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Few people around here know the United Way as well as Bob and Pat Clarke, who have been active supporters for more than three decades.
For much of that time, Bob directed the United Way campaign at Coty, while serving as vice president of manufacturing and distribution. During his tenure, Coty was Lee County's largest contributor.
Both believe that the United Way helps busy people stay involved in the community and provides an ideal way for contributors to help specific groups and causes they support.
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Q. You have been involved in the United Way for more than three decades. Why is it so important?
A. Probably the biggest thing is that the vast majority of money you contribute goes directly to people working in the field — at the base level.
It's not paying for big organizations, but goes to volunteers who are reaching out to people who truly need the help. If people didn't have this, they wouldn't have anything.
And, it goes to so many different organizations. It's like 'one-stop shopping.'
Q. That idea of 'one-stop shopping' is intriguing. What do you mean?
A. Some people may not realize you can designate where you want your money to go.
Our daughter is a lawyer working for Legal Aid of North Carolina in Raleigh, and they have an office here. So, when we saw Legal Aid on the client list for the United Way, we were able to have a certain proportion of our contribution go to support that group.
Q. What if I prefer not to support some agency on the United Way list?
You don't have to contribute to that group. You can say, "I like 90 percent of what you're contributing to and helping, but I don't want my money to go to the other 10 percent."
So, you have the ability not only to give, but also to support the causes or organizations most important to you.
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Q. How have you seen your contributions actually improve peoples' lives?
A. We've seen it in day care, which allows for the kids to be taken care of while the parents are working for the family.
Another example is Legal Aid. Our daughter never talks about specific cases, but we know if her clients didn't have legal aid, they would have nowhere to turn. We're talking about evictions, family violence and so on.
And look at places like HAVEN. Without our contributions, women facing domestic violence would be stuck in these situations and have no way out. They'd just have to put up with the abuse. Where would they go?
Q. We've talked about what the United Way does for people in need. Does it help donors, too?
A. Most of us don't have time to do all of the things to help people that we'd like to do. Your work life seems to take over.
But you have the ability to help by giving to people who do have the time — or who work in that kind of outreach.
Even now that we're retired, things never seem to change. Though we do volunteer work, we don't have the time to do all the things we'd like to do. So, the United Way doesn't just help those who are working, but also the retirees.
Most people are good hearted, but life moves so fast that they keeping saying, "I'll get to it." And, somehow, you never do.
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