Carroll County United merges into Lakes Region United Way

LACONIA — Carroll County United, a community based initiative funded by the Annette P. Schmitt Foundation with Tri-County Community Action Program acting as their incubator, has announced a partnership with the Lakes Region United Way effective April 1, 2011. The partnership will enable Carroll County United to continue its volunteer driven efforts into the foreseeable future to work together to make Carroll County a place where all generations can live, work and thrive. The Lakes Region United Way partnership will allow the Schmitt Foundation to stand down over time from its role as original funder of the initiative, while support from the United Way will ensure this important work continues throughout all of Carroll County.

John Malm, Chair of the Lakes Region United Way, indicated that there were several key factors that made the partnership make so much sense. “First and foremost, our work and our mission are very closely aligned to the work and mission of Carroll County United. We are working on many of the same community goals in Belknap and Grafton Counties. Secondly, Carroll County is part of the Lakes Region United Way’s service area, and for some time we have wanted to improve our service to this region. This partnership with Carroll County United will give us greater purpose and presence in Carroll County which in turn will help us better meet our mission to the benefit of all residents in the county. And finally, the work that Carroll County United is doing is very impactful on the future of Carroll County, so it was important to us to help ensure this work will continue for the long term. We believe we can make this happen because the partnership, utilizing the existing infrastructure of the Lakes Region United Way, allows us to more cost effectively support the work of the volunteer teams. So we are pleased to be able to do this, and honor the Schmitt Foundation for their vision in getting Carroll County United started.”

Howard Cunningham, Chairman of Carroll County United, was equally pleased with the new partnership.

“One of our goals all along with this initiative was to somehow make sure that we could find a path to sustainability. With Lakes Region United Way, we have achieved this. Now we can focus our efforts on the work of the teams, and truly transform Carroll County as we know it today. Of course, success begins with community involvement, so we are in hopes that we can continue to attract Carroll County residents to any of our teams, and that the residents will embrace this new partnership. It is important to recognize the role Tri-County Community Action Program, and in particular, Peter Higbee, played in getting Carroll County United off the ground and running. And of course, none of this would have happened without the Annette Schmitt Foundation, so we are very grateful for their support. We are very optimistic that our partnership with Lakes Region United Way will lead to positive happenings for Carroll County down the road.”

Carroll County United currently has five volunteer led teams focusing on the following issues in Carroll County: Childhood Readiness and Success, Aligning Education to Careers, Individual and Family Economic Stability, Balancing Economic Development with Environmental Stewardship, and Health and Wellness.

If you are interested in learning more about Carroll County United, or joining one of the teams, visit www.CarrollCountyUnited.org or call Cyndi Paulin at 603-323-8139.

The mission of the Lakes Region United Way is to advance the common good through thoughtful and sustainable social investment. For more information about the Lakes Region United Way, visit www.LRUW.org or call 603-524-6864.

CAPTION:

John Malm, Chair of Lakes Region United Way (left), and Howard Cunningham, Chair of Carroll County United announce a new partnership between the two community organizations. (Courtesy photo)