Vandy Van Deusen was surprised that he could still be surprised.

Van Deusen, who has been volunteering for United Way agencies since the mid-70s took a tour recently of all 16 agencies that receive funding from the agency and was pleasantly reminded that his nearly 40 years of volunteering reaches deep and wide into the region.

“It’s unbelievable,” he said, speaking of the collaboration between the agencies. “I could go on for hours describing the individuals who have been affected by the United Way.”

The United Way of Niagara provides some sort of service to one out of every two people in western Niagara County, according to agency statistics,

and this year it’s leaders are hoping to raise $863,954 to sustain its services.

Courtland “Vandy” Van Deusen, who is the chairman of 2009 United Way fundraising campaign, was really impressed during his tour by the impact the United Way has on the community, not only helping the needy through agencies such as the Salvation Army, but also enriching lives with programs including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Opportunities Unlimited and many more.

At the Everywoman Opportunity Center he had a chance to meet a young woman who had one day walked into the center angry at the world.

“She worked with the people there for months and now is a really exited, proud person, really glad she’d taken a chance and gotten the opportunity to sit down with the ladies there,” he said. “Now, she’s somebody who is proud of what she’s doing and wants to give back.”

At Opportunities Unlimited, which serves the developmentally disabled, Van Deusen found two children of a family friend taking part in job training.

“Sometimes it brings tears to your eyes,” said Van Deusen, who began fundraising for the United Way 25 years ago when he worked for a clothing store called King’s on Main Street. He is now an associate broker for Coldwell Banker Tallarico in Lewiston.

“He’s worked his way up,” said Carol Houwaart Diez, Niagara United Way president, explaining that

volunteers are expected to work in lower levels of service before being promoted to decision making area like committee chair or board director. Most recently Van Deusen has been a division chairperson for fundraising.

“He’s a local person who cares about others to the Nth degree,” Houwaart Diez said. “It sounds so sappy, but its true.”

Diez has her own success stories about the United Way. Among the stories, she recalled a young EMT she met during a fundraising presentation. “He said recently that United Way agencies saved his life,” she said.

“When he said that, it kind of hit me,” she added. “It may be one person at a time, but you realize you are making a difference.”

Van Deusen may have his work cut out for him this year, particularly since New York’s governor has announced his proposal to cut $500 million from the budget, according to Diez. That threat is combined with the challenges of the economy and the result has been new clients seeking aid from many of the 16 United Way agencies.

“All our agencies are seeing a different type of client,” she said. “It’s now your middle class person. They used to give, and now some of them are on the receiving end.”

The campaign started August 19 with the Day of Caring and ends on Nov. 13.

“The rubber meets the road in these last couple of weeks,” he added. “That’s when 60 to 70 percent of the revenue comes in.”

Van Deusen, in leading the campaign, is excited, but humbled by the honor, he added, noting “If we don’t make our goal or exceed our goal I’ll be devastated.”

Contact reporter Michele DeLuca

at 282-2311, ext. 2263.



United Way Agencies



Starting last week the Niagara Gazette has been featuring one of the 16 agencies of the United Way each day in an effort to show the broad scope of services provided to the western Niagara region.

The series will continue in the daily paper through the end of the campaign, Nov. 13.

The 16 agencies who receive funding from the United Way include:



The American Red Cross

Niagara Falls Chapter

2079 Sawyer Drive

Niagara Falls, NY 14304

731-4030



Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara County

86 Park Avenue

Lockport, NY 14094

434-1855



Boy Scouts of America

Greater Niagara Frontier Council

2860 Genesee Street

Buffalo, NY 14225

891-4073



Mary Dyster Center for Young Parents

4455 Porter Road

Niagara Falls, NY 14305

286-0763



Everywoman Opportunity Center

1905 Pine Ave.

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

282-8472



Family & Children’s Service of Niagara

826 Chilton Avenue

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

285-6984



Family YMCA

1317 Portage Road

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

285-8491



Girl Scouts of WNY, Inc.

70 Jewett Parkway

Buffalo, NY 14214

434-6212



Health Association of Niagara County, Inc.

1302 Main Street

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

285-8224



Mental Health Association in Niagara County

36 Pine Street

Lockport, NY 14094

433-3780



Niagara Cerebral Palsy

9812 Lockport Road

Niagara Falls, NY 14304

297-0798



Niagara County Legal Aid

P.O. Box 844

Niagara Falls, NY 14302

284-8831



Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club

725-17th Street

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

282-7181



Northpointe Council, Inc.

800 Main Street

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

282-1228



Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara

L.P.O. Box 360

Niagara Falls, NY 14304

297-6400



Salvation Army

7018 Buffalo Avenue

Niagara Falls, NY 14304

283-7697