President’s Message
Dear Friends,
Spring is passing us by quickly and, before you know it, graduations will take place and our Stuff the Bus program will be gathering school supplies again for the next school year. Where does the time go? For many disenfranchised individuals and families, time is not on their side as they struggle to get by. Access to quality services and champions who will advocate on their behalf are the very reason that United Way harnesses the collective impact of our community to change conditions.
One man who has been a pillar of our community and champion for the underserved is our Board Member, Mr. Hank Lacayo. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Hank and Leah since I arrived and rarely is there an event that I do not see them at. Once a month, early on Thursday mornings before our 7:30 am board meeting, I pick Hank up at his home and we get to chat on our way up the grade. It’s something I look forward to every month. His words of wisdom, his honesty, and his compassion remind me of why we do what we do. We are here to be of service.
This August at our Spirit Awards we will be honoring Hank with our Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ronald Reagan Library on his 85th birthday. It will be an incredible evening with local, statewide, and national leaders coming to celebrate this remarkable man and longtime friend of United Way. For sponsorship information, click here or email Vick.Raven@vcunitedway.org.
Please take a moment … to read about United Way’s work in the community. Together, united, we can champion the underserved and lead by example with our community engagement. GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.
Eric Harrison
President & CEO
United Way of Ventura County