S
ix
months
in as
United
Way
of San Diego County’s
new president and CEO,
Nancy Sasaki is seeing
her vision for success
take root: “We’re
moving United Way’s
work—in partnership
with others— forward
to support local children
and their families
through education and
family stability,” she
says. “We want children
to thrive from cradle to
career, and we want to
know that families have
the assistance needed
to ensure their children’s
success.”
There are other
local nonprofits and
organizations with
similar goals, and Sasaki
explains that one of
United Way’s critical
roles is “working, every
day, in the community
to bring together other
stakeholders—school
districts, nonprofits, the
business community,
the public sector,
philanthropic and social
service organizations—
to work together,
advancing opportunity
for our county’s
children.”
But how is that
accomplished? One
of her first orders of
business: listening.
Nancy Sasaki at United
Way Women United event
“The people we serve are many, and they are
located all across the county. We knew we needed
everyone represented, so we started outreach
with a community listening survey, followed by
focus groups, and interviews with thought leaders
and key influencers. Our goal was to understand
the community’s needs, and that begins with a
conversation.”
While that data continues to be digested, the new
CEO began the year hosting a series of salon
receptions, introducing herself and her vision to
small, diverse groups of community members.
“These informal settings, often in a home, allow us
to test our messages, get feedback on our role and
strategize together,” she explained to Giving Back
Magazine. “I am learning so much about what our
community wants as we focus on the important role
United Way continues to play.”
Key to that role is playing well with others.
Collaboration is required.
“I may be new to United Way of San Diego County,
but I am not new to this region’s work dedicated to
helping others. For nearly 30 years I have worked
in collaboration with a lot of people and a lot of
organizations to help the underserved in San Diego.”
Her all-encompassing approach is evident in
her monthly blogs, which showcase the various
organizations and events she attends to discover
how United Way can work with other organizations
to move the needle on behalf of San Diego’s children.
“We are all part of a mosaic in this community,”
Sasaki says, “Individual parts that come together
to make a beautiful picture.” That theme will be
on display at the nonprofit’s annual breakfast on
Wednesday, May 1, at the DoubleTree in Mission
Valley. “Our keynote, UCLA Distinguished Professor
of Education Dr. Pedro Noguera, is a riveting speaker
who will talk about the critical role the community
plays—everyone in the community—in supporting
the education of its children.”
“Helping underserved San Diegans has been at
the core of United Way’s work for nearly a century,”
Sasaki concludes, “and the need for this support has
never felt more important.”
www.uwsd.org
MARCH 2019 | GBSAN.COM 43