Live United 2010 – meet committee member Wayne Houston

Wayne Houston

Throughout this year’s United Way campaign, UNMC Today will profile members of the medical center’s United Way committee.

Today we feature Wayne Houston, community outreach specialist in the College of Public Health’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities, who has served on the committee for seven years.

Today’s participation rankings As of Monday afternoon, here are the campus participation rankings by unit: Allied Health — 32 percent participation Chancellor’s unit — 25 percent College of Nursing — 23 percent ITS — 15 percent Business/Finance — 12 percent Public Health — 9 percent Research — 8 percent Academic Affairs — 8 percent Munroe-Meyer — 7 percent Eppley Institute — 6 percent Medicine — 5 percent Pharmacy — 3 percent Dentistry — 0 percent

Why do you participate in the campaign every year?

United Way, through our generous donations, has been able to provide additional funding to support health and human service programs across Greater Omaha. I have seen how valuable these funds and programs are in making differences in peoples lives.

Have you or anyone you know ever benefited from the United Way’s support?

I volunteer at the Boys and girls Club each year as a football coach but the program and the club is more than just about football. Each member gets free tutoring, meals and access to constructive skill-building programs. I benefit because it gives me the opportunity to give back to the same institution that helped to raise me as a kid and I can help the north Omaha community by providing strong leadership to the team.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work with the campaign?

Meeting and exceeding the goals we set each year.