Why I ADVOCATE- Lt. Col. Glendon A. Fraser's Story

Orange County United Way recently honored Lt. Col. Glendon Fraser for his 13 years of dedicated volunteer service on behalf of the Orange County community.  Lt. Col. Fraser turned his lifelong passion for aviation into a non-profit organization that promotes the field, especially to youth.  The following is his story of advocacy, volunteerism, and why he believes Orange County United Way is a strong community partner.

Glendon Fraser is currently a Lieutenant Colonel for the New York Air National Guard (NYANG).  He is a pilot for the 105^th Airlift Wing located in Newburgh and has been employed by the NYANG for 23 years.  While serving in the Air National Guard, Lt. Col. Fraser has received many medals for outstanding service.  He is also a Founding Member and the President of the Major General Irene Trowell-Harris chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., located on the Stewart Air National Guard Base.  As chapter President, Lt. Col. Fraser has overseen the distribution of more than $125,000 in tuition grants to 115 recipients.  A passionate advocate for aviation, he is an active member of the Organization of Black Aerospace Personnel, and has also overseen the development, implementation, and continuation of the Lee A. Archer, Jr. Red Tail Youth Flying Program, which promotes youth in aviation through mentoring and the sharing of life skills. "The United Way was there when we needed them to begin our Lee Archer Red Tail Youth Flying Program. Without United Way’s continued support, we would not have had the resources to mentor young adults from the Hudson Valley. I am well aware of the impact they have in the community because of the various groups and boards that I belong to. There is no doubt in my mind that the United Way helps to multiply the efforts of hard working volunteer programs such as ours."

~Lt. Col. Glendon Fraser

We'd love to hear your story about why you GIVE, ADVOCATE, or VOLUNTEER in your community.  Feel free to share it here.

Why I VOLUNTEER - Robert E. Hatfield, Jr.'s Story

We at United Way thought our blog offered a perfect opportunity for others to share their experiences with Orange County United Way and to express why they GIVE, ADVOCATE or VOLUNTEER in our community.  The following is a statement given to us by this year's Marion S. Murphy "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" Award winner:

Robert E. Hatfield, Jr.
Vice President of Government Banking
Citizens Bank

“My introduction to United Way came on October 10, 1969. I remember the date because it was my fifth day at my new career with The Prudential Insurance Company of America. It was also the day that the Newburgh office kicked off its annual United Way campaign. I saw a film that showed three short stories about common people helping their neighbors. However, one stood out above the rest. It was the story about an elderly gentleman showing a group of young teenagers how to create a community vegetable garden for the neighborhood. It was my first introduction to “sweat equity” and it reminded me of the Newburgh I grew up in. Needless to say, the garden was a success and the neighborhood pride was measured in smiles. This story, like the other two, created a very emotional decision in me to help my community as best as I could. So, 42 years later, the love affair with United Way still exists. Lucky me!”

~ Robert E. Hatfield, Jr.

Click here to view Orange County United Way's Annual Dinner journal and read more about Bob Hatfield's amazing 42-year volunteer history.

We'd like to start a community dialogue, so please feel free to share your story of why you GIVE, ADVOCATE or VOLUNTEER in your community.

United Way Makes Tax Time Less Taxing

Did you know that Orange County United Way, as a member of the Hudson Valley CA$H Coalition, is offering free tax preparation for residents? Hudson Valley CA$H (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Coalition is designed to help working people

 keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets by not only offering free tax preparation, but also helping individuals who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to receive it.

Every penny counts in today’s economy, yet many working people are overlooking this tax credit that could save them up to $5,666. Anyone with income under $48,362 from wages may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Are you cashing in on this opportunity?

The Hudson Valley CA$H Coalition is sponsoring tax preparation sites throughout the county. To find a site in your area, call 2-1-1 or 1-800-899-1479. If you’ve had your taxes prepared by us before, please let us know how your experience was.

When Heating Your Home Consider These Resources

For most of us, the winter means an unmistakable need to heat our homes against nature’s onslaught of freezing winds, snow, slush, and ice. While there isn’t anything we can do to lower the prices of fuel and electricity, there are things we can do to help maximize the heat we use so that it doesn’t unknowingly go out the door, window, or chimney.
Did you know that the Orange County Energy program offers free workshops that can show you how to reduce your energy bills by using easy methods of finding and stopping the air leaks in your home? Click here to find an upcoming workshop in your area.

Another great tool you can use to evaluate your home heating efficiency is to have a home energy audit done. Orange County households that do not already qualify for a free energy audit through the Federal Home Heating Assistance Program (HEAP), may be eligible for a free or reduced cost professional energy audit through Green Jobs New York. A free energy audit is available for Orange County residents with an annual household income of less than $166,800 who have not already received a free or reduced cost audit. A reduced cost energy audit is available for residents with an annual household income greater than $166,800, but less than $333,600. Click here to learn how you can conduct a simple home energy audit yourself.

