OTTUMWA —
Some local citizens have recently contacted United Way concerning our position on gun control, and I would like to take this opportunity to answer their inquiry.
United Way of Wapello County does not have a position on gun control. We’re not aware of any local United Ways that have taken a position on gun control, either. Rumors to the contrary are false.
United Way is a worldwide network in 40 countries. We advance the common good through our focus on education, income and health as the basic building blocks of a good quality of life. Partners funded by United Ways that have committed to this community impact model must demonstrate outcomes in reaching goals in key focus areas. At the local level, our three main goals are:
• Increase the number of children who are prepared to succeed in their early elementary school years.
• Increase the number of working families who are financially stable.
• Increase the number of youth and adults who are healthy and avoid risky behaviors.
The values of United Way are embodied in our LIVE UNITED campaign. This is a call to action — an invitation for everyone to join us, regardless of their stance on various issues — to move forward on these goals. It’s going to take everyone working together — giving, advocating and volunteering — to make progress on these goals across the community. Meanwhile, we invite varying points of view and voices to all come together so we can move forward.
Desiree Johnson
president and CEO
United Way of Wapello County
Letters to the Editor
February 1, 2013
United Way’s focus is not on gun control
- Letters to the Editor
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- One giant mud hole to China Once upon a time, long, long ago, the neighbor kids and I used to like to dig in the ditch after a nice rain and make mud pies. We’d squat beside our hole in the ground with our long-handled spoons and take turns digging and filling our muffin pans
- Superintendent says 'thank you' May is School Board Appreciation Month. Today, the district held its Staff Appreciation and Teacher of the Year Breakfast, and last week was the Faculty Follies program organized by the Education Foundation for Fairfield Public Schools. I am full of
- Address mental health concerns for veterans Memorial Day will soon be here and we will pay tribute to our deceased loved ones. This Memorial Day, let's pay special tribute to our deceased veterans — like my dad — Don Butts, who served in World War II (Battle of the Bulge — one of the worst bat
- It's the death of a republic It's the death of a republic Our first president -- and founding father -- once said during his administration that "at best, government is a fearful master; at worst, it is a consuming fire." During the later 20th century, the number of defenseles
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