As United Way of Martin County’s 2005-06 annual campaign enters its final weeks, volunteers have begun the process of evaluating programs for United Way funding in 2006-07.

Members of United Way’s Citizen Review Panels gathered March 14 for an orientation. During the coming month, the 58 volunteers will be going on site visits to agencies and reviewing applications to support dozens of vital programs ranging from prenatal check-ups to hospice care.

During site visits to 32 agencies, the volunteers will get a first-hand look at how United Way-supported programs improve the lives of people in our community.

“This is one of the most rewarding volunteer tasks at United Way because the Citizen Review Panelists really get to see results in action,” said Taunya Bryant, chairwoman of United Way’s Resource Investment Committee. “It can also be one of the most difficult, as they try to make funding decisions among so many worthy programs that help so many people.”

United Way of Martin County set an aggressive campaign goal of $2.225 million this year in order to fill gaps in service and eliminate waiting lists.

With about two weeks to go before the annual end-of-campaign Champions of the Community event March 30, United Way is looking for the final $85,000 to reach the goal.

“In setting the goal for this year, the campaign volunteers and I looked not at what we thought we could raise but what we absolutely needed to raise,” said Margot Graff, United Way campaign chairwoman and an officer at Fidelity Federal Bank & Trust. “Our aim was to eliminate the gap between needs in the community and what is available from United Way to invest in programs that help people.”

The Citizen Review Panelists will see the people and programs during site visits that begin March 29 and continue through April 6, as follows:

March 28, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Crisis and Basic Needs
Children’s Emergency Resources, Epilepsy Foundation of South Florida, Volunteers in Medicine, American Red Cross, Indiantown Non-Profit Housing

March 29, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. – Special Needs Populations
Helping People Succeed, SafeSpace, Martin County Literacy Council, ARC of Martin County, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services.

March 31, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. – Children and Youth
Gertrude Walden Child Care Center, PACE Center for Girls, Caring Children/Clothing Children, Drug Abuse Treatment Association.

April 3, 8 a.m.-noon – Special Needs Populations
Alzheimer’s Community Care, Treasure Coast Hospices, Council on Aging.

April 4, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. – After-School and Mentoring
Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA Indiantown, Hope Rural School. 

April 6, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – Case Management/Families
Catholic Charities, Children’s Home Society, Helping People Succeed, Father & Child Resource Center, Exchange Club CASTLE, Hibiscus Children’s Center.

April 6, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. – Crisis and Basic Needs
Salvation Army, Jesus House of Hope, Treasure Coast Food Bank.

To learn more about the resource investment process or the United Way campaign, call (772) 283-4800 or visit www.unitedwaymartincounty.org.