United Way of South Texas is a local, non-profit organization with the capacity to affect individuals from birth to end of life. Because of our mission and our partnership with volunteers and other non-profit agencies, our footprint in the local community is one of the largest and most impactful. Consequently, United Way staff and volunteers make accountability their top priority via the Fund Distribution process.

Every year, volunteers from various businesses and organizations in our local community serve on our Fund Distribution Panels to thoroughly review agency applications, financial audits and to make on-site visits. In addition, volunteers review the agencies' goals and outcomes. In April, partner agencies kick off Fund Distribution by submitting their applications for funding consideration. Volunteers consider the following when reviewing agency applications and before making a final decision: Audit, Program(s), Summary and Outcomes, Measurement Tools (to measure program success) and Clients Served.

In May, Phase I, United Way's Audit Committee meets with agencies to discuss budgets and audits. Phase II of the Fund Distribution process consists of agency visits. In June, Phase III, volunteers will visit 21 agencies that provide services to approximately 286,000 residents. Services offered to these residents by our partner agencies fall into our four focus areas: Education, Financial Stability, Health, and Safety Net. The services include disaster relief, end-of-life care, character-building for children, job training for individuals with disabilities, emergency shelter and much more. By the end of summer, our Fund Distribution volunteers make a final decision on which agencies will receive United Way funding.

United Way's partner agencies during the 2016-2017 year were American Red Cross, Aurora House, Boy Scouts Rio Grande Council, CASA of Hidalgo County, Children's Advocacy Center, Community Council of the RGV (211), Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas, Green Path Financial Wellness, Goodwill Industries of South Texas, Hidalgo Youth Center, Mercedes Recreation Center, Palmer Drug Abuse Program, Serving Children & Adults in Need (SCAN), Silver Ribbon Community Partners, Starr Co. Victims of Domestic Violence, Su Casa de Esperanza, The Salvation Army, Women Together, Boys & Girls Club of Alamo, Boys & Girls Clubs of Edinburg, Boys & Girls Club of McAllen, Boys & Girls Club of Mission, and Boys & Girls Club of Pharr.

We appreciate all our volunteers, supporters and partner agencies. To find out more about the programs that United Way of South Texas supports, please visit www.unitedwayofsotx.org or call United Way at 956.686.6331.

If you would like to support our programs with a monetary donation, you may mail a check to United Way of South Texas at P.O. Box 187, McAllen, TX 78505-0187.

Pictured in front row (seated) from left to right: Thelma Garza, United Way; Sabrina Walker, Boys & Girls Clubs of Edinburg; Estella De Anda, Women Together; Sandra Garza, SCAN; Diana Almaguer, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Hidalgo County; Delia Perez, Starr County Victims of Domestic Violence; Second row from left to right: Dr. Marla Guerra, Fund Distribution Chair; Adriana Rendon, Boys & Girls Club of Edinburg; Veronica Garcia, Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas; Jennifer Rektorik, Aurora House; Janie Maldonado, Silver Ribbon Community Partners; Juana Salazar, The Salvation Army; Maggie Pena, The Salvation Army; Sara Saenz, Goodwill Industries of South Texas; Nadia Ochoa, Palmer Drug Abuse Program; Belinda Flores Simons, Su Casa de Esperanza; Fito Mercado, Fund Distribution Cochair; Amelia Rojas, United Way; Back row from left to right: Richard Morin, Mercedes Recreation Center; Ernest Espinoza, Boys Scouts Rio Grande Council; Lyle Skaggs, Boys & Girls Club of Alamo; Luduvico Martinez, Boys & Girls Club of Mission; Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar, Boys & Girls Club of McAllen; and Ventura Hinojosa, Starr County Victims of Domestic Violence.

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Pictured above: Dr. Marla Guerra, Fund Distribution Chair, and Fito Mercado, Fund Distribution Co-chair, along with the rest of the 2016-2017 Fund Distribution Volunteers. These volunteers represent the following companies and organizations: South Texas I.S.D, UT-RGV, AEP Texas, BBVA Compass Bank, Burton McCumber & Cortez LLP, Chase Bank, City of McAllen, City of Weslaco, Elsa State Bank, Frost Bank, H-E-B, Infinity Auto Insurance, Inter National Bank, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Lone Star National Bank, Mission CISD, Navy Army Community Credit Union, Sam's Club, Security First Credit Union, Target, Texas Regional Bank, The Monitor, Universal Pawn, Veteran's Administration, Walmart.