The offices, now located at the LSI campus off American Parkway near Coca-Cola Park, will save the United Way more than $100,000 over five years and give the non-profit access to more and upgraded amenities.
The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley moved into new offices in the LSI campus on American Parkway on Dec. 15.Make your way through the entrance of the LSI building off American Parkway and the maxim of its latest tenant appears on a wall inside a cubicle: Give. Advocate. Volunteer.
"It's not about us having new digs," said Arlene Lund, vice president of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, gesturing to a wall of windows and pointing out comfortable office spaces and enormous conference rooms. "It's about how we can better serve the community."
Lund said the offices, now at the LSI campus across from Coca-Cola Park in Lehigh County, will save the United Way $109,000 over five years and give the nonprofit access to the latest communications technology, an array of large, multifunctional meeting rooms and fully furnished, wide-open office space.
"What that means is that we have more resources to invest in the community," Lund said.
The organization moved out of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley office Dec. 15. The United Way consolidated its former offices and storage space it
rented off-site and at the Red Cross headquarters into the LSI building, according to Lund.
Lund said LSI was one of 16 companies to bid on new office space for the United Way, and the company simply offered the best amenities at the right price.
Lund said LSI was one of 16 companies to bid on new office space for the United Way, and the company simply offered the best amenities at the right price.
"It's beautiful," United Way Director of Human Resources Dana Lohman said. "It's amazing."
Lohman said 36 United Way staff, three AmeriCorps volunteers in service and one intern share the cozy cluster of cubicles, file cabinets and meeting rooms. Lund noted the organization now has space for an influx of capital campaign volunteers and lots of resources for partner agencies that never existed before such as teleconferencing, meeting and seminar rooms.
"It's all about increasing efficiency and effectiveness," Lund said.
Donna Langston, who runs the United Way's information technology department, said she used to work in what was a glorified closet.
"It's pretty nice," she said, taking in the open cubicle she now occupies and its location beside a wall of windows.
United Way employee Marci Wehr echoed Lund's sentiments as she talked about how the move wasn't for the modern decor or comfortable cubicles, but to cut costs while upgrading services.
"I love it," Wehr said. "I think it's great."
Lund understands that United Way's services and funding of partner agencies mean a lot to a wide range of people. Her family members were clients 25 years ago after she was laid off from a job just before she and her husband had their third child, who has Down syndrome. Lund said she also became ill from serious complications.
Almost overnight her family was a client at eight United Way-funded agencies, Lund said. She knows every additional penny the agency can squeeze into the community can give a lift to someone's life.
"The services our agency provides are services that can make or break a family," Lund said.