Each year, the United Way works hard in the community to ensure everyone has a chance for a good life in Mower County by focusing on the building blocks of education, income and health.

On Monday, the local United Way announced $670,000 in funding for programs throughout Mower County.

Ninety percent of the funds collected by United Way go back to the community to provide programs such as home building, community meals, disaster services and youth development.

This year’s awards include four to the American Red Cross — $60,000 to Disaster Services, $40,000 to Health and Safety programs and $10,000 each to Armed Forces Emergency and Blood Services — $31,000 to the YMCA for Youth Membership and $42,000 to the Mower Council for the Handicapped for Advocacy.

For 2009, staff made changes to improve the process and communication with donating partners. Rather than collect funds in the spring, United Way raised funds last fall and worked with volunteers this spring to ensure this year’s endowments matched the previous year’s.

Personal interviews were also conducted with board members from each donating organization, “so that organizations could ask things about the process,” Executive Director Mandi Lighthizer-Schmidt said.

Another change involved the implementation of the Mower County Happy Teeth program, funded by the United Way for Children’s Dental Health Services. The purpose of this program is to provide funds for twice-a-year dental cleaning for uninsured children.

“United Way of Mower County would like to thank each and every donor for their support this past year,” Lighthizer-Schmidt said. “It is only through the generous contributions of our community that we can continue to provide these needed and necessary programs throughout Mower County. We are fortunate to have great support in our community for the work we do. We also have great programs that create opportunities for a better life for everyone in Mower County.”