LIVING UNITED
2010, ISSUE IV
United Way Welcomes New Corporate Partners As Momentum Builds to Reach Campaign Goal
Longtime Partners Step Up Giving to Help Meet Increased Needs United Way of Central Ohio is on its way to reaching its 2010 campaign goal – a 5% increase over last year’s campaign. This is a clear indication of the generosity of the people of central Ohio, and a great achievement in an economy that continues to struggle. One of the ways United Way volunteers and staff have been able to build this momentum is through an effort called Leading Edge which focuses on reaching out to small- and medium-sized businesses, educating them about the work of United Way and inviting them to conduct workplace campaigns. During this campaign, 25 Leading Edge companies have joined the United Way family. “Giving, advocating and volunteering through United Way is a great way for companies to become better connected with our community,” said Randy Sleeper, Leading Edge chair. United Way has also spent time building relationships with larger companies, and for the 2010 campaign two large companies have begun workplace giving efforts – NetJets and Sanese. United Way Member Agencies’ staff have also increased their giving in this time of great need. Another key element of the campaign’s success is the increased giving by longtime United Way supporters like Nationwide and Limited Brands – both of which
have seen significant growth in their 2010 workplace campaigns. “Associates at Limited Brands have been even more generous in their giving this year because they understand more people need their gifts and United Way will make effective use of every dollar donated,” said Martyn Redgrave, EVP and Chief Administrative Officer at Limited Brands.
New Members of the United Way Family Barnes & Thornburg LLP Battelle for Kids Cassidy Turley Bexley City Schools Cohen & Company Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Inc. ComDoc CoreSource Daimler Dana Corporation Dinsmore & Shohl Elmer’s Products, Inc. Frost Brown Todd LLC Hanlin Rainaldi Construction
Hill Distributing Hispanic Chamber of Columbus LifeSkills Manpower Professional McGladrey Nesco Resource NetJets Residential Finance Corporation Roetzel & Andress Sanese Sheakley Stanley Security Solutions SWACO
Nationwide’s headquarters shines with the Live United message. Nationwide has long been a national leader in United Way giving and this year their campaign has risen significantly.
Help People Meet Basic Needs with the New United Way Giving Certificate Just in time for holiday gift-giving, United Way is introducing its new Giving Certificate. Now, United Way supporters can help their fellow central Ohioans meet their basic needs while honoring a friend or relative. Here’s how it works: • Go to liveunitedcentralohio.org and select the Giving Certificate icon. • Select your gift amount and fill in the name of the person you wish to honor. Make your donation online using our secure server. • Print your gift certificate, or choose to have United Way send it directly to the recipient via email. Each Giving Certificate will contain information about the basic needs the
gift will help meet. For example, a $50 Giving Certificate will help provide two families in crisis with a three-day supply of food. Show how you care for your friends and for our community by giving the new United Way Giving Certificate.
President’s Update Helping people meet their basic needs has always been, and always will be an important part of the work of United Way of Central Ohio. No one can reach their true potential if they are hungry or homeless. So, ensuring people have basic necessities is the foundation of all of our work. And right now that foundation needs strengthening because of an unprecedented rise in people who need help. Let me give you a clear example of the increased needs we face. Community leaders have spent years building one of the foremost systems in our nation to combat homelessness and get people into permanent housing. It works well, but its capacity is strained by the number of people who need temporary shelter. For example, the YWCA Family Center, one of the many facilities providing basic needs supported by United Way, is full this winter and the overflow of families seeking shelter are being temporarily housed in hotels. In the past, there has been ample room at the center in the fall and winter. There are many other signs of increased need. For the first time, Ohio is now one of the top ten states for hunger. According to a report recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, almost 680,000 families, or 14.8% of our state’s population did not have enough food at some point during 2009. That’s an increase of 13.3% from 2008, when Ohio ranked 12th in the nation. Many of those families are our friends and neighbors here in central Ohio and they are asking for our help. Given the extraordinary need, AEP Ohio and United Way teamed up to create The AEP $1 Million Community Challenge for Basic Needs. AEP Ohio generously donated $600,000 and together we are challenging our donors to pledge an additional $400,000 to bring the total to $1 million. All of the money pledged will go to support United Way-funded programs that help people with their basic needs.