Did you know that there are many resources available to help low-income residents who are struggling to pay their heat bills?
• New York State has a Weatherization Assistance Program that helps income eligible residents reduce their heating costs through energy efficient improvements like sealing air leaks through caulking and weather stripping, wall and ceiling insulation, heating system repairs or replacement, and more.
• The Federal Home Heating Assistance Program (HEAP) offers financial assistance for low-income residents to pay for regular or emergency heating expenses, and/or heating equipment repair or replacement.
• The Orange County Fuel Fund offers a one-time heating benefit for low-income residents who do NOT qualify for HEAP.

Orange County United Way is all about neighbors helping neighbors so if you have some helpful home heating tips, please feel free to share them here. You can also feel free to tell us about your experiences with any of these programs.

We Don't Just Work UNITED We LIVE UNITED!

As an introduction to Orange County United Way's new Community Matters blog, the staff of United Way thought it would be appropriate to introduce ourselves and share how we LIVE UNITED by GIVING, ADVOCATING, and VOLUNTEERING to make our community a better place for all of us.


My name is Judy Eurich and I'm the President and Chief Professional Officer for Orange County United Way. Volunteerism and giving back to the community have always been a way of life for me and my family. My grandfather was the first Mayor of his village. My parents were active in Jaycees, Rotary, and even now in their late 70's they remain active in a Polish heritage club. My father-in-law has been a Boy Scout for close to 40 years. You could say giving back to our community is our family tradition. As a young girl in Orange County, I grew up in the Sarah Wells Girl Scout Council following the program from Brownies to Seniors and earning the highest honor in Girl Scouting - the Gold Award. I served as the scout liason on that Board and many years later I served as their Board Chair.

I have also been very active in the United Way...GIVING, ADVOCATING, and VOLUNTEERING. My volunteerism began when I worked for the daily newspaper. Each year, a team of us would participate in United Way's Day of Caring, and we were assigned a different community service project at a local non-profit organization. We got our hands dirty and felt a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, knowing we made a difference. This is also when I began to give a portion of my weekly paycheck to United Way. It's still one of the easiest ways I know to donate. In 2006, I was asked to join the Orange County United Way Board of Directors, which took my volunteerism and giving to new levels.  One of my proudest accomplishments is the creation of the Orange County Women's Leadership Fund (WLF).  This philanthropic initiative raises dollars to help women and girls move toward financial independence.  Over the past three years, the WLF has raised over $85,000 and awarded nearly $46,000 in grants.

But my work for Orange County United Way has just begun.  As the leader of this vital organization, I am now out in the community ADVOCATING for funding that is so desperately needed by members of the community.  Hopefully, our paths will cross at a workplace campaign presentation, a special event, or maybe in the local deli.  If you see me out in the community, feel free to say "hi" and we can have a chat about how you, too, can LIVE UNITED.

My name is Jessica Callihan. I am the Director of Resource Development, which means I manage Orange County United Way’s annual campaign and fundraising efforts. I also serve as the office’s technology expert on the ground. I’m a bit of a book-nerd, a bit of a computer geek, and I dominate at Trivial Pursuit. At home, I am the parent to two spoiled cats.

I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food in my cabinets and (most days) I wake up healthy. I GIVE to benefit people who are not as lucky. I choose to give through payroll deduction because it is easy and totally pain free. I know money donated to United Way’s Community Fund stays in Orange County and is allocated for the best possible return on investment.

I VOLUNTEER in several capacities. I serve on the board of Orange County Safe Homes and on the marketing committee of the Community Foundation of Orange & and Sullivan Counties.

My name is Pat Fayo and I'm the Energy Program Manager for Orange County United Way. My position here at United Way is to help consumers with heating assistance, present energy conservation workshops for adults, host children's water conservation workshops, and help consumers become proactive about their energy usage and their energy costs through our Energy Savers Program. I not only work for United Way, I LIVE UNITED in my community.

I VOLUNTEER as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County. I attended Orange County Community College and after graduation I stayed on as a mentor to students through their Student Support Services. I VOLUNTEER on the Board of Directors of Project Life in Newburgh. I graduated from Leadership Orange with the Class of 2010. I have recently joined a steering committee called L.I.F.E., which is the Low Income Forum on Energy, which works to help low-income New Yorkers address energy issues throughout New York State.

My name is Joy Hansen and I'm employed through Orange County United Way as the System of Care Youth Engagement Specialist. System of Care is a program funded by a grant from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).  This six year grant was awarded to Orange County Department of Mental Health to integrate systems who work with youth with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges and their families, in a collaborative effort to enrich services for these families and create much needed system change.  This is the third grant I have worked on as a program coordinator, and with the assistance of the Orange County Youth Bureau and Orange County United Way, I have learned many skills, which have helped me reach many goals in identifying the needs and supports of the youth that I work with, in order to make an impact on our communities.

I am a mother of three young people (ages 30, 20, and 15), two of whom experience some of these challenges.  I, myself have anxiety and ADHD, which helps me to relate with and empower the youth and parents I work with.

