By Jodi Magallanes, Truth Staff
jmagallanes@etruth.com
Managing a first-tier, countywide charitable organization during tight economic times means making hard decisions.
United Way of Elkhart County announced in December that all 24 of its agencies would see an immediate 30 percent reduction in funding until the board reassesses the projected shortfall from its 2008 campaign in February.
But what wasn't announced is two former member agencies were removed completely from United Way rolls.
The Cystic Fibrosis Council and the Elkhart Child Development Center were dropped for different reasons, said Darrin Bickel, vice president of community impact.
The move at the ECDC came after five years of working with the center to address issues that the United Way felt hobbled its viability.
"It became clear over time that they were not staying with the quality of what we were looking for" in a member agency, Bickel said. The center's ability to retain a solid board of directors, "get traction" and contribute to family empowerment did not improve, he said.
United Way funding accounted for $56,000, or 12 percent to 13 percent of the agency's budget.
Director Paula Mumaw doesn't argue the difficulty the center has had with maintaining a large and steady board membership. That situation continues to improve, she said. But now, her overriding preoccupation is finding health insurance for her small staff. The center had previously insured its employees through the United Way.
The center immediately reduced its staff by three and cut the salaries of those who remain, including hers, Mumaw said. It continues to maintain usual hours and the required child-to-teacher ratio and is still licensed by the state of Indiana, which regularly assesses and inspects the site.
Mumaw is frustrated with the decision itself as well as with the four weeks' notification she was given before funding ceased.
"We felt that the United Way was funding us, a service to the community. They weren't funding the board," she said.
The Cystic Fibrosis Council, which provides information and nutritional and emotional support to cystic fibrosis patients and their families, has reduced its staff from three to one half-time person in recent years.
The singular source of funding was one of the concerns the agency had with the group, United Way of Elkhart County President Jerome Quatman said. The United Way encourages member agencies to seek additional resources.
Another reality that was hard to face, even for the decision-makers, Bickel said, is that the council functions now as a support group for patients and their families -- something the United Way doesn't fund.
Unlike several years ago, Bickel said, there are more sources of cystic fibrosis information and essential nutritional supplements are available from an area hospital.
But Director Sandy Lichtenberger emphasizes that the agency steps in for emergencies because insurance companies won't cover the full cost of treatment and supplements.
Lichtenberger said that the council, which is the only agency to serve affected families in north central Indiana, will continue to provide services until the end of February. At that time its board will discuss the council's viability.
She's already taken a 25 percent pay cut, to $12,000, and has taken on a second job. The council is looking for donated office space in an attempt to eliminate its $200 rent on Nappanee Street in Elkhart.
"There's no place left to go. I can't say that we won't close our doors," Lichtenberger said.