We have made great progress in raising money for The AEP Challenge, but we have not yet reached our goal. To help us get there, we are introducing the United Way Giving Certificate. You can find details on the Giving Certificate on the front page of this newsletter. It is a quick and easy way to honor a friend or family member during the holidays and help ensure that more people in our community are able to meet their basic needs at the same time. We are fortunate to live in such a caring and giving community. Year after year, central Ohio ranks at the top of the list of generous communities. The increase in pledges to our annual campaign and the number of new partners who have joined us this year indicate that more people are recognizing the increased needs we face and are stepping up to give more. Though more people are struggling in our community than ever before, we are heading in the right direction when it comes to raising the funds to help people survive the current economic situation and thrive in the future. I am thankful for every member of our family who gives, advocates and volunteers through United Way. And I know that during this holiday season and into the new year you will continue to help us provide the basic needs that allow people to weather the current economic storm and prosper in the future. Sincerely,
Janet E. Jackson President and CEO United Way of Central Ohio
Happy Holidays from United Way of Central Ohio 2
LIVING UNITED
United Way Mobilizes Our Community to Support Education United Way of Central Ohio volunteers and staff have been busy strengthening our work in education by mobilizing community members around this crucial area. Here are some of our key activities:
Listening and Learning Through Community Conversations One of our first steps has been to begin bringing diverse groups of people together to have community conversations. These conversations give people the opportunity to voice their opinions on the state of education in our community, and offer their ideas on creative ways we can work together to improve it. More than 200 people have participated in these small-group conversations hosted by United Way member agencies and volunteers. In 2011, we plan to begin holding conversations with many of our corporate partners. The feedback from the conversations that have taken place so far has been very valuable. Participants have clear ideas about what can be done to improve education and help young people graduate from high school. Specifically, participants have said our community needs to focus on early education; strengthen teaching and teachers; involve and engage parents; connect the schools and the community; consider each child’s individual needs; and help students see a positive future and build their aspirations. Overall, participants see education as a significant community issue, and they care deeply about the state of our community, our schools, and our young people. What we’ve heard from the community affirms and reinforces the strategies we previously identified as the focus of our work. We’re sharing the results of conversations in our meetings with school district leaders and with other community partners. The knowledge gleaned from the conversations will help us as we build stronger outreach and advocacy efforts. If you are interested in hosting a community conversation, contact Janet Ravneberg at janet.ravneberg@uwcentralohio.org, or 614.227.2731.
Reaching Out to School District Leaders United Way volunteers and staff are meeting with school superintendents and senior staff members from each of the 16 districts in Franklin County to discuss ways we can work together to build educational strength and commitment in our community. In the meetings, we talk about how our efforts align and explore new ways United Way can help meet the needs of students and schools. School district leaders are pivotal to educational success in our community and we will continue working closely with them.
Hundreds Raise Their Hands for Education
RAISE YOUR HAND FOR EDUCATION In September, United Way asked supporters to “Raise Your Hand for Education.” So far, more than 200 people have raised their hands, either at local events or through our website, and the number is growing daily. Understanding who is interested in improving education in central Ohio is an important first step in mobilizing our community to improve education for all students in Franklin County. There is no financial commitment involved. So, if you haven’t raised your hand yet, visit liveunitedcentralohio.org and add your name to the list of education champions. Once you have signed up, United Way will keep you up to date on all of our latest education efforts and share opportunities to help.
United Way Launches “Volunteer Wednesday”
A few of the more than 200 volunteers who have participated in United Way’s community conversations on education.
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Volunteering has always been an important way for people to Live United, and now we are making it easier than ever before to volunteer for education. On Wednesday, December 1, United Way launched Volunteer Wednesday, a new way to learn about volunteer opportunities that help ensure children in central Ohio enter kindergarten prepared for school, and youth graduate from high school well-prepared for their future. Every Wednesday we will highlight education volunteer opportunities with United Way-funded programs at liveunitedcentralohio.org.
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Volunteer Profile:
JOHN E. BICKLEY NAMED 2011 CHAMPION OF CHILDREN John E. Bickley, President and CEO of YMCA of Central Ohio, has been named the 2011 Champion of Children. Bickley joins a dedicated group of local leaders who have been recognized as Champions of Children and have made a deep, far-reaching impact on the lives of children in central Ohio.
developmental screening, early identification and linkage to resources they need to succeed in school. In addition, Bickley established partnerships between YMCA Summer Camps and performing arts groups including the Lincoln Theatre, the Jazz Arts Group, CATCO, and the Thiossane West African Dance Institute. These partnerships provide more than 500 six- to twelve-year-old children with opportunities to experience the arts, and now serves as a model for YMCAs across the country.
