A message from President Ron Daniels and Campaign Chair Mike Klag, Dean, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Consider this—each day there are members of our community who must decide between keeping a job and caring for a child, between suffering abuse and being homeless, between paying a mortgage and getting essential health care.  These are our families, our friends, our neighbors and our co-workers. The need is great, and the challenge can seem daunting, but in fact there is something each of us can do.  Now more than ever, our communities need your help.  By giving to United Way, we make a real difference in the lives of those in need. 

For more than 80 years, United Way of Central Maryland has been dedicated to improving people’s lives.  By focusing on education, family income, and health, United Way of Central Maryland mobilizes the power of caring throughout our region to address the most serious problems facing our communities. And United Way plays an essential role by supporting a host of smaller community organizations that provide essential services throughout the region but simply don’t have the resources to fundraise on their own.  Through the Johns Hopkins United Way annual campaign, individuals like you help fund this crucial effort.

Despite tough economic times, the Johns Hopkins Institutions raised an incredible $2.5 million last year. We designated over $220,000 for the Johns Hopkins Neighborhood Fund, where we can see the fruits of our efforts in the neighborhoods where we work.  Since 2007, the Neighborhood Fund has provided resources to nonprofit organizations working in the communities surrounding the Johns Hopkins campuses.  This past year it provided funding for homeless shelters, youth mentoring, community gardens, and literacy programs, to cite just a small portion of what your generosity provided.

This year, by squeezing every penny, United Way of Central Maryland is able to lower its overhead costs on designated donations from 12.5 percent to just 5 percent.  This means that at a time when the need is greater than ever, even more of the funds we donate go directly to the programs supporting and building our communities.

This year, more than ever, we hope you will join us in supporting United Way. Whatever you can give, gives hope.

Ronald J. Daniels                                              Michael J. Klag
President                                                            Chair, United Way Campaign
Johns Hopkins University                              Johns Hopkins University