Guest commentary: Community support needed to fill funding gap
United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades’ annual campaign to support local families, individuals and nonprofit partner agencies during times of need has been a mainstay in Southwest Florida for nearly 70 years. Residents, businesses and visitors alike have all taken part each year to provide vital funding that aids more than 90 United Way partner agencies.
Now, that support matters more than ever.
United Way is working to close a significant $1.3 million funding gap to ensure resources are available for its partner agencies as well as United Way-operated programs that improve the lives of more than 500,000 people in the community. We have currently moved the needle but still need $1 million.
While charitable giving and grant funding to nonprofits across the country have decreased, the needs of growing communities like ours have continued to increase. In a very recent example, the United Way partnered with the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools and hosted a teacher outreach event to distribute in-kind goods for classrooms. Teachers lined up starting at 4 a.m. on June 10 to receive nearly $200,000 in new items, supplies to enhance their classrooms and the students’ learning experiences; examples include school supplies, filing cabinets, bulletin and dry erase boards, air purifiers, books and seasonal decorations for their classrooms.
With United Way’s support, our partner agencies provide food assistance, housing support, youth development programs, educational opportunities and many other critical programs that strengthen our community. These services are often vital lifelines and opportunities for people facing some of life’s greatest challenges.
In addition to supporting our partner agencies, the annual campaign also helps fund our United Way-operated programs that directly serve residents in our community. These programs include:
– Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a free tax preparation program that generates $13 million in impact each year.
– The WeCare program connects qualifying individuals with life-saving free medical services and provided $9.2 million in medical care last year.
– The Gifts In Kind distribution network channels more than $10 million in donated goods each year to nonprofits and people in need across the region.
All of this is why this campaign matters. It’s about ensuring that these services remain available for those who need them most.
We have weathered the storms — quite literally most recently with Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, a global pandemic, as well as outbreaks of red tide impairing tourism and hindering the workforce — yet we have been able to meet our annual campaign goal each year.
We’re confident that with your help, we will do the same this year.
We are encouraged by the strong support already stepping forward from the community and many of our partner agencies, including several generous gifts that will help amplify community giving — a $250,000 commitment from Lee Health through the Lee Health Foundation, $100,000 from a faithful couple in Bonita Springs, a $100,000 match from a private family foundation, another $100,000 match from Linda and Tom Uhler, longtime United Way supporters, and more.
The combined $200,000 match allows every donated dollar to go even further, effectively doubling the impact of community support.
As co-chair of this year’s annual campaign — and as someone who has proudly called Southwest Florida home most of my life — I’m asking you to step up now. This is our moment to come together and close this gap, so the essential services hundreds of thousands of our neighbors rely on don’t fall short.
Now is the time to act. Please make a gift today. Increase your support. Invite others to join you. Every single contribution moves us closer to protecting the programs that provide food, healthcare, education and hope across our community.
The need is real, and the impact is immediate. There are a million reasons to give — and hundreds of thousands of lives depend on it.
Be one in a million. Give today and help us close the gap. To learn more about United Way and to contribute to the annual campaign, visit UnitedWayLee.org/Donate. Or please reach out to me personally.
Carolyn Rogers is senior vice president and wealth services advisor for Florida Trust Wealth Management. She is co-chair for the 2025-26 United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades annual campaign.