A Message From Our Executive Director
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es life its deepest meaning is the positive impact we have on others—on our neighbors, and on the community we share. For United Way, our supporters, and our many volunteers, including our board members, 2025 was a year rich with meaning and momentum. It marked our first full year of operations following the merger of Dunn County United Way and United Way St. Croix Valley.
That merger was never about efficiency alone: It was about strengthening our collective ability to serve. And in 2025, that promise came to life. As a unified organization, United Way invested more financial resources into local communities and nonprofits than at any time since before COVID. Those investments flowed primarily through grants to nonprofit partners and were complemented by the growing impact of our own diaper bank and 211 services.
You’ll read more about those efforts throughout this newsletter, but one fact deserves special attention: together with our nonprofit partners, United Way touched the lives of 1 out of every 13 people in our service area.
That number is both eye-opening and humbling. Too many families face food and housing insecurity. Too many youth need caring mentors to help them navigate challenging starts. Too many older adults and people with disabilities struggle to stay connected to people and essential resources. Too many individuals experience mental health challenges. Too many young families face diaper insecurity due to cost.
It is a troubling fact that 35 percent of households in our region struggle to afford basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter. But in those moments—often unseen and deeply personal—United Way’s nonprofit partners and United Way services were there.
A major milestone was reached at the end of 2025 when United Way began providing 211 services in Dunn and Pepin counties, fulfilling a key goal of the merger. Available 24/7/365 and free to the community, 211 connects people to local resources for challenges such as housing instability, food insecurity, mental health crises, transportation needs, and more. Our 211 services offer not just information, but reassurance that help is within reach.
United Way’s Diaper Bank will continue meeting growing demand throughout Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, and Polk counties, leveraging partnerships with school districts, civic organizations, businesses, foundations, and individuals to efficiently purchase and distribute diapers and wipes to people who need them. Meeting this basic need that has a profound impact on family stability since it avoids difficult choices families and caregivers would otherwise be forced to make.
As we look ahead to 2026, United Way’s strategic priorities are clear: re-connect with individuals and businesses, invite new partnerships, and grow the pool of dollars available to support our nonprofit partners. In service of that goal, United Way is launching a new two-year grant cycle, bringing greater stability, predictability, and partnership to the organizations doing vital work across our region.
None of this work happens without the generosity of individuals, organizations, businesses, and foundations who believe in United Way’s mission. When nonprofits are strong, communities are stronger—along with the families, workplaces, and schools that depend on them.
It’s an old truth that caring people are the ones who step up in moments of need. Often quietly, and without expectation of recognition, they change strangers’ life trajectories for the better. Every gift and every volunteer hour matters. Together, we are turning challenges into opportunities—and hope into action.
As I wrap up my time as United Way’s Executive Director and transition into retirement—and into a continued role as a United Way volunteer—I am profoundly grateful to the individuals, civic organizations, businesses, foundations, and nonprofit partners who make this work possible. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside so many people who care deeply about their neighbors and communities.
On February 10, 2026, Steve will be concluding his time with UW Valleys. We extend our heartfelt thanks to him for his dedication and commitment to supporting ALICE families in the Western Wisconsin Region. His work has made a meaningful impact, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.