LIVING UNITED
2015, ISSUE II
THE ROAD FORWARD
UNITED WAY FOCUSES ON INNOVATIVE WAYS TO CONNECT, INSPIRE AND SERVE In November, 2013, the United Way of Central Ohio Board of Trustees approved a strategic plan to guide our organization through 2020, and began a period of unprecedented creativity and innovation. The plan focused on ensuring that everything we do helps people build pathways out of poverty. With that as a foundation, United Way volunteers and staff went to work to research and develop the most effective ways to accomplish that goal. The result of that work is now coming into focus and it is a comprehensive roadmap that brings fresh thinking to every aspect of our organization. The road map builds on United Way’s decades of experience in bringing people together to create a better central Ohio. It builds on the trust that the organization has earned, leverages the unparalleled network of relationships we have created and uses the latest digital technology to connect people to the work we accomplish together.
we are exploring innovative new ways to reach people, engage them, energize them, and show them how they can work through United Way to create the community they want to live in. This includes developing state-of-the-art digital capabilities that make giving, volunteering and inspiring others effortless and fun. My United Way campaign - Our new marketing campaign is a departure from the past few years. It focuses on individuals celebrating the connection to others that comes from being a member of the United Way family. It invites everyone to share not only the accomplishments we have achieved together but the ones we aspire to achieve.
Integrated investments - We are exploring new ways to integrate MY UNITED WAY ___________________. all our investments to increase the power of our holistic approach to improving lives. Our investments in the interconnected areas of A new “My United Way” campaign featuring donors, volunteers and education, income, health and many more will highlight the many facets of United Way’s impact in home have achieved significant As we move forward, we will Central Ohio. (pictured: Ohio State President Michael V. Drake, MD) results, and it is time to take this keep all of our United Way family approach to the next level and create unified members informed about the exciting changes central Ohio tradition of working together to pathways that move people from poverty to to come. For now, here are some key elements solve large issues. stability to long-term success. of our road forward: The Power of the United Way Network - Another Collective Impact - For the last two years, way we are bringing people and organizations Over the course of this year and next, we will United Way has been an integral part of a together is through increased collaboration share much more information on these efforts group which includes prominent partners with other major United Ways across the and other aspects of the road forward that in the business, education, government country. There is a tremendous wealth of will lead to a re-imagined United Way. One and nonprofit sectors. This a long-term, knowledge in the United Way network, and we that can nimbly address our community’s community-wide effort that will develop and are working harder than ever to leverage that most pressing issues, engage individuals champion a road map to strengthen families. knowledge to learn and innovate. Our first effectively to make a difference, and continue The approach will expand the scope of how shared priority is individual engagement. With to earn the deep trust that so many people we work together and continue the impressive the help of our peer United Way organizations place in us.
PRESIDENT’S UPDATE This is an exciting time to be a member of the United Way of Central Ohio family. I have been president and CEO of this great organization for more than 12 years and I have never experienced a time like this when so many innovative ideas are coming to fruition at once. As you read in our front page article, your United Way is on the move. We are re-imagining our organization with the goal of creating even greater impact in the community we all love. The key to everything we plan to do is engaging and mobilizing more people. That’s where you come in. You understand the life-changing work that we accomplish together, and I encourage you to share your experience with friends and colleagues. That’s the heart of our new “My United Way” campaign, people talking about their personal connection to our movement and how it helps them improve lives.
At our recent Celebration of Excellence we asked attendees to complete the phrase, “My United Way_______.” We received some great responses and I read every one. Now, I want you to add your voice. Please take a moment to visit our Facebook page (facebook.com/unitedwayofcentralohio) and tell us what United Way means to you. With the combined energy and ideas of our entire United Way family, I know we can innovate and accelerate the many ways we help people build pathways out of poverty. Sincerely,
Janet E. Jackson President and CEO United Way of Central Ohio
2015 CHAMPION OF CHILDREN SIGNATURE EVENT A diverse group of almost 700 local leaders and educators gathered at the 2015 Champion of Children Signature Event at the Southern Theatre on March 10. They learned more about the challenges facing African American and Latino boys in central Ohio and what can be done to help improve educational and life outcomes. The Signature Event is one of a series of events and outreach efforts Champion of Children, an education initiative of United Way of Central Ohio, is spearheading on this theme in 2015. One of America’s leading scholars on this issue, Pedro Noguera, PhD, outlined the bias and lower expectations boys of color face in our society. In an on-stage conversation with Ann Fisher, host of the radio program All Sides on WOSU, he also offered examples of how some communities are succeeding in supporting boys of color. “The problem is not the children. The problem is the way we treat the children.” He added, “It’s ignoring the needs of our children that really results in this pervasive sense of failure.”
