kmike of Scarboro, ME The United Way is a racket that coerces companies to squeeze their employees for weekly contributions. Large overhead and mostly liberal cash-hogs, like PROP, get the money. Don't be conned by your employer. (Sort of like Catholic Charities without the religious angle.)

The Salvation Army is much better at helping people who truly need help.report abuse

Jane of Scarborough, ME Sadly, Silly, you are ill informed.

As a longtime volunteer, I was assigned to specific agencies with a specific focus to review their outcomes and programs and members they serve. We met with staff and clients to talk about effectiveness. There are many dozens of volunteers performing this same function. If United Way fails in supporting many of these agencies, they may not serve the clients in need. For the record, I would spend 6 - 8 weeks during the assessment phase with each weekly meeting with an agency being a several hours out of my day plus preparation. At the conclusuion of the process, we would determine funding levels with the well informed and great staff using our information.

Best wishes to the United Way staff and the great volunteers for this campaign season.report abuse

sillyperson of Portland, ME I think the staff of the Portland United Way are grossly overpaid and compensatred for the amount of work and skill required to conduct a few pep rallies and write a bunch of checks.

They schmooze at cocktail parties and other social events and call that work related. How do they possibly hold up under the strain?

They conduct little or no financial oversight or assessment of the detailed financial controls of the agencies they give our money to. We all know how much risk these small agencies face. The United Way itself faces the same risks. Let's see them make the auditor's management letter comments public.report abuse