2026 is a special year for the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota as we will be celebrating our 60th anniversary.
In the past 60 years we have grown from one person in a single office to a nine person staff in our own building complete with two warehouses.
We are no longer an organization that solely raises funds on behalf of other organizations. We also operate our own programming that directly impacts thousands of people across our service area.
What began with Imagination Library in 2008 has grown to include Smiles United, Buddy Backpacks, Bright Beginnings, United for Veterans, Meet Up and Chow Down, Day of Action, and many others.
These programs started with a seed planted by community members who care.
Our staff united with donors and volunteers to provide the proverbial soil, water, and sunshine to grow ideas into impactful programs that are changing local lives.
This organization has grown a number of “best in class” programs while helping our communities through multiple crises including layoffs, floods, wildfires and the Covid pandemic.
What will our work look like 60 years from now? That’s up to you.
Raise your hand, get involved, and use your voice.
Let’s hone in on getting to the root of the problem; minimizing the need to develop more programs and ensuring instead that our dollars and hours are laser-focused on creating communities where everyone can bloom.
Chad Buus is the General Manager Tritec for Road Machinery & Supplies Co. and has served on UWNEMN’s Board of Directors for seven years.