Ann Fisher and Pedro Noguera
At the event, Anthony Trotman, Director of the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services, was recognized as the 2015 Champion of Children. Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus was selected as the Champion of Children Nonprofit Organization.
JOIN US for The Champion of Children Report Launch
at The Columbus Metropolitan Club on June 24
The 2015 Champion of Children Report: Boys of Color, Boys at Risk will be launched on June 24 at the Columbus Metropolitan Club. A panel of local experts will discuss the findings of the report. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing boys of color and what we can all do to help. Register online at columbusmetroclub.org. Click Friends of United Way for the $33 guest rate ($45 is general public rate), and use the code United Way. You may also call (614) 464-3220 ext 1 for reservations.
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Anthony Trotman, Janet Jackson, Pedro Noguera and Rebecca Asmo, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus
LIVING UNITED
LOCAL LEADERS HONORED AT 56TH ANNUAL GEORGE MEANY EVENT On March 19, the 56th George Meany Awards Banquet honored local community and labor leaders for their dedicated volunteer service to central Ohio. This event, hosted by Central Ohio Labor Council AFL-CIO and the United Way Community Services Department, is the largest labor recognition of its kind in the country. More than 400 people attended this year’s event held at the Hollywood Casino.
2015 George Meany Award: Joan Fluharty, Director, Community Services Department, United Way of Central Ohio Joan Fluharty is a long-standing member of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1059. Joan began her labor career working for The Kroger Company in 1976. She joined United Way of Central Ohio as labor liaison in the Community Services Department in 2002. In 2011, she became the Director of the department. She leads many projects jointly sponsored by the Central Labor Council and the Community Services Department, including the Unions Share/Christmas Care Program, an annual holiday food drive where local unions team up with St. Stephen’s Community House to provide families in need with a week’s worth of food during the holidays and school break. This program is one of the largest food distributions in the central Ohio area, serving over 3,500 families in one weekend. 2015 Community Service Award: Mayor Michael B. Coleman, City of Columbus Since taking office in 2000, Mayor Michael B. Coleman has built Columbus’ reputation as one of the best cities in the nation by forming stronger, safer neighborhoods, creating jobs and maintaining a high quality of life. Columbus is the 15th largest city in the nation, the largest city in Ohio and the fastest growing city in the Midwest. Mayor Coleman, the city’s first African American mayor, is also the longest-serving mayor in Columbus history and the longest-serving incumbent African- American mayor among major U.S. cities. Under his leadership, the City of Columbus has become one of America’s top cities for young people, families and job creators. 2015 Central Ohio AFL-CIO Scout Award: Janice Lonsdale Janice Lonsdale has been a member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199 since 1986. Janice has been a Girl Scout volunteer for over 16 years and both of her daughters are lifetime Girl Scouts. Janice was a troop leader for 12 years, and is currently representing the volunteers from her service unit as a council delegate. For the last several years she has planned and executed the annual Girl Scout Thinking Day Program which brings hundreds of girls together to learn about the global Girl Scout sisterhood. 2015 Youth Services Award: Jay Walther Jay Walther has been involved in the union movement for nearly 18 years. He is the current President of Communication Workers of America Local 4320 and formerly served the local as Steward, Chief Steward, Workers’ Compensation Representative and Vice President. Jay has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America since age 12. As a youth he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. As an adult he continued his service to the Boy Scouts serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster from 1992-1998, and currently as Cub Scout Den Leader since 2004 and as Cub Master since 2009. 2015 Youth Services Award: Impact Team, Eastmoor Academy The mission of the Impact Team at Eastmoor Academy is: “to touch as many lives as humanly possible with acts of kindness and hope.” The group has pursued this mission by performing over 50 community service activities every year. Bruce Green, teacher at Eastmoor Academy, has led the Impact Team since its inception in 2007. It has grown from 5 students to over 300, becoming the largest school-based community service group in the state. Their many activities have included providing more than 8,000 meals to homeless people at Faith Mission, Holy Family, HOPE Picnic and YWCA Family Shelter.
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CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE HONORS ORGANIZATIONS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY On May 5, United Way of Central Ohio recognized the outstanding campaigns of partner organizations at its annual Celebration of Excellence held at The Ohio Union at the Ohio State University. Through United Way, these organizations improve lives, strengthen our community and help create pathways out of poverty for thousands of central Ohio residents.
Awards for outstanding efforts in specific campaign areas went to:
Best New Partner - American Girl
This award recognizes an organization that has run its first employee campaign, has incorporated model campaign strategies and has made United Way a part of its organizational culture.
DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse received the highest honor, The Corporate Award of Excellence, which recognizes overall achievement in corporate and volunteer philanthropic efforts.
Leadership Giving Award - American Electric Power / IBEW Local 1466
This is the tenth year that The Corporate Award of Excellence has been presented. Previous winners are Grange Insurance, American Electric Power (AEP) / IBEW Local 1466, Nationwide, UPS, Deloitte, Bruner Corporation, METTLER TOLEDO, EY, and Columbia Gas of Ohio.
Impact Partnership Award - Nationwide
The highest honor for United Way member agencies, The Agency Award of Excellence, went to Alvis House. This award recognizes overall campaign excellence among United Way’s member agencies. Janet E. Jackson, United Way of Central Ohio’s President and CEO, selected KPMG to receive the President’s Award, which goes to an exemplary campaign that went above and beyond in its support of United Way. Janet Jackson also presented The Richard V. Carrick Community Leadership Award. Named for United Way of Central Ohio’s former Senior Vice President of Community Impact, the award recognizes a member agency for excellence in addressing community needs through collaboration and innovation. It is accompanied by an honorarium of $5,000 to support agency staff in pursuing professional and leadership opportunities. The award went to Community Development for All People for the crucially important work it does to strengthen the South Side.
This new award honors an organization with strong CEO and management team support, and increased numbers of leadership givers and affinity group members. This new award recognizes an organization that works hard to help United Way make the greatest community impact possible through volunteerism, corporate grants and sponsorships.
LIVE UNITED 365 Award - Grange Insurance
This new award recognizes an organization that incorporates United Way into its culture year-round. The awards were presented by Nick Akins, Chairman, President and CEO of American Electric Power, who hosted the event; along with his wife Donna, who served as 2014 Campaign Co-Chairs; Janet Jackson; and Craig Marshall, United Way of Central Ohio Board Chair. The Akins also announced that the 2014 annual campaign raised more than $54.2 million. These funds go primarily to investments in United Way’s work of creating pathways out of poverty by focusing on the areas of education, income, health and home. This result represents a 3% increase over the 2013 campaign total. The Akins went on to thank Glen Skeen of the Communications Workers of America Local 4320 who served as 2013 and 2014 Labor Co-Chair. And they recognized the 2015 Campaign Co-Chairs, Steve and Patti Steinour of The Huntington National Bank, and 2015 Labor Co-Chair, Dorsey Hager of Columbus/Central Ohio Building Trades.
2015 Campaign Co-Chair, Steve Steinour
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2015 Labor Co-Chair, Dorsey Hager
---------------------------------------------------------------Online Extra: ---------------------------------------------------------------View additional photos from the event here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIVING UNITED
Corporate Award of Excellence - DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse Front row: (from left) Michelle Brooks, Gail Durany, Melissa Noll, Angela Alder. Back row: Mary Meixelsperger, Jonica N. Armstrong, Mike MacDonald, Kristin Langenbach.
Agency Award of Excellence – Alvis House Front row: (from left) Gerard Lowe, Jennifer Sharma, Gloria Iannucci, Joe Geary. Back row: Maria Watson, Phil Nunes, Denise M. Robinson, Lois Hochstetler, David Ciccone.
President’s Award - KPMG LLP Front row: (from left) Anne Zavarella, Brett Hoke, Laura Moushey, Claire Lacey, Linda Elliott. Back row: Bryce Ehrhardt, Josh Bohinc, Sharon Kratzenberg, Philip Bartlett.
Impact Partnership - Nationwide Front row: (from left) Karen Blickley, Tracy Rock, Pat Hatler, James Gaddy, Elicia Azali, Kirt Walker, Anne Saxon. Back row: Kellyn Wilson, Kristen Kachurak, Jackie Sells, Jill Hile, Ahmad Wells, Vicki Malesky, Joni Seal.
Leadership Giving - AEP-IBEW Local 1466 (from left) Pablo Vegas, Barry Schumann, Peggy Simmons, Dan German, Zane Nielsen, Ashley Weaver, Dave Weiss.
Best New Partner - American Girl (from left) Shelby Schwartzwalder and Beth Grashel.
LIVE UNITED 365 - Grange Insurance Front row: (from left) Bobette Ressa-Morit, Rachel Lewis, Carrie Beare. Middle row: Duane McCoy, Laurie Tocash, Natalina Fickell, John De Lucia, Amanda Reynolds-Snavley. Back row: Mike Rowe, Patricia Eshman, Sharon Daehler, Diana Finney, Terence Chong.
