United Ways Announce Strategic Merger Increasing Regional Impact is Primary Goal

BRIDGEPORT and WESTPORT, CT - (March 23, 2007) The boards of directors of the United Way of Westport-Weston and United Way of Eastern Fairfield County have approved the framework for a merger of the two organizations by the close of this fiscal year. Both organizations believe that this merger will allow them to expand their capacity to improve lives and build stronger communities. Since they already share a common goal to enhance their regional impact in addressing the community’s most difficult challenges, the merger is a logical one, which will benefit the eight towns they serve. The new region will encompass Westport, Weston, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Monroe, Easton and Trumbull.

Both organizations have already adopted United Way’s national Community Impact Model and focus their financial resources on carefully researched issues deemed most important by their respective communities - successful children, families, seniors and people with special needs.

Not surprisingly, the communities share an overwhelming emphasis on the need to address positive youth development so that all our region's children can finish high school with the skills to compete in the complex global economy. Both United Ways seek to make lasting changes in the human condition, moving beyond temporary fixes and focusing on the underlying causes of a community’s most difficult challenges. Further, both require funded partners to provide measurable results to ensure that they are on the right track.

“We recognize that in order to create real and lasting impact, we can no longer define community by geographic boundaries. Instead, we need to work together to address the larger regional issues that affect us all,” said Westport-Weston Board Chair Lynn Abramson. Eastern Fairfield County Board Chair Ronald J. Bianchi concurred, “Our communities and our two United Ways have a history of shared interests, most notably the needs of children and young people. This merger expands our problem-solving capabilities in every one of the eight towns we will now serve.”

Bianchi also noted that the merger will align the two newly combined Fairfield County United Ways with the One Coast One Future initiative of the regional business community. One Coast One Future seeks to spark new and renewed economic growth, job creation and individual economic opportunity throughout Coastal Fairfield County, goals reflective of United Way’s mission. According to Sikorsky Aircraft President Jeffrey Pino, chairman of the 2007 United Way Community Campaign, “This merger makes it easier for every business across the region to support United Way.”

According to the most recently available audited financials, the new organization will have total revenues of $8.9 million representing a diversified mix of grants and fundraising; management and fundraising expenses will be just over $1 million. The merger will be complete by July 1, 2007, but a number of details are still in discussion and will be addressed by a joint transition team. Both United Ways will honor existing financial commitments and donor directives for the funds raised during the 2006 campaign year and will develop a combined strategy for future contributions.