Inspired: Youngest Ever Member of Allocation Committee Aims to Use Lessons to Benefit Next Generation of Community Activists
More than a dozen Lewis County programs aimed at helping children, low income families and the elderly are getting a financial boost from the United Way of Lewis County.
The organization will disperse $237,650 among 17 local programs, including two groups new to the organization — the Autism Learning Coalition and the Cispus Learning Center — to support vulnerable and aging populations, fulfill basic needs and nurture children.
Additionally, United Way is distributing $178,089 in funding that donors specifically designated to a particular agency, bringing the total community benefit to $415,739.
Danner Taylor, a sophomore at Centralia High School, joined the 
community investment committee, which is comprised of 30 volunteers who either live or work in Lewis County and United Way board members, to become the youngest member of the group in the organization’s history.
“At first, I was very nervous,” the 16-year-old said. “But it was a fantastic experience.”
The committee spent more than 15 hours reviewing and evaluating proposals, weighing the impacts made by each agency against available funding and overall needs.
The group acts as stewards of the money, aiming to ensure fiscal and program accountability for donors who contribute to United Way.
“They make sure the organizations that need the money and deserve the money, get it,” Taylor said.
United Way of Lewis County Executive Director Debbie Campbell said Taylor’s perspective became vital to group discussions over the five-week process.
“He had proven himself as a bright, young adult within the community,” she said. “Danner was a great example of someone who really took initiative and stood out.”
The committee began in February evaluating, researching, and debating each agency before making funding recommendations. Now, the money will go to organizations and programs that directly impact the lives of Lewis County residents.
“There is a shocking amount of need that is not visible to the average person in our community and we need to support them,” said Doris Wood, the committee's chair. “They are our neighbors.”
The objective of the allocation process is to use United Way financial support in a way that maximizes the resources for services aimed at the most urgent human care needs.
This year, Campbell said, one such need was homelessness prevention.
The committee decided to give an additional $7,000 toward the cause, allocating the extra funding to organizations such as Reliable Enterprises and the Lewis County Shelter Program.
Campbell said the county’s high unemployment rate and increasing utility costs are contributing to the rise in homelessness.
“It becomes a deep hole,” Taylor added.
Another organization that caught Taylor’s attention was the Autism Learning Coalition, which he hopes to volunteer with in the future.
“They were just really passionate about what they were doing,” he said
Taylor said his experience on the committee has changed him from someone who wasn’t very involved in school activities to a candidate for class president. Next year, Taylor said, he intends to run for student body president and he hopes to pass on the lessons he learned about the value of volunteering to other students.
“It definitely gave me confidence,” Taylor said. “I want to say when I leave high school, I made an impact on future generations.”