“It is our honor to nominate John for this recognition,” said Lisa Courtice, of The Columbus Foundation and Linda Day-Mackessy, of The YMCA who nominated Bickley for the award. “John has devoted 37 years of his professional career to the mission and work of the YMCA to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.”
“John brings personal passion to his work on behalf of our community’s children,” said Patricia Cash, Senior Vice President, PNC. “Within his own organization, and in his work with United Way and with other United Way agencies, John carries the message of caring for our children wherever he goes.” “At a time when organizations have had to prioritize the services they provide, John has steadfastly maintained the services for children as a number one priority,” she added.
Under Bickley’s visionary leadership, the YMCA has forged important community partnerships and expanded its facilities to enhance outreach and services. In 1999, he initiated a first-of-its-kind capital campaign that raised nearly $12 million for the renovation and expansion of the Eldon W. Ward YMCA and the building of three new facilities in Grove City, Gahanna, and Hilliard. More recently, he brought new opportunities to thousands of low-income children in the City of Delaware by partnering with the National Guard to build the new Delaware YMCA Community Center.
Bickley will be honored at a program to be held at 5:30 p.m. on February 8, 2011 in COSI’s Atrium. Prior to the award ceremony, at 4:30 p.m., there will be a one-hour televised panel dialogue with a studio audience, moderated by former WOSU “Open Line” host Fred Andrle. This panel will discuss the non-academic barriers that interfere with access to learning and the challenges this presents to the health and success of our children and our community.
Bickley was also instrumental in bringing the Early Childhood Resource Network (ECRN) into the YMCA, providing thousands of children with
For more information on the February 8 culminating event, please contact Staci Collier at staci.collier@uwcentralohio.org or 614.227.2766.
Corporate Partner News:
Chase Gift Raises Franklin County EITC Coalition to the Next Level Chase has been a key partner in the Franklin County EITC Coalition since its launch over four years ago. Now, Chase is increasing its support of the Coalition’s free tax preparation services for hardworking low- and moderate-income households by helping fund an expansion project that will allow the group to help more people. The expansion project plans to: • Increase by 15% the number of tax returns prepared, amount of refunds claimed, and the amount of money saved by clients by not using commercial preparers in the 2011 tax season. • Increase the capacity and effectiveness of EITC sites across seven central Ohio counties by creating a volunteer training program, creating a shared database, and enhancing communications to reach more people who are eligible for free tax preparation. • Develop a pilot savings and asset building initiative in priority lowincome neighborhoods like Weinland Park designed to increase the savings and assets of the people who utilize the tax assistance sites and enhance their financial stability.
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“Chase is dedicated to helping more people achieve and maintain financial stability,” said Jeff Lyttle, Midwest Region Executive for the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. “We are proud to invest in the expansion of the Franklin County EITC Coalition because we know it is an effective way to help more people prosper. We are especially excited about the assetbuilding pilot program in Weinland Park and believe it will be a model for future work.“ The Coalition is a volunteer-driven group that is looking for volunteers to help prepare taxes or provide client orientations. No previous experience is required. If you are interested, please contact Matt Kosanovich at matt.kosanovich@uwcentralohio.org or 614.241.3075.
eitc
earn it. keep it. save it.
Franklin County EITC Coalition
LIVING UNITED
United Way
Program Spotlight
on basic needs
United Way of Central Ohio has always been dedicated to helping people meet their basic needs. This edition of Program Spotlight highlights the ways United Way is helping with basic needs within the framework of the interconnected areas of education, income, health and home.
The goal of the YWCA Family Center Safe & Sound program is to increase developmental skills of at-risk youth by providing high quality early education programs for children experiencing homelessness, increasing their readiness for kindergarten. Program activities include full-time licensed child care for families experiencing homelessness who are living at the Family Center. The program provides 230 children between six weeks and six years old with a safe learning environment, and gives their parents the opportunity to seek permanent housing and maintain employment or pursue job opportunities.
LifeCare Alliance: Meals-on-Wheels The Meals-on-Wheels program provides meals for older, disabled and chronically ill adults, in their homes, as well as at senior community dining centers and restaurants in over twenty locations across central Ohio. The home-delivered meals provide nourishing food to homebound adults 365 days a year. This “daily check� by caring volunteers gives peace of mind to both recipients and their loved ones. Convenient weekly delivery of frozen meals is also available for those who may have frequent medical appointments and treatments. Dining centers offer socialization, enriching programming and a nutritious meal. The program also provides clients with health and nutrition education and referral sources.
