Testimonials
Download a flyer that contains testimonials from various United Way branches across the US: United Way Testimonials Flyer
"The RBA framework has been instrumental in clarifying a vision and an approach towards creating social change in Peel Region. It has brought together community organizations, leaders, collaboratives, government and funding bodies to look at how we can "turn the curve" on key social issues facing our community. We are turning our focus from program related outcomes to looking very closely at population results. It is exciting and motivating to be working on this! "
Anita Stellinga
Director
Community Investment United Way of Peel Region (Canada)
"Karen Finn, I cannot begin to explain how she has helped me grow as a professional. Karen’s simple lunch conversation at the June 2008 training spurred a major project for OYD with QYDS. Karen has an ability to just make you think and guide you to places and ideas that connect to the big picture. The connection of Touchstones and the work I was doing with this initiative made it easy for me to become the project lead for QYDS. What I have learned from these two projects has helped me become a much better employee and helped me see the impact our work can have on youth and families. Sometimes it is hard to see the forest through the trees, but this initiative and Karen’s support helped me see that even though removed from directly working with youth, I have an impact. When the pressure of working in a State Bureaucracy would sometimes get to me, Karen had a gentle way to use her past experiences to help me stay the course. K-Finn is well respected and very much appreciated not only by me, but all the others who have and will continue work with her I can’t thank Karen enough."
Matthew Beck
Youth Development Coordinator
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Good morning, Karen -
After having several weeks to think about the Long Range Planning Session you facilitated in March for The Dream Factory, Inc., I am compelled to write to you again to thank you for the excellent job you did for our national wish-granting organization.
Since I became National Director/CEO more than a decade ago, we have conducted five planning sessions for our board of directors. Each has produced goals and strategies that seemed attainable at the time, but proved too cumbersome or lofty to achieve given the all-volunteer nature of our organization. Within a matter of months, these goals were forgotten, ignored or disregarded as impractical.
This year, because of your guidance and expertise, the group narrowed our focus to a manageable number of goals and created working plans to accomplish them in the foreseeable future.
You managed to channel the board's energy and enthusiasm in a productive, positive direction and less than one month later, we are beginning to see results.
Instead of creating a competitive structure or our members to accomplish lofty results - a strategy that has not worked for our group despite the efforts of five different facilitators to do so - you showed them that their combined talents and abilities could achieve the same goals with mutual respect and teamwork. You did not attempt to make our group fit a pre-existing mold: you molded a strategy that fit our group.
Your insight into the workings of nonprofit organization allowed you to present a creative solution to our historical problem of bringing together a group of individuals from across the country to accomplish a formidable task in the space of a weekend. With humor, sincerity and a genuine concern for the success of our efforts, you led the group to create a comprehensive plan that will be implemented through the efforts of a cohesive team.
I cannot think of a better tribute to your efforts than to tell you that because of your creative approach to strategic planning, more children across the country will see their dreams come true. On their behalf, I offer sincere thanks!
Anne P. Bunger
National Director/CEO
The Dream Factory, Inc.
