BATESVILLE — What’s in a name? As a describer and identifier, the name of a nonprofit organization is of utmost importance. That’s why the United Way of Independence County will have a new name to start off the agency’s five-year strategic plan to reach a larger area.
The organization will now be known as the United Way of North Central Arkansas, and over the next five years, the board plans to make a bigger effort to expand services out of Independence County into neighboring northern Cleburne, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties.
“Toward the end of last year, we did a new strategic plan for this chapter of the United Way,” Executive Director Allison Phelps said. “Primarily our service area was Independence County, but this strategic plan helps us extend our reach.”
The United Way of North Central Arkansas has been serving the community since it started as Community Chest in 1980. In January 1981, articles of incorporation were filed for the United Way of Independence County. A tag line was added to the name in 2013 to show the organization also serves northern Cleburne, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties, and an amendment to change the name to the United Way of North Central Arkansas was filed and became effective Feb. 12.
Last year, the organization met its fundraising goal of $300,000, and those funds were distributed to 14 funded partners across the service area, including The Community School, Family Violence Prevention, and Batesville Help and Hope.
Many of the 14 funded partners the organization already works with have some reach into Cleburne, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties, and over the next five years, Phelps said, the United Way of North Central Arkansas will make more of a concentrated effort to reach out of Independence County.
“We have some partnerships that originate in Independence County and reach out, so we’re working on strengthening those relationships,” she said. “We will be announcing other steps to our strategic plan at later dates. We are actively working with some organizations within the community. You’ll be seeing some really great things in the coming months.”
Phelps, who is new to the executive-director position, said she is excited to see how the organization will improve and grow in the coming years through this strategic plan.
“We are very excited,” Phelps said. “I think it’s a great step for our United Way. It’s going to help us grow, and when we grow, we are able to make more of an impact on the community.”
The organization’s Facebook page and website will change to reflect the new name. The new Facebook page will be the United Way of North Central Arkansas, and the website will change from www.unitedway725.org to www.liveunitedNCA.org.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.