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INCOME
YWCA Columbus: YWCA Family Center Safe & Sound Childcare
HOME
HEALTH
EDUCATION
ywca columbus Community Shelter Board: Shelter Network The Shelter Network helps ensure single adults and families with children receive food, shelter and services to resolve a housing crisis and build more stable lives. Comprised of 417 beds for men, 97 for women and up to 120 family units, the Shelter Network provides space to sleep, and basic services such as showers, meals, and housing referrals. Linkages to The Ohio Benefit Bank and other community resources help clients improve financial stability and prevent future crises. The Shelter Network also connects adults with employment services. Community Shelter Board oversees the Shelter Network, which includes many United Way member agencies such as Lutheran Social Services, Faith Mission, the YWCA, and Maryhaven.
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission: Columbus Housing Partnership / MORPC Collaborative Housing Program Through this program, Columbus Housing Partnership is redeveloping 40 homes in the United Way priority neighborhoods of Weinland Park and the Near South Side which have a high rate of vacant and abandoned properties. Additionally, MORPC will provide 17 neighborhood homeowners with home repair assistance and training that will help them keep their homes safe and healthy places to live. To receive assistance, families will take a home repair class and be offered credit and budgeting counseling to aid in foreclosure prevention. The goal of the program is to increase the number of homes that are safe and secure and strengthen these neighborhoods.
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LEADERSHIP
GIVING
United Way of Central Ohio’s Leadership Giving groups offer the opportunity for donors to learn more about how their contributions are helping improve lives in central Ohio, develop meaningful service projects and network with fellow donors.
Tocqueville Society Members View Waiting for “Superman,” Hear Local Education Leaders On October 27, Tocqueville Society members took advantage of a unique opportunity to attend a private screening of Waiting for “Superman,” the new documentary about education in America, and hear local education leaders discuss the movie and offer insights on our local schools. Jim Mahoney, Executive Director, Battelle for Kids Foundation, moderated the panel of leaders which included: Dr. Gene Harris, Superintendent of Columbus City Schools; Greg Brown, Executive Dean, Academics & Administration of The Graham School, and CEO, Academics, of The Charles School; Rhonda Johnson, President, Columbus Education
Association; Tanny Crane, President & CEO, Crane Group, and Mark Real, President and CEO of KidsOhio.org. Attendees heard a balanced discussion that highlighted both good news and areas that need improvement. For example, 5,900 Columbusarea students dropped out of the Class of 2009. However, Columbus City Schools’ graduation rate has risen from 55.5% in the 2001-02 school year to 72.7% in the 2008-2009 school year. This event was the first of series of events Tocqueville Society is planning that will allow members to learn more about issues that impact United Way’s work in education, income, health and home straight from local leaders and experts. For more information about the Tocqueville Society, please contact Denise Rehg at 614.227.2764 or denise.rehg@uwcentralohio.org, or go to liveunitedcentralohio.org/tocqueville.
The WLC Earns Great Media Coverage for Its New E3 Initiative The Women’s Leadership Council’s E3 Initiative has been making a splash in the media lately. On November 11, NBC4 featured a story on E3 introduced by WLC member Colleen Marshall encouraging qualified candidates to apply for the initiative. E3 was also featured on 10TV’s Female Focus segment presented by Andrea Cambern, where WLC Founding Member and United Way Board member Kathleen Murphy was interviewed. The E3 initiative will help low-to moderate-income
working women in central Ohio become educated, empowered and elevated to a new level of financial stability for themselves and their families. Both segments are available for viewing online. For the NBC4 story, go to: http://bit.ly/gwFKSv. The 10TV Female Focus story can be found at: http://bit.ly/fKpUSF.
YLG and Key Club Set Dates for Upcoming Events • The Annual YLG Recognition Event hosted by Abigail and Lex Wexner at their home will be held on February 9, 2011. The featured speaker will be Dan Pallotta, a leading expert on innovation in the nonprofit sector and the bestselling author of the book Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential. • YLG members can enjoy a BalletMet performance of Cinderella in February, 2011, and an exclusive opportunity to meet the dancers after the performance. • A YLG Educational Roundtable with Steve Steinour, President and CEO, The Huntington National Bank, will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2011 from11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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• Mark your calendars -- the next YLG Educational Roundtable with Bob James, President and CEO, Grange Insurance, will take place on Wednesday, April 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. • Key Club will host a brown bag luncheon for its members and their guests on January 18, 2011 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Carter Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio will be the featured speaker. The luncheon is sponsored by Schottenstein Zox and Dunn. To learn more about Key Club or YLG, please contact Tasha Booker at tasha.booker@uwcentralohio.org or 614.241.3082.
