Great Rivers United Way seeks donations to support our community in Annual Campaign

Mid-West Family La Crosse has been a proud sponsor of Great Rivers United Way for as long as I can remember.

Lots of our employees donate from every paycheck to their campaign to support our community. We were honored to have a few of their members visit our studios this week to share the good they do in our area and encourage others to donate.

Joe and Tracy Endrizzi are the United Way’s 2021-22 Campaign Co-Chairs, calling themselves the GRUW Crew.

“Our family has supported the United Way financially for years,” Joe Endrizzi said. “This year, we’re hoping to engage the community and drive support and enthusiasm for the annual campaign. We want family members, families, and members of the community to know right now it’s important for people to see that we actually care for and support each other. Tracy and I have been trying to set an example for our kids, that stepping up is the right thing to do.”

They definitely have a lot to cheer about. The Great Rivers United Way is the community’s 501(c)3 nonprofit, serving seven counties in the Coulee Region.

Katie Sparks, who is the Development Director at GRUW, said they’re making sure their organization is addressing complex issues in our community like homelessness, mental health, food insecurity, domestic violence and more through 52 nonprofit funded programs.

“We’re working to connect as many agencies as possible with the people who need it in our community. Last year, we had people utilize our services over 500,000 times. The need is there. It’s been there for a long time, the pandemic kind of just opened that curtain and let us really see that need that is there,” Sparks told Z93.

Tracy Endrizzi pointed out how important it is that GRUW does the hard work of vetting organizations. “A lot of people want to donate and they want to give to good causes, but they don’t know where to go, where to start, how to look for the right organizations. What United Way does is they vet those organizations on a yearly basis. You know that your money is going to a program that is a solid program that is doing great things and is staying local. The beauty of it is is somebody is doing all your hard work you just have to give them your money.”

Joe added, “Chances are that if you’re on the street today or throughout the day, you’re going to see somebody that your money has made an impact, whether that’s the kid walking to school, or somebody who’s helping to check you out at the grocery store, or that family that’s playing in the park is more than likely those people are going to be affected by your donation.”

If you’re able to make a donation, or would like information on how to volunteer with Great Rivers United Way, head to their website and follow their Facebook, and Instagram pages.