FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously enacted a proclamation on November 15, 2022, officially recognizing the United Way of Northern Arizona as an essential non-profit partner and lending the County’s support to the organization’s annual Fall Giving Campaign.
The United Way of Northern Arizona has been a long-time non-profit partner with Coconino County, coordinating volunteer efforts during and after emergencies, as well as providing financial and other assistance to members of the community in need.
The proclamation reads, in part, “United Way of Northern Arizona is investing in community-inspired initiatives essential to achieving positive social change and sustainable impact for our youth and community, including early child development through the KinderCamp program, positive youth development through the Launch Flagstaff initiative, and safety and security for those in need with temporary shelter, food and financial assistance.”
“I appreciate all of the work the United Way does, especially with Kindercamp and their various youth projects,” said Vice Chair and District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez. “This programming is so vital to our community, not to mention all of the volunteer days they’ve organized to fill hundreds of thousands of sandbags and clean up debris.”
In 2022, United Way of Northern Arizona organized 17 volunteer crisis-response events with 400 volunteers working almost 1,550 hours. Activities included post-Tunnel Fire and post-Pipeline Fire cleanup events, replenishing sandbags in Flagstaff’s Sunnyside neighborhood, and a massive effort to help build a million new sandbags for anticipated flooding in the new burn scar areas in the Schultz-Pipeline, Schultz Creek, and Museum Flood Areas.
This year’s Fall Giving Campaign also includes a friendly challenge between Coconino County Manager Steve Peru and Flagstaff’s City Manager Greg Clifton. Both the County and City will encourage their employees to participate with a donation. The organization with the higher percentage of employee participation wins, meaning a representative from the runner-up must perform a slightly embarrassing task in public.
“The United Way of Northern Arizona, along with all non-profits in the region, fill a gap that local government cannot,” said County Manager Steve Peru. “These essential organizations really do provide life-changing and life-saving service to our community.”
The full text of the proclamation is available online.
Those interested in contributing to the United Way of Northern Arizona can learn more about the organization at https://nazunitedway.org/