LIVING UNITED
United Way News Project Diversity and Pride Leadership Celebrate Newest Program Graduates In October, United Way of Central Ohio celebrated the graduation of Cycle 19 of Project Diversity and Cycle 3 of Pride Leadership. These leadership training programs are designed to increase volunteer opportunities for people of color and people in the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender) community. The Project Diversity graduation ceremony featured a keynote address by Bob James, President and CEO of Grange Insurance, which is a longtime supporter of the program. Mary Jo Hudson, Director, Ohio Department of Insurance, and former United Way of Central Ohio board member, delivered the keynote address at the Pride Leadership graduation ceremony. Both speakers thanked the graduates for their hard work throughout the program and urged them to put their training to use serving our community.
Project Diversity, Cycle 19 Graduates Front Row (l-to-r): Erika M. Pryor, Linh Ta, Brandi Young-Sharp, Laquore Meadows, Cortney J. Porter, Marie Davis, Stacee Roy, Robert Lee, Pam Richardson, Bindu Rammohan. Back Row (l-to-r): Priscilla Hammonds, Shanelle Hinkle-Moore, Jason Williams, Redd RJG Branner, Clifford R. Marsh, Gina C. Jackson, Dwayne Robinson, Craig A. Stone
Each program consists of an eight-month training curriculum designed to prepare participants for effective service on a nonprofit board or other community leadership position. There are eight, 2-hour workshop sessions over the course of the training on topics such as: Organizational Planning, Leading through Conflict, Fundraising and Resource Development, and Fiscal Management and Parliamentary Procedures. Class size is usually 16 to 18 individuals per program, per year. Volunteers review each application and select well-qualified candidates who demonstrate a strong interest in participating in community service. Applications for the 2011 classes of both programs are now being accepted. People interested in learning more are invited to attend information receptions. The Project Diversity reception will be held on January 18, 2011, at Shane’s Gourmet, 447 E. Livingston Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215. The Pride Leadership reception will also be held at Shane’s on January 20, 2011. Both receptions are from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information contact Troy Harris at 614.227.2736 or troy.harris@uwcentralohio.org.
Champion of Children Champion Partners Announced American Electric Power (AEP), Battelle, The Columbus Foundation, Nationwide and PNC will serve as 2011 Champion Partners for Champion of Children. These engaged local organizations are coming together to help support the important work of Champion of Children as it continues to be the community’s comprehensive voice for issues of early learning. Champion of Children focuses on kindergarten readiness and school success for those most economically at-risk, and how these issues impact our families, schools and communities. Each Champion Partner recognizes the interconnectedness of the entire educational journey and understands the importance of the quality and success of each stage of the learning process. Champion of Children’s culminating event will be held on February 8, 2011. For more information, contact Staci Collier at staci.collier@uwcentralohio.org or 614.227.2766.
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Pride Leadership, Cycle 3 Graduates Front Row (l-to-r): Deittra J. Heritage, John R. Gregory, Sara Cogsil, Sarah S. Thompson, Gary W. Aliff Jr., John Kerr, Sile Singleton. Back Row (l-to-r): Angie Wellman, Mario Pinardi, Linda Flickinger, Donna M. McCray, Patrick Gallaway, Sarah Wagner, Adam Yates, Andrew Bagnato, Tara McKenzie Allison, Megan Albee, Kacia Kerns
Columbus Kids Surpasses First Outreach Goal and Begins its Next phase In just 10 months, Columbus Kids has provided Learning Checkups to virtually 100% of the two-and-a-half to fouryear-olds in the Weinland Park and Central City neighborhoods, exceeding its ambitious goal of 80%. Thirty-one percent of the preschoolers were given referrals for intervention services. In November, Columbus Kids expanded its grassroots effort to the Linden area. The program will continue to add neighborhoods eventually reaching all of the estimated 12,000 preschoolers in the Columbus City School district.
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360 South Third Street Columbus, Ohio 43215-5485
Help People Meet Basic Needs
with the New United Way
Giving Certificate details inside
LIVING UNITED In this Issue: Just in time for the Holidays — The New UWCO Giving Certificate Learn more about how United Way is Mobilizing to Support Education John Bickley is Named 2011 Champion of Children Chase Gift Raises EITC Coalition to the Next Level