Connie Carrol a force for advocacy in the community as United Way executive director
Twenty-three years ago, as a young CEO for the Monroe County American Red Cross, I met a really nice lady named Connie Carroll. She was the associate director of the United Way of Monroe County at that time.
As a nonprofit agency director, I worked closely with her and the United Way of Monroe County. For many years I was the chair of the United Way Agency Directors’ group, spearheading United Way campaigns for the nonprofit sector. Connie was always cheerful, kind, humorous and extremely helpful in guiding our cadre of agencies.
In 2008, she became the executive director of the United Way of Monroe County and continued her helping ways for a total of 25 years.
As the executive director, Connie’s passion for helping the underserved populations in Monroe County, and later Lenawee County, was always on full display. She always advocated for the underdog, and she loved working with the wide variety of nonprofit agencies with many different, but important, missions. At every United Way event, she would introduce every agency director, remembering their names and those of their staff in attendance. To know Connie is to know how emotional she was about taking care of others.
Raising funds to help as many as she could, she was a beacon of hope to many. She worked tirelessly and could often be seen at many community events on weekday nights and weekends. I personally have spent a LOT of time with Connie, and I am always entertained!
Connie was already a dear friend to me when I was asked by United Way board members (and Connie) to become the associate director of the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties in March 2018. I had spent 28 years with the American Red Cross and three years as the executive director for Catherine Cobb Safe House/Family Counseling and Children’s Services in Lenawee County, working closely with the United Way along the way. After almost 20 years of knowing Connie as a colleague, I came to work for her. We teamed up to cover both Monroe and Lenawee counties, me mostly in Lenawee County.
Working more directly with Connie, I got to see just how big her heart really is for ensuring ALL have an opportunity for a good life. She works closely with all sectors to not only raise funds, but to raise awareness of the needs of underserved people in both counties.
Behind the scenes, she is a constant advocate, making sure the voiceless get a voice. She answers many phone calls for help directly herself, and she truly tries to steer the unmet need in the right direction. Sometimes there is no resource, but only Connie’s kind words of support and encouragement for that voice on the other end. As a boss, she always puts her staffs’ needs before her own as well. A true servant.
Connie is retiring June 30. She will be greatly missed in her current role, but knowing Connie, she will still be a force for advocacy and the underserved in the community. She cannot help it. We held a retirement open house for her on June 14 and more than 300 people came to say goodbye to our beloved Connie.
For me, I will miss our early morning and late day calls on my way to and from Adrian. Her encouragement, support and humor kept me entertained many miles between Adrian and Monroe. I will have very big shoes to fill starting in July, for sure!
United Way funds 12 local Lenawee County agency programs and serves as a donor designation vehicle for 30-plus additional agencies. We also sponsor countywide 211 services, and coordinate Project Ramp, two annual Health Check events, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), and Day of Action programs and services.
All funds raised in Lenawee County stay in Lenawee County.
For more information about giving and living united, please contact us. Call us at 517-264-6821, call for an appointment at our Adrian office, 136 E. Maumee St., Suite 15, Adrian, MI 49221, or visit our website at www.unitedwaymlc.org. You can email us at lpipis@unitedwaymlc.org.
Laura Schultz Pipis is the associate director of the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: United Way: Connie Carroll a force of advocacy in the community
