United Way of Central Georgia expands footprint to Griffin-Spalding

United Way of Central Georgia (UWCG) announced a new partnership with Griffin-Spalding United Way (GSUW) last month intended to alleviate operational challenges faced by GSUW and expand UWCG’s service to previously underserved counties in Middle Georgia. 

GSUW previously found itself stretched thin with just one staff member, but under the new partnership, United Way of Central Georgia will handle operations for Spalding County’s United Way branch.

“[UWCG’s] wheels are turning faster than we can produce with just one person. I think it’s just going to be a win-win all the way around,” GSUW President Jackie Wilson said. “So that nothing falls through the cracks and that the community is served in a better capacity.”

Under the new collaboration, Griffin-Spalding will still operate independently with its own Board of Directors but will work to connect folks at UWCG to the Griffin community. 

“We’re just going to be more of a liaison and the day-to-day operations will be handled through United Way of Central Georgia,” said Wilson, who has been with Griffin-Spalding United Way for nearly 25 years.

Wilson works for United Bank, which has a significant presence in Griffin. In managing Griffin-Spalding, United Way of Central Georgia President and CEO George McCanless hopes to establish stronger relations between United Way and the bank.

Collaborating with Griffin also allows for plans to absorb Lamar, Upson and Pike counties into UWCG’s footprint — launching programs and services not previously available in those areas. 

McCanless talked with the Griffin-Spalding County Schools superintendent about introducing a Read United program.

In addition, UWCG recently implemented 211 services in Griffin. McCanless has plans to establish the service in Lamar, Upson and Pike. 

Roughly 5% of counties in Georgia do not have 211 call centers which connect residents to community resources for non-emergency situations. The closer United Way gets to implementing 211 across the state of Georgia, the more likely it is to receive state funding for the service, according to McCanless. 

“We’ll keep tapping into that passion and growing it and then letting that bleed down into those other three counties,” McCanless said. “So at the end of the day, I think it’s going to grow the overall economic strength of our United Way.”