Richard V. Carrick Award - Community Development for All People Front row: (from left) Ramona Harris, Erin West, Chamese Jarrett, John Edgar, Linda Miller, Raquel Fuentes, Sue Wolfe, Darlene Scheid. Back row: Joel Teaford, Dave Cofer, Donita Harris, Mallory Tay, Bianca Daniels.
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LEADERSHIP
GIVING
PRIDE COUNCIL
COMMUNITY
BUILDER
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 other community and business leaders.
KEY CLUB ANNUAL CELEBRATION On April 23, more than 300 Key Club members and guests gathered for their annual celebration at the home of hosts Abigail and Leslie Wexner. Archie Griffin was honored with this year’s Community Leadership Award at the gathering. This prestigious award is presented to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in our community. The inaugural Emerging Leader award was presented to Oyauma Garrison for his outstanding leadership in the community and at United Way. Noted scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. provided the keynote address based on his award-winning television series “Finding Your Roots.”
Key Club Co-Chairs, Ed and Dr. Mysheika Roberts
Archie Griffin, Les Wexner, Janet Jackson, Abigail Wexner, Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Oyauma Garrison
Napoleon Bell, Toni Bell and Bruce Wimbish
Carter Stewart and Michelle Alexander
LINC’S EARTH DAY LINC celebrated Earth Day on April 22 at three different sites across Weinland Park: 4th Street Farms, Weinland Park Community Garden, and 5th Street Bird Sanctuary. Sixty volunteers installed raised flower beds and a trellis, pulled weeds, chipped the garden paths, readied planting beds for spring and assembled picnic tables. These efforts will help Weinland Park residents live healthier by growing their own fresh produce, and strengthen the ties in their community by providing places to gather together outdoors.
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LINC members celebrate Earth Day by volunteering in Weinland Park.
LIVING UNITED
FRESH FOODS HERE EXPANDS TO THE EAST SIDE
Steward’s Foodmart, one of the new Fresh Foods Here locations on the East Side.
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Three stores were selected to join the Fresh Foods Here network: Steward’s Foodmart, Mt. Vernon Quickstop, and the Near East Side Cooperative Market. These stores are now receiving all of the benefits that come with being a network member including new displays, marketing materials and technical assistance in sourcing and stocking healthy items. Participating stores also have the opportunity to earn interior and exterior capital improvements. The Fresh Foods Here team is working to raise awareness about the program among residents by distributing free reusable grocery bags and meeting neighbors at Neighborhood Pride, the Near East Side Hop, and other community events. To learn more about Fresh Foods Here go to freshfoodshere.org.
East Side Locations
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been working to address this issue through advancing food access efforts like nutrition education, community gardens, and the Near East Side Cooperative Market. Fresh Foods Here joins these efforts by working with organizations including Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT) and Neighborhood House to bring our program to the neighborhood.
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Fresh Foods Here is dedicated to promoting nutrition in Columbus neighborhoods through partnerships with corner stores that allow them to successfully stock, market, and sell healthy food. Until this year, the program has focused on the Franklinton and Hilltop neighborhoods on Columbus’s West Side. In 2015, Fresh Foods Here expanded to a new neighborhood: the Near East Side. This historic neighborhood was chosen because of the community’s dedication to finding solutions to the problem of food security. Despite great strides in neighborhood revitalization efforts, the Near East Side continues to struggle with issues of food access and is underserved by full-service grocery stores. Many engaged and committed partners have
1 Mt. Vernon Quickstop 2 Steward’s Foodmart 3 Near Eastside Cooperative Market
THIRD NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CLASS GRADUATES On April 16, the third class of the Neighborhood Leadership Academy graduated from the intensive seven-month program. The Academy is designed to enhance the skills of existing and emerging neighborhood leaders while empowering them to promote sustainable change for their neighborhoods. Participants represent communities across central Ohio, with emphasis on United Way’s five priority neighborhoods — Franklinton, King-Lincoln, South Side, Northland and Weinland Park. The Academy is generously sponsored by Fifth Third Bank and Donatos. Key partners include the City of Columbus and The Ohio State University College of Social Work.
--------------------------------------------Online Extra: --------------------------------------------View photos from the event here. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neighborhood Leadership Academy participants gathered at The Grange Insurance Audubon Center to celebrate their graduation. Front row (left to right): Joy Jackson, Eileen Neale, Tiffany Harmon, Kimberly Golden, Karen Rogers, Frankie Lee Johnson, Brandon Curry, Wade Hungerford. Back row: Bruce Harcum, Leesa Bennett, Jessica Garrett, Veronica Wright-Napper, Grace Hunter, Alicia Ward, Jennifer Mankin, Katelyn Jackson, Terry Green.
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