Pat Berger is pumped up for another United Way campaign.
This marks the 16th year that the agency's president and chief executive officer has helped lead the campaign in Grand Forks County and western Polk County, Minn. As head of United Way, Berger's job is to work with community leaders throughout the year to identify needs and to oversee the fall United Way campaign.
Working for a nonprofit agency has been a way of life for Berger.
"I have basically worked in the nonprofit section my whole adult life," she said. But her interest in helping people in need began when she was a youth and helped with tutoring grade school children in reading in an after-school program in Harlem with other members of her church group.
"That made me realize not everyone lived in the world I lived in," Berger said. "It had a very lasting impression on me. Driving down there every afternoon, coming from the affluent suburbs of New York City to Harlem made me realize there was a very different world out there.
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"I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to help out."
Nonprofits
Berger got her start working for nonprofit organizations working weekends in the development office at WQED, a public radio station in Pittsburgh.
"That's what got me into fundraising," said Berger, who has a communications degree from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. After working for the radio station for a few years, she moved to New York and worked for several years as a chamber of commerce representative in Ossining in upper Westchester County.
In March 1990 Berger moved to Grand Forks to join her husband, Albert, who was teaching history at UND. She worked for a few years as development director for the Northwest Initiative Fund before she accepted the job as United Way president and CEO in September 1994.
United Way
Since then, there have been some changes in the agency, Berger said.
"When I first came here, there were set, official United Way agencies" and those agencies contacted United Way and told it what they needed their money for, she said. Now any local organization can apply to United Way as long as it meets the criteria the national agency has set in the areas of education, income and health.
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Those targeted issues that fall under those categories were determined locally by United Way board members and agency executives. The changes, which took about three years to implement, have improved the way United Way funds organizations, Berger said.
"The needs of residents in the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks community are growing, and focusing helps better meet the needs," Berger said. "You're really focusing in on some specific items rather than a general funding approach."
Last year United Way distributed $962,000 to about 35 organizations. One percent of the dollars United Way collects goes to the national organization and the remainder stays in the community, Berger said.
Generous
People who live in Grand Forks have been generous about giving to United Way. In 2009, North Dakota was one of four states nationwide to see an increase in donations. Of those states, the increase in North Dakota was the largest increase, Berger said.
"People in this part of the country, and especially in North Dakota, they want to help out, they want to support."
They understand hard times, the fact that when things are going well for them they can use their finances, their volunteer efforts to help those less fortunate." Meanwhile, North Dakota's economy is stronger than other states, Berger said.
The area's willingness to give their time and resources is gratifying to Berger.
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"The people really want to help one another and do what they can in the community. They're willing to help financially and help volunteer. They care about one another, even though their lives are incredibly busy.
Another rewarding part of Berger's job is knowing that she is doing a job that has a visible impact on peoples' lives
"What keeps me going is that year in and year out, I can see what a difference I'm making in the community."
Reach Bailey at (701) 787-6753; (800) 477-6572, ext. 753; or send e-mail to abailey@gfherald.com .
