By Dale Madison
For more than 70 years, United Way of Broward County has acted like a kind of community glue for local non-profit and service organizations, uniting resources, donors, and volunteers to identify the community’s most pressing needs, and creating the building blocks that lead to measurable results. Some of the efforts United Way focuses on relate to such vital community issues as education, income insecurity, health services, and substance abuse treatment—many of the building blocks for a better life.
So it was natural when the service agency was looking for someone with experience and a proven record of service to others to serve as president and CEO through the uncertain Twenty-Tens and beyond, they turned to Kathleen Cannon, one of South Florida’s iconic individuals in the local notfor- profit landscape. A graduate of FIU with a Masters Degree in Social Work, Cannon served as Chief Operating Officer of Broward House—the county’s oldest and largest HIV/ AIDS community service organization for 10 years. As COO, Cannon oversaw an intricate web of services provided to residents at 13 South Florida locations. Her decade at the helm saw an expansion of Broward House services, a growth that has made it one of the region’s go-to agencies for many in need.
As she explains it, about two months ago, Cannon decided that she had done much that she had set out to accomplish with Broward House, and that it was time to set her skills, and passion, to a new task—a realization that coincided with the recent decision of United Way of Broward County officials to instill new vigor into that venerable agency. So Cannon says she took that leap of faith, and became the new CEO for one of the largest agencies in Broward County.
“I guess I am sort of a macro-practitioner, and while I loved all of the time I spent at Broward House, the United Way gave be a new opportunity, and a larger platform,” Cannon explains. “We help to fund over 60 agencies. One of my favorites—and I don’t like to choose favorites—is our Kids Literacy project. To watch these kids learning is very gratifying. Another is our mission to assist the families of our military service members who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan,” she adds.
“Our Women’s Leadership Council is coming up at the Hyatt Regency at Pier 66. We work to inspire women with their careers. On September 22, we are sponsoring Rock United at Revolution: LIVE (100 SW 3 Ave., Fort Lauderdale),” she says.
Cannon notes that the work of United Way affects people in need for a variety of causes. The community impact fund helps thousands who are struggling to survive. The consequences of local companies failing, and others cutting jobs and work hours, means that a growing number of families are facing hunger, homelessness, and other challenging, lifealtering circumstances. “United Way of Broward County mobilizes the power of local businesses and government agencies, education leaders, non-profits, faith-based groups, and volunteers to make a muchneeded impact in our community,” Cannon explains.
Like others in the non-profit field, Cannon and her colleagues have experienced the downward shift in government funding and private contributions. But she says the work—and the dream—doesn’t stop because of leaner times. “We at United Way have felt the pinch as most every charity has, so we work to make every dime count,” she says. The organization couldn’t have found someone more able to do just that.
For more information, visit unitedwaybroward.org.
