Head of the Lakes United Way

10/07/2026

Meet the Team: Kim Ulmer

This week we're introducing Kim Ulmer, our Finance & Operations Director, who joined Head of the Lakes United Way in January 2023.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐲?
With so many social issues, and so many different nonprofits existing to address them, we are necessary to help uplift and amplify the work of them all. We are also perfectly aligned to help with previously unseen and unmet needs, including disaster relief.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚/𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧?
This area is my heart. I love how the history of the area brought together so many different people from all over the world, and those people helped to create the rich cultural heritage we enjoy.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
I would love to be fluent in a language other than English.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐧?
The scariest thing I've ever done for fun was 'cliff' diving in a mine pit with friends. An old rope attached to a tree, a narrow path to place my feet on, and unknown depths of water below me—not something I could ever do again, but it sure was fun!

We're grateful for Kim's dedication, perspective, and heart for the communities we serve.

10/02/2026

Head over to our website for a link to our 2027 Grandma’s Marathon bib or find us on the marathon nonprofit’s page.

10/01/2026

We're hiring a Finance & Operations Assistant.

Learn more and apply by visiting https://hlunitedway.org/employment

09/30/2026

Meet Our Board: Samantha Kerr

This week we're introducing Samantha Kerr, a member of the Head of the Lakes United Way Board of Directors. Samantha joined the board in December 2025 and works at National Bank of Commerce (WI/MN).

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐲?
I am always looking for ways I can show up for my community. I love that I can be a small part of an organization that shows up for my community and the surrounding areas. HLUW shows up in the ways that are needed in the moment and unites people with resources for a sustainable future.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚/𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧?
I love all the seasons that we get to enjoy and endure, this big lake we get to witness every day, and the people that come with all of it.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
If I could do one job for a day, and no one cared about skill or training, I would be a commercial pilot. I've always wanted to learn how to fly a plane, and I like the idea that you are carrying all these people going to different places for different reasons.

Thank you, Samantha, for your time, leadership, and commitment to showing up for our community!

09/23/2026

Meet the Team: Corey Cusick

This week we're introducing Corey Cusick, our Community Services Director, who joined Head of the Lakes United Way in August 2021.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐲?
I support the work of HLUW because we not only provide important support to our communities through initiatives like wildfire relief and babysitting training, but we also support other nonprofit organizations in our service area. This helps us be especially responsive to the needs of the communities we serve.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚/𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧?
The North Shore in Minnesota as well as the South Shore in Wisconsin are profoundly beautiful and inspiring places.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
Any number of musical instruments.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐛?
Five years at Central Entrance McDonald's.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
I would love to be a firefighter for a day. I just have such reverence for what they do, I would feel honored to share in some small part of it.

We're grateful for Corey's compassion and dedication to serving our communities.

09/17/2026

What does work look like for families across Minnesota and Wisconsin?

In 2024, only about 40% of employed people age 16+ in Minnesota and Wisconsin had the security of a salaried, full-time job.

That means many workers rely on hourly, part-time, gig, or other non-standard work arrangements. For some, this can mean fluctuating income, unpredictable hours, and fewer benefits like health insurance, paid time off, family leave, or retirement plans.

For ALICE households, those earning above the poverty level but less than what’s needed to afford the basics, these challenges can increase the difficulty to make ends meet.

Learn more about the data and what it tells us about the financial realities facing households across our region.

Source: United For ALICE, 2024 data for Minnesota and Wisconsin.
https://www.unitedforalice.org/ALICE-in-the-labor-force/
https://www.unitedforalice.org/ALICE-in-the-labor-force/wisconsin
*This data represents each state as a whole and is not specific to HLUW’s service area.

Think most Americans have the security of full-time, salaried work?

Think again.

In 2024, just 41% of employed workers in the U.S. (age 16+) had a salaried, full-time job.

That means millions of workers are relying on hourly, part-time, gig, or other non-standard work arrangements. For many, that can mean income that fluctuates with changing schedules and unpredictable hours — and fewer benefits, like health insurance and paid time off.

For ALICE* workers, these realities can make it even harder to earn enough to cover the basics.

The ALICE data helps us see what’s really happening — and where we can build a stronger path forward.

Visit our website, and dig into our national, state, and county-level data for yourself! Link in comments.

*ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and represents households with income above the poverty level but less than the cost of basics.

09/17/2026

Volunteer Opportunity

Who: Boys & Girls Club of the Northland
What: Boys & Girls Club is in need of adults with experience using recording studio equipment, to help run a music program for teenagers in the Club. They have Apple recording equipment, guitars, piano and drums. Someone with musical experience or technical experience, would be a great asset to their program. Also, someone who is comfortable teaching their knowledge of this equipment to staff and teenage Club members, would be appreciated.

Find out more about this opportunity and more on our Volunteer Center:
https://hlunitedwayvolunteer.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=803449

09/16/2026

Meet Our Board: Jordan Mershon

This week we're introducing Jordan Mershon, a member of the Head of the Lakes United Way Board of Directors. Jordan joined the board in June 2025 and is the owner of Gemini Handyman Services.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐲?
HLUW does a fantastic job supporting the other nonprofits in our area. I want to support our community, and HLUW is a great option to do that.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚/𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧?
The nature. It's everywhere and amazing to be a part of.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐛?
My first job was working as a caddy at Northland Country Club. It was a great time, getting to be outside and watch some decent golfers!

Thank you, Jordan, for your time and commitment to supporting our community.

09/15/2026

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡

Tip 2: Turn on the alerts that matter.

Try it: Make sure your phone can receive local emergency alerts and warnings.

Resources:
U.S. National Weather Service (NWS)
https://www.weather.gov/safety/wildfire-ww
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/forestfire/fireManagementDashboards
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/planning.html

Low humidity & high temperatures create wildfire-prone weather. Make sure you're getting fire alerts to stay safe:
✅ Sign up for alerts (FEMA app, local updates)
✅ Pay attention to alerts for info
✅ Learn about wildfire alerts from U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) http://weather.gov/safety/wildfire-ww

09/15/2026

📣UPDATE: New date for our Financial Protection Training!

How do consumer protections support the people we serve?

Join and Head of the Lakes United Way to learn how fair financial services and consumer protections can help working families, people with disabilities, and seniors.

October 14th | 8:30–10:30 AM
Labor Temple, Hall A
Free coffee & breakfast
* No cost to attend

We’d love to see you there! RSVP here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=tqHq3TzaEE-lEmIZs8i-FqWxRz8fmjxNjPzWEmMwOL9UQkZZMVBESVRJVUlKVTJYN1dFQTNCMlpPRi4u