Meet Jim Dowdell

When asked to chair the 2009 – 2010 Lorain County United Way Campaign, my initial reaction was to feel both honored and humbled. Honored for obvious reasons, and humbled in view of the great job done by so many who have accepted the responsibility and met the challenge previously.

After the initial emotional response subsided and I began to realistically consider the task at hand, I became somewhat apprehensive. As a lifelong resident of Lorain County, I have witnessed some troubling times in our community. The recession of the early 1980’s stands out as the most difficult in my memory.

As bad as things were economically at that time, I realize the current economic challenges may match or surpass those of the early 1980’s. With that in mind, why would I agree to accept the task of leading a fundraising campaign in such a difficult climate?

As the “Perennial Co-Chair” of Invacare’s annual United Way Campaigns for over ten years, I have had the opportunity to tour and see the critical services provided by United Way partner agencies. I have had the benefit of witnessing firsthand the life changing guidance, inspiration and hope served up daily, by the professionals and volunteers who take our donated dollars and convert them to success stories in the lives of so many who would struggle more without their help.

In pondering the challenges of fundraising in the coming year, I also reflected back on my first United Way agency tour in 1982. It was that tour as an Invacare employee campaign volunteer that opened my eyes and heart to the mission and accomplishments of the United Way of Greater Lorain County. Once I had seen with my own eyes the needs of so many in our community being met on a daily basis, by the compassionate and professional caring of United Way partner agency staff and volunteers, my heart too was opened.

That tour in 1982 helped me to understand first and foremost, I have been blessed in many ways in my own life. I have had a stable and rewarding career at Invacare. I have been blessed with good health. I have enjoyed the countless blessings of having a loving, nurturing and caring family around me since birth. Most of these blessings I have received and enjoyed not because I earned them or was entitled to them, rather I was simply endowed with them. I also realized, there are many in our community who through no fault of their own had not been blessed as I.

I believe blessings are a commodity that can not be paid back. I also believe they can be paid forward. When we share with others, our time, talent and financial resources, we are investing in the future welfare and well being of individuals, families and communities. I truly believe (as I have for over twenty-five years) in our community, the United Way of Greater Lorain County is the most effective and viable medium for reaching out and touching the most lives in the most diverse manner to support the needs of the most challenged and needing in our communities.

While I am aware this will be a very challenging year I am confident the challenges we will meet and the obstacles our campaign team will overcome, will make that much sweeter the success we will accomplish in meeting our goals. I look forward to seeing the dollars converted to deeds once our mission has been achieved!