Archbishop Desmond Tutu died on December 26, 2021. According to Marilyn Berger, “The cleric who used his pulpit and spirited oratory to help bring down apartheid in South Africa and then became the leading advocate of peaceful reconciliation under Black majority rule, died on Sunday in Cape Town. He was 90.” He had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.
I reference the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu because of a quote from him that correlates quite well with the work we do here at United Way of Laramie County. He said, “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.”
At United Way of Laramie County, we strive to work with our partnering agencies to get to the root of a problem. How do we assess and evaluate the whole situation? How can our work be a catalyst to lasting change rather than a temporary fix that does nothing to alleviate the circumstances creating the hardship? These are the challenging questions we face on a regular basis to make sure we are being good stewards of the resources entrusted to our care.
United Way of Laramie County works side-by-side with twenty other nonprofit organizations in the county. We help fund and support these agencies in a way that avoids duplication of services. Diligent oversight also ensures that there are no gaps in the services as well. A well-defined mission sets us up for success throughout Laramie County as we serve those folks most in need.
Our work is made possible because of the generosity of Laramie County residents. Your kindness and support are truly appreciated. As we prepare to bring 2021 to a close, we look forward to our continued collaboration with all of you in 2022.
Blessings to one and all for a prosperous and healthy new year!
Vernon Dobelmann
Executive Director