CNE believes that when it comes to improving outcomes for Virginians, nonprofits are getting it done. United Way of South West Virginia is doing just that. Each day, the organization fights for the health, education, financial stability, and resilience of community members across 21 localities from Southwest Virginia through the New River Valley.
How does United Way SWVA do it? According to the organization’s Executive Director, Megan Parks, they’re keeping a pulse on the evolving needs of community members and embracing versatility to meet changing demand.
Parks credits the organization’s adaptability for the success of its 2024 response to Hurricane Helene, “Disaster recovery on September 29th may not have been our plan for that day, but it became our plan that day. We all called one another and said, okay, what do we need to do?”
Guided by organizational flexibility and supplemented by holistic community knowledge, United Way SWVA raised $2.2 million in response to Hurricane Helene and gave 100% of it to long-term recovery efforts in the community. The nonprofit also operated donation centers and managed volunteers during the recovery effort.
Parks and her team understand that today, fighting for community resilience in South West Virginia requires weaving the region’s disaster-prone status into the fabric of their mission. A first step in this direction is the org’s launch of an emergency preparedness and education program for South West Virginia families.
While United Way of Southwest Virginia dedicates itself fully to supporting local families, CNE supports the organization directly, providing the guidance, skills, and resilience needed to address evolving community needs. Reflecting on her experience working with CNE, Parks says, “I knew we were in good hands. I knew we were in the right place at the right time.”
From conducting Board of Directors trainings on governance and fiduciary duty to facilitating regional convenings for nonprofit Executive Directors, CNE is ensuring that United Way of South West Virginia has the capacity it needs to keep getting it done.
