By Carolyn Shimmin
The United Way has received support from member agencies in the wake of accusations the organization doesn’t represent the needs of ethnic minorities.
The accusations in the Jewish Family Services Newsletter, were published hours before the United Way’s fund-raising campaign 2000 kicked off.
Mark Zarecki, executive director of Jewish Family Services, said that United Way is insensitive to the rapidly changing needs of ethnic minorities, and that the organization’s board does not reflect the various minorities that make up Ottawa-Carleton.
“The board tends not to be ethno specific,” he says.
Zarecki says the board does not make accommodations for dietary needs of minorities.
“It is unfortunate because the United Way is used to working closely with people like Marc Zarecki,”says Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka, who received the new Community Builder Award from United Way/Centraide at its campaign kick-off.
Bulka also says an accusation that the United Way is insensitive because of a financial shortfall is out of bounds.
“No agency is perfect and no agency can be fully funded,” says Bulka, “Does it mean that we are unfair because we can’t give the amount of money a minority needs when it is the same thing across the board?”
Bulka also rejected criticisms of the make-up of the agency’s board of directors.
“They are all civic minded public figures with a track record of caring. I could care less if they were all white Anglo Saxon Catholics as long as they care and are considerate to the needs of people.”
Michael Allen, president and executive director of United Way, rejects the accusations.
“We have a board of all sorts and members who as individuals are great philanthropists.”
As to the issue of food at board meetings, Allen says that if a request were made to the United Way they would absolutely accommodate out of courtesy.
Allen also says many agencies have called in support of the community organization.
Zarecki disagrees. “There should be more input by minorities,” he says. “If you come with a minority problem they won’t understand as well.”
“This is a time we come to the community to join together and all this serves to divide us,”says Allen.