Letter from the President and CEO, Mark R. Graham

To the Tulsa Area Community:

As we celebrate our 85th year, I am filled with great pride that the Tulsa Area United Way and our 63 partner agencies continue to play such a vital role in meeting the critical health, human and social services needs of our community each and every day. 

Over the past 85 years of unwavering success and steadfast commitment, the Tulsa Area United Way has contributed $545,273,748 to the six-county area we serve. Historically, TAUW is in the top 10% of United Ways in the country, raising more dollars than other vibrant cities with even greater populations such as Austin, Fort Worth, Orlando, Portland and San Diego. Our community investors have funded hundreds of flourishing initiatives in program services that have formed the very fiber of the human, health and social services “safety net” and development initiatives throughout our community.

Several shining examples of these initiatives include:

• 2-1-1 Tulsa Helpline, which was established in 2005 and helps citizens access services from more than 2,500 health and human services programs.

• Child Care Resource Center's Success By 6^Ò Quality Enhancement Initiative, started in 1999, promotes the healthy development of children birth through age 6 and helps more than 2,500 children each year.

• Venture grant funding that has provided start-up funds for programs such as the Safe Place Shelter at Youth Services of Tulsa and TulsaWORKS at Goodwill.

With your help, the Tulsa Area United Way is well-prepared to tackle our community’s pressing needs in 2009. We do have real challenges, yet I have much hope that through our collective efforts to Give, Advocate and Volunteer we will make our Tulsa area a better place for all to live. That’s what it really means to Live United!

Respectfully,

Mark R. Graham