March is Women's History Month, a time to celebrate the vital contributions of women throughout history. This year's theme, "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations," emphasizes the role of women in shaping our future.
In line with this theme, Rice County Area United Way is proud to be led entirely by women. To help you get to know the inspiring leaders behind our mission, we've conducted a special Q&A session with our new Executive Director, Laura Riehle-Merrill, and Office Manager, Tory Borovsky.
We invite you to read their stories, learn about their passions, and discover what drives their commitment to helping Rice County!
What has your first month been like as the new Executive Director of RCAUW? What has been the most rewarding experience so far?
Laura: My first month as ED has been exciting–we are fortunate to have so many dedicated volunteers, community partners, and board members in Faribault and Northfield. I am conducting one to one meetings with key stakeholders, and it’s inspiring to hear the shared commitment to ensuring that everyone in Rice County can thrive.
What attracted you to lead RCAUW? Tell me a little bit about your background in the community, and what motivates you.
Laura: I first came to Rice County 25 years ago, when I served as an Americorps VISTA Literacy Coordinator. I fell in love with the area and hoped to return to raise a family and have a career. 6 years later, I did just that, working at Carleton College in a variety of roles, including as Director of Community Engagement, where I partnered closely with local nonprofits. Many of these agencies now rely on United Way to provide the core funding they need in order to meet real community needs. I am deeply passionate about issues of equity, particularly regarding education. United Way is doing important work around literacy and I love that.
Tory: I was drawn to Rice County Area United Way because it’s a good organization doing good work in the community. My primary responsibilities involve operations and gift processing. Operations covers a wide range of tasks, from updating the website and ordering office supplies to hosting events and developing training materials. Gift processing involves receiving and recording donations and logging associated donor information into our database. Sound simple? It's not!! Donations come in various forms (checks, DAFs, grants, electronic payments) and from multiple sources (Network for Good, Ren for Charities, NPO Connect/Your Cause, Cybergrants, GiveMN, Benevity, Paypal, Venmo, other United Ways, workplaces, and individuals). Often, there’s a bit of detective work involved to identify the donor.
I’m motivated by helping people. By ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of Rice County Area United Way, I can help maximize the donations we bring in and, more importantly, ensure those funds are effectively distributed to support the community.
What has been your favorite or most rewarding experience?
Tory: One of my favorite things is receiving donations in the mail. There’s something incredibly rewarding about opening an envelope and feeling the generosity of community members and organizations. It’s a tangible reminder that individuals, businesses, and workplaces are giving of themselves to support the well-being of the community.
What are you looking forward to in this role?
Laura: I am looking forward to supporting innovative ways to increase our funding, so we can contribute more dollars right here in Rice County. Books On Central is our volunteer-run bookstore in historic downtown Faribault–all proceeds go directly to the local nonprofits supported by United Way. Last week, I participated in volunteer orientation, and it was fun to see local folks stopping by to shop, donate books, and, unexpectedly, ask for directions to their favorite local chip vendor–everybody needs their favorite chip!
What are some challenges/unexpected things you've seen?
Tory: We’re a small team! With a full-time Executive Director and a part-time Office Manager (myself), we don’t have a dedicated IT person, accountant, or event coordinator. As a result, we often have to tackle many tasks independently.
What are your short/long term visions for the community and RCAUW?
Tory: In the short term, I’d like to focus on improving operational efficiencies and increasing our visibility within the community. Building stronger relationships with our donors and local workplaces is also a key priority. Long term - Rice County Area United Way has been a vital community asset. I'd like to see us doing even more!
Laura: United Way is powerful because every single one of us can contribute what we can–it might be $10 a month–to create a network of combined giving that creates positive change right here where we live. I would love to see us increase the percentage of community members who give. Long term, I hope the community will see RCAUW as an asset and key partner in ensuring that we all thrive.