The more Sabatier sees, the more inspired she is to give. As a member of UWCM’s Women’s Leadership Council (WLC), she, along with a group of approximately 2,400 women, contribute their time and annual gifts to support vital community programs and initiatives. In giving so generously, Sabatier herself has gotten quite a bit of personal fulfillment in return.
“There are so many stories about individual people who have been helped by UWCM, as well as the major projects that better the community in general; for example, programs that strive to end homelessness and encourage people to eat healthy foods,” Sabatier said. “This is a way for me to give back to my community in a means that touches so many lives and it’s so personally rewarding to know you are making a difference. I plan to always stay involved with United Way.”
And by “always,” Sabatier truly means “always.” In addition to her past and current contributions to UWCM, she recently committed a legacy gift to the organization’s WLC Endowment Fund. By including UWCM in her estate giving plans, Sabatier knows she is doing her part to help carry the organization into the future, and support generations of people in need, for years to come.
“There is a constant need to raise more money. The needs that exist in our community are so much greater than the funds we have available to support them,” Sabatier said. “Setting up a retirement or estate plan that supports UWCM was easier than I thought it would be. I really encourage others to look at this seriously.”
Holly Hoey, Vice President of Major Gifts and Planned Giving for UWCM, joins Sabatier in encouraging current and potential contributors to consider making a gift to one of United Way’s endowment funds by designating the organization as a beneficiary in a will, annuity or retirement plan. Doing so, she says, will support UWCM programs of both today and tomorrow.
“Kathy Sabatier exemplifies the soul of United Way: she got involved, saw the impact that our work creates and has come to care deeply enough to invest in UWCM’s future,” said Hoey. “Her extremely generous gift shows that she believes passionately in our mission and wants people in need to continue benefiting from UWCM as part of her legacy.”
Sabatier’s involvement with UWCM dates back to the 1980s, when she joined the board as a representative of the American Heart Association. Immediately, she felt compelled to do more. She joined the Board and Volunteer Development Committee, later becoming its chair, with a focus on equipping leadership volunteers with stronger governing skills. Noting that the board lacked diversity, Sabatier took the lead in developing a training program for minority board members. As chair of the Board of Directors from 2009 to 2011, she played an instrumental role in implementing a leadership change, along with a realignment of how funds are distributed to better meet the needs of the community. Today, in addition to serving the Women’s Leadership Council, she remains active with UWCM’s Executive Committee.
“Anytime you are going to give to an organization, there has to be a hook – there has to be something in it for you,” Sabatier said. “I want more people to come and take a look at United Way and see who we are and appreciate the difference we make in the community. I think most would be pleasantly surprised by what they would find. There are so many opportunities to connect here, no matter what your passion is.”
