A Powerful Reminder of United Way's Global Reach and Local Impact
By Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director
Last month, United Way Charlotte County (UWCC) quietly celebrated five full years (minus one-week last hurricane season) providing this weekly column with the support and commitment of The Daily Sun. A question I most often get asked is do we ever run out of ideas for topics. The answer is no.
In early June, I was reminded why this is the case. We were fortunate to have the United Way Worldwide (UWW) Together We Thrive Conference right in our own backyard—well, Orlando.
Over the course of three unforgettable days, more than 1,200 United Way leaders from all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 26 countries came together to shape the future of our organization.
While the conference brought global leaders and bold ideas to Orlando, perhaps its most powerful takeaway was how those ideas ripple back into our local communities—including ours. The reach of United Way is truly incredible. It gave me a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues and leaders from across the country and around the world.
One of my most meaningful conversations was with the CEO of United Way Israel, who spoke about the challenges she faces in taking caring of her employees and keeping them safe during times of crisis. That conversation deeply resonated with me—especially as we head into hurricane season.
The message of the conference was clear: the world is changing, and United Way must change with it. The United Way Transformation is a network-wide initiative to ensure that UWW remains impactful, relevant, and sustainable as we move into our next century of service.
Hearing from UWW CEO Angela Williams was especially powerful. Having met her a few times before the conference, I already knew she was an impressive leader with over 30 years of experience across both public and private sectors. From the stage, she shared, “The United Way transformation is the change we need now for the future we want to create.”
Debbie Allen, Artistic Director and Founder of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, added, “There’s real value in investing in young people.” That simple truth speaks volumes, especially as UWCC will begin ensuring local children have access to extracurricular activities this coming school year through the newly formed Children's Enrichment Fund.
The challenge posed by Williams is clear -- what do we want UWCC to look like in 2030?
One promising tool discussed at the conference is the Thriving United Way Self-Assessment. Launched last year, this tool helps local United Ways build a blueprint for high performance by identifying strengths and areas for growth. Our board and staff will be participating in this process over the summer—so stay tuned as we define our strategic priorities for the future.
This conference has re-energized me. In my heart, I know Charlotte County is unique. We serve our community in ways that reflect its needs and challenges.
Coming together with others in the United Way network reminds me we’re not alone. As an interconnected community, we face similar challenges—and can support and learn from one another.
A favorite quote from the UWW conference came from Dan Barnes of the Barnes Family Foundation, “If we don’t have the together, we don’t thrive”. In the next several years, your UWCC will continue to understand how the one basic need for social connection is key to lifelong wellbeing. We will invest our time and resources to ensure that connectivity and the weekly column is one way that allows us to communicate this message.
At this pivotal moment, your support matters. Help us build a stronger tomorrow by getting involved or making a gift to our 2025–2026 campaign. Please visit unitedwayccfl.org/Thrive
For more information about United Way Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community to break the cycle of poverty, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.