is Unity Shoppe, FEMA records of families in need, social services etc. What we are trying to communicate is that UW continually feeds off the backs of generous people
A very Christmas spirited thing to do. Thanks to all involved.
United Way SB is an organization that continually sends out mixed messages. During the Montecito Disaster they refused to provide any money directly to victims stating that they only give to VOAD’s or other businesses/non-profits. How is it that they can take some of their budget and buy holiday presents for children and give directly? Or, was it Cottage Hospital workers and citizens once again, buying the gifts and spending their own money? United Way loves the PR but let’s look at the mechanics and be transparent about money flows. “Feel good PR to get exposure and rain more money” is something the majority of people are now beginning to see through. Why is it that United Way couldn’t muster up one shovel for a Gardner that lost everything in the debris flow but they can buy a bike for a child? What are the real rules? UW sends out mixed messages with their actions. And, let’s force a full and transparent accounting of United Way and every cent they collected under the name of the disaster…where did it go? Why did they give money to the Red Cross when that organization collects millions off the back of disasters? Why did they combine the money raised with United Way Ventura? Why with all the non-profits in town did new non-profits have to be formed to assist those impacted with velocity and transparency? What is the plan for the $1M that Santa Barbara Foundation collected under the guise of the disaster? It is 12 months, 1 year, 370 days….publish your plan or give all of the $1M back to everyone that donated thinking the money was going to be used immediately to help people. The community had to do fundraisers, concerts etc….all the while a few of the bigger non-profits racked in a lot of money. Maybe we need some investigative reporting to dig into this. How much are the donations covering in salaries so it assures these people their jobs verses deploying the money….What would it take for the community to ask questions publicly in the spirit of transparency verses all the whispers, gossip…
The OP is complementing you for your efforts as do I. The point is (which I’m sure you’re aware) is you and Cottage and others do not need the UW to facilitate anything. Why don’t you do your own fundrasier for next year? It will work. As for the UW? Money comes in and disappears.