I ADVOCATED to have PINS (Persons In Need of Supervision) legislation changed to raise the eligibility age from 16 to 18 years of age.  I also ADVOCATED for "Timothy's Law," which prevents discrimination by prohibiting insurance companies from limiting coverage for mental illness. Now, I will be ADVOCATING for United Way, because I have seen what a wonderful organization it is, and all the youth and family programs they support with funding.  I was proud to work at last year's General Montgomery Day and share with people information on all the programs that are available through Orange County United Way.  It is a pleasure to be part of such an awesome organization!

My name is Erin Johnson and I’m the Marketing Coordinator for Orange County United Way. That means if you’re holding a copy of United Way’s brochure, listening to our ads on the radio or reading about us in the paper, you’re witnessing the end results of my work here at United Way. My goal is to educate people about all the good work Orange County United Way does on behalf of the community.  I work part-time for United Way and I’m a married mother of a daughter and a son.

I GIVE to United Way through payroll deduction because it’s the easiest way for me to make the most impact on my community with the money I have to give. I never miss the money because it’s taken right from my check each pay period. Through my position at United Way, I’ve witnessed first-hand the work of the non-profit organizations who receive funding and have seen the many people who’ve been helped and it makes me confident that giving to United Way is absolutely worthwhile. 

I ADVOCATE for my family and friends. When my mother was still working she had no health insurance. So I researched government health insurance programs and found one that she and her employer (a small law firm) qualified for. I gave her the information and spoke to her employer with her and got her the health insurance she needed. I’ve also been known to help expecting mothers navigate the complexities of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) so they understand what job protection they are entitled to under the law after their child is born.

My name is Allison McKenna, and I am the newest addition to the Orange County United Way team as an Administrative Assistant. When you call our offices, I will be on the other end of the phone assisting with whatever your needs are.

I am a huge ADVOCATE for animal rights and I GIVE to my local SPCA as well as the national ASPCA. I consider animals to be just as important as humans, plus they’re nicer (most of the time). I also ADVOCATE through my job with United Way by working at the back end and behind the scenes of all the programs we offer.

I GIVE and VOLUNTEER at many local organizations, including Orange County United Way, the Alzheimer’s Association, Hudson Valley Pitch for Kids Fund, Vassar Brothers Medical Center, American Heart Association, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

My name is Wendy McNutt. I work part-time as the Youth Program Quality Improvement Coordinator. I assess and provide coaching and education for youth programs and youth workers in Orange County. I am a married mother of three children.

My husband and I GIVE every year through payroll deduction to Orange County United Way because we feel it is important to make as big an impact on our community with the money we can afford to give as we can.

I ADVOCATE through my job with United Way for the youth programs that I work with. I work to help them improve their programs in order to better support the youth they serve with their life goals. My husband ADVOCATES for the United Way at his workplace. My Husband and I VOLUNTEER in my community through my church. I teach youth in the summer months and we volunteer all year by supporting and participating in the work the church does to support our community.




My name is Sandra Migliori. I have worked for Orange County United Way for the past seven years. I started part-time as the receptionist and currently hold the position of Campaign Associate for United Way and Program Assistant for Leadership Orange. In my tenure with United Way, I have grown what was a very small program of clothing donations from local businesses to a Gift In Kind program that put over $110,000 worth of products into the hands of people in need in the community last year alone, and over $325,000 in the last two-and-a-half years. These donations are received from local companies and are distributed through community outreach programs, food banks, and clothing closets in the county.

My name is Sherry Sczepczenski.  I am the Director of Finance and Administration for Orange County United Way. A part of my position is the distribution of donations to charities that are collected from campaign dollars. This holds a special place for me, as a contributor through payroll deduction myself, to see the generosity of the community from individuals and workplace campaigns.

I VOLUNTEER for the Hudson Valley CA$H (Creating Assets Savings and Hope) Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. This program gives low-income individuals and families the opportunity to have their income taxes prepared for free. I find it to be a rewarding experience.

Everyone at United Way works as a team for all of our special events, pitching in where needed, and helping the community as a whole. This is what makes being part of Orange County United Way a special experience in my life.

My name is Julie Wittenberg and I work part-time as the Special Events Coordinator. I coordinate and execute the six fundraising events throughout the year for Orange County United Way. I am a married mother of two small children and constantly seek to find work/life balance.

I GIVE every year through payroll deduction to Orange County United Way because it is an easy no-brainer way for me to set it up once and give an amount I can afford throughout the year that ultimately will make a difference in our community.

My husband and I VOLUNTEER in our community through various civic organizations because we feel it is very important to give back to your community in any way you can. Every little bit helps and ultimately makes Orange County a better place for our children to grow up.

Now that you know more about us, please feel free to introduce yourself and share your relationship with Orange County United Way.  We'd love to learn how you GIVE, ADVOCATE, or VOUNTEER in your community.