Where do the funds go from North Greenville’s Relay for Life?
Posted by The Skyliner on April 14th, 2010Jamey Williams
Staff Writer
Lately, North Greenville University students and faculty have been working hard to raise money through the Relay for Life organization with a pageant, a walk/run, a talent show and more. But where exactly is the money going? 
Christine Haltiwanger, instructor of health promotion and wellness, said that thus far, NGU has raised hundreds of dollars that directly benefit the United Way of Greenville County. The function of Greenville’s United Way is to meet the needs of its community in two distinct ways: helping people in need right now and helping to eliminate future needs.
To meet the current needs of people in Greenville, the United Way has recruited hundreds of diligent volunteers who take part in implementing 92 local programs provided by 50 partner agencies. A few of these programs and agencies are: The Center for Developmental Services, A Child’s Haven, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate, YMCA of Greenville, Cancer Society of Greenville County, American Red Cross and Mental Health America, Greenville Chapter. These programs address a wide range of needs that promote a strong community.
In establishing a healthy community, the United Way of Greenville also hopes to ensure that future needs are greatly prevented. The statistics in relation to those who are hurting in Greenville County are staggering. According to www.united waygc.org, one in five families does not earn enough money to meet the basic needs of the household, around 25 percent of students entering the ninth grade will not graduate in four years and three out of 10 children will not receive a high quality early childhood education.
The focus of the Greenville United Way over the next 10 years is to make sure that a much higher percentage of children are ready to succeed when they enter the first grade.
Also, it is teaming up with the Alliance for Quality Education to raise the number of youth who graduate high school from 73.3 percent to 85 percent. United Way also believes that a large factor in a household’s ability to provide basic needs is the percentage of the family’s income that goes toward housing expenses. Currently, 32,000 households spend more than 40 percent of their income on housing expenses. The United Way says it is striving to see that number drop to less than 22,000 households.
It’s not too late to join the cause of helping the United Way of Greenville reach our community. Keep your eyes and ears open for more opportunities to get involved in fundraising events at NGU.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 11