It's a busy time of year for the United Way team! We're energized with creative campaigns and ideas for giving. That being said, I wanted to share my thoughts on the importance of the Community Investment Fund and why giving is so important.

The Community Investment Fund is the only pot of money that stays local and supports 34 programs operating across our six-county footprint. Many of our funded partners are able to leverage their United Way grants with other grants - bringing in an average of $3 for every $1 they receive from United Way, as the video below describes. Being responsible with donations is important to United Way of North Central Florida, that's why the Community Investment Fund is managed by the Community Investment Council.

The Community Investment Council is a dedicated group of volunteer leaders who engage in an extensive analysis of funded partner requests and distribute money in a collaborative process. Through a combination of on-site program visits, analysis of program performance and engagement with the Funded Partners, the United Way Community Investment Fund is a dynamic resource for our community.

As a member of the Community Investment Council for over seven years and as Chair for the past three years, I've witnessed the impact of United Way directly. Through the Community Investment Fund, United Way is making a positive, direct impact on every person in our community.