We’re excited to announce Kim Sponem as this year’s Community Campaign Chair! Kim has been CEO/President of Summit Credit Union since 2002 – Wisconsin’s largest credit union with a mission to help women and their families build financial security. Kim leads by example in creating a culture of philanthropy and community at Summit, inspiring her employees to give back through their annual campaign, which has resulted in $2.1 million over the last 30 years!

Additionally, Kim has been a United Way supporter since the very beginning of her career. She has held several volunteer roles at United Way since the early 2000s. Most recently, Kim serves as a United Way Board Member and has served on our Women and Wealth Building Delegation.

We’re so grateful for her commitment to our community and honored to have her leading this year’s campaign!

In January, United Way’s Board of Directors approved how the dollars will be invested across our community. Investment recommendations were made by Community Solutions Teams and Vision Council volunteers after reviewing nonprofit proposals for services aligned to Plan for Community Well-Being strategies and goals, advancing solutions for our community’s greatest needs. The Board also approved donor designations to nonprofits of donors’ choice. 

We’re proud to continue uplifting family well-being in holistic and multigenerational ways – focusing on investing in and leading impact in the areas of:  

• Youth Opportunity – helping young people realize their full potential.  

• Financial Security – building financial stability and strength.  

• Healthy Community – improving health and well-being for all.  

• Community Resiliency – addressing urgent needs today and advancing a better tomorrow. 

At United Way of Dane County, we’re working to close gaps and open opportunities so more neighbors have what they need to thrive. We know there are a lot of great services and programs in our community, but we’re better together!  

Thank you to our network of dedicated nonprofit partners doing incredible work each-and-every day to help our neighbors lead healthy, thriving and secure lives.  

Thank you to those of you who make it a priority to give back outside of your workplace campaigns – whether that be through time or dollars.   

Thank you to the campaign volunteers who mobilize the caring power of our community. 

Thank you to the business leaders who step up and encourage their employees to get involved – and to those employees who step up to meet the challenge.  

And, Thank you to our community leaders, families and those with poverty-related lived experiences for helping to increase understanding of community issues and inform solutions.  

Together, we are The Power of Caring. Working for All. 

When Jennifer’s son Ryan was diagnosed with autism, she found herself facing a whole new world of challenges. While navigating this new diagnosis, she ran into obstacles finding a daycare that could cater to Ryan’s needs and had to quit her job to care for him full time. Without her income, her family was struggling to get by – so, she called 211 for help. We were able to connect her with resources including Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for Ryan and support groups for parents in similar situations. We also got her started with the Dane County Department of Human Services Children’s Long-Term Support program to help her cover some of their expenses. Now, a few months later, she shared that Ryan is getting the support he needs from ABA therapy and she’s been able to start working part time again. We were so glad to hear that they’ve made progress with the help of these resources and are on a pathway towards a thriving life as a family!

Our 211 staff are always there to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. And, every day, we’re connecting our neighbors to resources that will help them not only find short-term stability but support them as they work to achieve long-term success. Visit our website to learn more!

As the most comprehensive health and human services database in Dane County, 211 makes it easier for our neighbors to find and access the resources they need during challenging times. Last year, our 211 staff and volunteers handled:

• 26,700+ contacts (calls, texts, chats and emails)
• 58,600+ referrals to community resources  

From finding food to paying rent or connecting to addiction treatment (and so much more), our 211 specialists are available 24/7, 365 days a year to provide confidential assistance in more than 350 languages.

When Sofia, a first-generation Mexican American decided she wanted to become a nurse to better support her family while pursuing a fulfilling career, she wasn’t sure where to begin. Through our HIRE program, we connected her with partners at Centro Hispano, where she was enrolled in the Caminos CNA program. While continuing to work as a lead crew trainer at McDonalds for six years – making $13/hour – Sofia worked hard to complete her high school education at Madison College and attended the Caminos CNA class three times a week. It was certainly not easy balancing it all, but Sofia persevered and graduated the program this past spring! And she recently accepted a full-time CNA position, earning $19/hour with benefits. Sofia hopes to continue her educational journey towards a nursing degree for herself and her family.  

We’re so proud of the role we were able to play in helping Sofia – and so many others. Thanks to your support, our HIRE program participants are empowered to grow into careers that support their families as they work to succeed in school, work and life. Together with our partners, we are helping more people reach their full potential through our Plan for Community Well-Being. And your continued support matters! Visit our website to learn more and make a gift today.  

Join us to celebrate The Power of Caring. Working for All! We couldn’t do our important work without the support of our many partners – and this is our way of saying thanks. Thank you for all you do to spark real change across Dane County. We’ll share in good food and conversation, and celebrate the work you do to uplift family well-being across Dane County in 2025 and beyond. We hope to see you there!  

Tuesday, February 25    |    11:30 am – 1:30 pm    |    Monona Terrace    |    1 John Nolen Drive