About Us

From the Director...

For 75 years, United Way of Butler County has been an integral part of the community, mobilizing people and resources to advance the common good. There is no doubt that many changes have occurred, some thought to be good and some arguably not so good. The name has changed from the Community Chest to the War Chest to the United Fund to the United Way. The office location has moved around town and may move again.

Volunteers, Board leadership, staff and Partner Agencies change. Great philanthropists have come and passed away. Donors and companies change. We are excited to welcome Westinghouse, an organization committed to the community through United Way contributions and volunteers.

Community issues change, from responding to war and post-war needs, to unemployment with the closing of Pullman Standard, to a drug and alcohol epidemic, to national disasters, and now to rising fuel costs that affect basic needs.

If we measured the United Way strictly by how much we raise and by our ability to increase the campaign, I guess you could say that has been a challenge. We make gains in one area then suffer losses in others. Our real asset is our ability to bring together business, non-profits, government, education and all people to solve problems in our community using multiple resources, of which money is only one.

Our challenge is to prove that an investment in United Way means a return in children healthy and ready to learn as they enter school and healthy and ready to work and contribute to our community when they leave school. It means a return in healthy families having income sufficient to live and managing finances so that they are prepared for personal crises or disaster. It is a return in connecting seniors and the community to services they need, and to connecting volunteers to opportunities, and people in need to those who can help. For business, it means a stable and productive workforce and a community that relies on itself rather than government to solve problems. For you and I, it means we can live well in a supportive community, afford to educate our children, enjoy and use the gifts we've been given and age and die with dignity.

What remains the same is that this United Way still belongs to YOU, the community. It is driven by the needs and issues and by the volunteers who care about reaching out a hand to improve the condition of all. It doesn't really matter who is elected President of this fine country, we know that positive change happens here at the community level. It is up to us. The United Way has survived change and can drive change, and I don't know about you, but I want to be the last man standing at the end of the day.

Leslie A. Osche
Executive Director
United Way of Butler County

From the Chairman of the Board...

This year, the theme of our Annual Campaign was "Give Where You Live". I have to give credit to Ann Morrison, our 2007-2008 Campaign Chairman for this theme. However, it embodies why I choose to be involved with the United Way of Butler County. I was born, raised and have continued to live in Butler County my entire life, but I worked in Pittsburgh for almost 20 years. Through my employer's charitable goals and causes, I was made well aware of the various human service issues that plagued the Pittsburgh area. I realized a number of years ago that I needed to focus my time, energy and contributions to Butler County where I LIVE.

What I have come to learn is that Butler County suffers from the same human services needs. It does not matter where you reside in the County. Our Partner Agencies serve the needs of residents from the County seat to areas in the North, such as Chicora and Parker, and to the South, including Cranberry Township and Mars. The message is simple. United Way's Partner Agencies are providing much needed services to your families, friends and neighbors. I am proud to know that my contribution to the United Way Impact Fund positively impacts the lives of my fellow Butler County residents.

The needs of our neighbors are many and complex. Our goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. In order to have the biggest impact, the United Way of Butler County has asked our Partner Agencies to focus on three strategic areas. These are the building blocks for a good life. They are:

1. Helping our residents to achieve FINANCIAL STABILITY.
2. Providing the resources necessary for Early Childhood Intervention and EDUCATION.
3. CONNECTING PEOPLE to the appropriate resources available to them in the County.

The final thought that I have for you is to consider what it means to LIVE UNITED. Of course, our Partner Agencies depend on the financial support of the community, but they also thrive because of the volunteers that support all of their various programs. My challenge to you is to become involved in your community. Support the United Way; support a charitable organization doing great things where you LIVE!

Joyce Schnur
Chairman of the Board
United Way of Butler County