By Chris Sargent, President & CEO

I love it when our local communities earn national recognition. Battle Creek has earned All-America City status, and Kalamazoo recently topped a list of coolest, most affordable cities.

Among the strengths that gain such attention is our rich cultural life, notably live theater. If you’re like me, one thing you look forward to at the theater is the curtain call—the moment at the end when actors come from behind the curtain to receive the audience’s applause. That honor both affirms their performance and inspires them to do even better next time.

So, in the spirit of our Behind The Scenes series, this is your curtain call. I want to applaud you for what you do to make our community better for every person.

That applause is heartfelt, regardless of your level of involvement. Maybe you’re a tireless volunteer. Maybe you’re a major donor. Maybe you’re a strident advocate for the most vulnerable people. Maybe you do what you can, when you can, however you can, even if you think it isn’t a lot.

This is your curtain call. I applaud you.

When I kicked off this series, I pointed out that a lot of people in our community trust United Way but aren’t always clear about what we do. I hope the articles, videos and other resources have helped you understand our work better. I’ve been poring over them, too, and they’ve done two things for me: made me even more proud to be part of United Way, and made me more grateful for your partnership and support.

As we commend you and this important work, keep in mind that a curtain call both celebrates what’s been done and inspires all involved for what lies ahead.

Much work remains. Four in 10 households in our region struggle financially. Racial inequities and injustices still plague our social systems. Many children and families are vulnerable to hunger, homelessness, educational disparities, trauma-induced challenges, and much more.

The successes we’ve seen, and the impact we’ve had, are because people like you step onto the stage with United Way and give an amazing performance. The successes of the future depend on lifting our shared performance to greater heights.

I believe we can do that. I believe we can create a vibrant community where all people reach their full potential. I hope you’ll join United Way in that next act.