The Lakes Area United Way announces that Executive Director Kim Rollins is leaving her role effective July 23 for another opportunity within the lakes area. The LAUW board of directors has opened the search for a new executive director.
“The board of directors thanks Kim for her service and commitment to our community,” Kara Griffin, Lakes Area United Way board chair, said in a news release. “During her tenure with the organization she has gone above and beyond to help better our community through philanthropic partnerships resulting in over $1.7 million raised and allocated right back into our community helping both Crow Wing and Cass counties. We are grateful and appreciative of her invaluable leadership.”
Lakes Area United Way will continue to connect people to people, needs to resources, and experts to advocates to improve lives and strengthen communities throughout Crow Wing and Cass counties. The board of directors holds great confidence that LAUW is served by dedicated staff and is supported by generous donors, strong partnerships and able volunteers both now and into the future.
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The Lakes Area United Way Executive Committee, composed of Griffin, Daryl Doucette, Lynn Severson, Kim Blank and Quinn Swanson, are leading the Transition and Search Committee for Rollins’ successor.
“It has truly been an honor and pleasure to work with such incredible community partners both in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors these past 2.5 years, but especially to serve the communities in which we all call home. I am so very proud of what we have accomplished together through one of the most challenging times in our history and to come out standing stronger than ever with greater connections and partnerships to better our community," Rollins said in the news release.
"I believe the Lakes Area United Way will continue in their great mission of mobilizing the caring power of our community through their diverse relationships and partnerships throughout the communities we serve resulting in greater continued support for those who need it, especially our friends and neighbors," she said. "I am so thankful for such a giving and supportive community, but also for such a wonderful team who will take the United Way to the next level of success, the future is bright for this organization and our community."
During Rollins' term, the United Way has seen tremendous growth through strategic initiatives and diverse partnerships, including partnering with Crow Wing County to help disburse $812,309.06 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act grants for nonprofits throughout Crow Wing County.
Other notable successes in Rollins' leadership have been the organizational name change from United Way of Crow Wing and Southern Cass Counties to Lakes Area United Way; the transition from a two-year fund allocation cycle to a one-year fund allocation cycle to adapt to timely program aid in the uncharted waters of the COVID-19 pandemic; allocation of almost $70,000 to Crow Wing County through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program; allocation of Initiative Foundation partnership COVID-19 relief funds of $11,711; the transition of Operation Sandwich fiscal agent to Bridges of Hope; and the launch of the United Together Campaign, which will continue into this fall campaign season.
“The organization is in good hands and staff will continue this great work,” Griffin said. “We want to assure the community that during this transition phase, all program dollars are secure and there will be no disruption in program funding.”
For more information about United Way, visit www.unitedwaynow.org or call 218-829-2619.
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