Village preparing for first United Way campaign
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The village of Fredonia is preparing to show its support for United Way of Chautauqua County through its first-ever employee payroll campaign, giving staff the opportunity to support local programs and initiatives through pledges.
UWCHQ Executive Director Amy Rohler and UWCHQ Director of Growth & Engagement Leslie Wille met with Mayor Michael Ferguson and the Village Board of Trustees during a recent workshop session to plan the campaign, which will soon kick off across village departments.
100 percent of donations made to United Way remain local here in Chautauqua County, going to fund programs which positively impact the lives of children, families and seniors each and every day.
"The generosity and care of our employees for their community is always evident, but truly on display during initiatives such as this," said Mayor Ferguson. "Giving the village employees the chance to support United Way through a payroll pledge is another way we stay connected to the people we serve -- while also helping make sure our families, friends and neighbors have the support they need."
Employees who take part in the workplace giving campaign can choose to pledge an amount to United Way from each paycheck. That gift is then combined with the donations from other workplaces and from individuals throughout the county -- totaling more than $1.7 million each year and going to fund essential local programs which fuel real change here in Chautauqua County.
Last year alone, United Way programs impacted the lives of local individuals 63,249 times -- an impact which is only possible through the collective giving of so many.
That spirit of coming together is at the heart of United Way's 2026 Fundraising Campaign, which is built around connections -- connecting people to programs, generosity to need, and community to opportunities that can change lives.
"An individual gift of a dollar or two through a paycheck may seem small, but together - those gifts combine to fund local programs helping children succeed in school, seniors maintain stability and independence in their homes and others find the support they need to thrive," Rohler said. "We're grateful to Mayor Ferguson and the Fredonia Village Board of Trustees for welcoming us and for the opportunity to share how village employees can be part of this important work."
For more than 100 years, United Way has been the trusted nonprofit in Chautauqua County to mobilize the community and drive impact for lasting change. United Way is uniquely positioned to connect all sectors of the community - individuals, businesses, nonprofits and government - and mobilize those connections into action.
The investments made by United Way in local programs are focused on four strategic areas of impact: Youth Opportunity, Health Equity, Community Resiliency and Self Sufficiency - meaning donations go to support a range of services from educational opportunities, to health services, to addressing basic needs, teaching financial stability and other programs uplifting the community's children, families and seniors.
The mission of United Way of Chautauqua County is to mobilize the community to help every person and family improve their lives. Achieving that goal takes individuals from all parts of the community coming together.
For campaign materials or to schedule a workplace presentation, contact United Way by calling Nick Dean, Communications and Marketing Manager, at 716-483-1561 ext. 202 or by emailing ndean@UnitedWayCHQ.org.
About United Way of Chautauqua County
United Way of Chautauqua County mobilizes the community to help every person and family improve their lives. For more than 100 years, United Way has been the trusted nonprofit locally and a pillar -- strengthening the systems families rely on and expanding solutions that create lasting change.