Advancing The Common Good 2014-15 Report to the community
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.
United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County UnitedWayOxfordMS.org
What do you aspire for lafayette-Oxford-University? During 2014–2015, we asked this question to hundreds of our friends and neighbors. You thought hard about your answers, and your ideas—whether unique to you or shared by many— were both moving and motivating. Perhaps more than anything else, your responses affirmed United Way’s focus on three building blocks of a good life: good health, quality education, and a stable income. In 2014–2015, we invested over $376,800 and thousands of volunteer and staff hours to advance our mission of improving lives and meeting community needs. We funded programs, convened issue-driven coalitions, supported non-profit capacity building, and served as a resource to individuals and organizations throughout our community. The impact of your investment is the subject of this report. We hope you’ll read on to see how United Way has advanced the common good, not only for today and tomorrow but also for years to come, and we hope you’ll continue to join us as loyal donors, passionate advocates, and committed volunteers. There is a part for everyone to play. – Alice Ricks, Executive Director *In many cases, UWOLC funding complements other programmatic funding in ways that do not allow disaggregation of achievements by funding source. Therefore, many of the achievements highlighted in this Annual Report reflect the impact of a program’s total budget, including but not limited to UWOLC’s 2014–2015 investment. Also, please note that the total investment above includes designated gifts, and that specific grant awards can be found on UWOLC’s website.
cover photo by Sylvia Stewart
Bring together
To work on shared goals
Through
improving our
HEALTH
2014–2015 Investments in Prevention and Wellness: and Health and Mental Health Care:
$52,500
Meet Karla Following several after-lunch-stomachache visits to the nurse’s office, Karla, a ninth grader, discovered she was pregnant. Things were tough enough already—Karla was getting F’s in school—and she seriously considered dropping out. Fortunately, for both Karla and her little one, Nurse Hayden encouraged Karla to join the Exchange Club Family Center’s To Love a Child (TLC) program, a program she runs in addition to her responsibilities as head nurse for Oxford School District. With funding from United Way, TLC provides wraparound supports to pregnant teenagers in Lafayette County.
$14,400
Through TLC, Karla learned what to expect as her body changed with pregnancy and how she could take the best possible care of herself. She learned how to prepare for labor and how to look after her baby, in part from other girls who had already delivered but continued to attend TLC’s classes. And, in the midst of all of this, she started studying, turned off her cell phone at school, reached out for tutoring help, and brought her grades from straight F’s to straight A’s. In her words, “Nurse Hayden reeled me back in. When I thought about quitting, she was there for me. She’s still there for me.” Late this spring Karla gave birth to a healthy, full-term baby boy, Devon. Less than two weeks later, she was back at school to take her state test. Karla has clear priorities and big dreams: a stable life for her little boy and a degree in psychology. Thanks to the TLC program, she is on her way.
Special Olympics Area 4
Funded Partners Prevention and Wellness Exchange Club Family Center To Love a Child LIFE of Mississippi Empowering Oxford & Lafayette County L.O.U. Excel By 5 Coalition Health & Safety Focus Area Special Olympics Special Olympics Area IV Health and Mental Health Care Family Crisis Services Victim Services North MS Kidney Foundation Patient Assistance Exchange Club Family Center To Love a Child
2 | United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County
EDUCATION
ACHIEVING OUR POTENTIAL
$31,150, Character Development and Enrichment: $10,900, Reading at Grade Level: $95,450, and Adult Education: $5,000
2014–2015 Investments in Early Childhood:
Coming Together For Kids Doing better by our kids doesn’t just mean funding educational programs (though it does mean that!). It also means coming together to ensure that we are working as effectively and efficiently as possible. Issue-based coalitions allow us to innovate together, increase our impact, and hold ourselves jointly accountable for the outcomes our children and community need. Convening such coalitions is a key United Way role. What is the most important thing a community can do to brighten its shared future? Invest in its children from their very youngest days. The L.O.U. Excel By 5 Coalition works to ensure that all children—regardless of zip code—enter kindergarten prepared to succeed in school and in life. From newborn packets to parent workshops to community playdates to professional development for child care providers to a local Family Resource Center, the L.O.U. Excel By 5 Coalition leverages its members’ many strengths in the service of Lafayette County’s littlest learners. Early learning is critical, but we cannot stop there. Children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are more likely to drop out before completing high school, as they struggle with the key transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” This year, L.O.U. became only the second Mississippi community to join the national Campaign for Grade Level Reading. Already, the L.O.U. Reads Coalition, co-convened by United Way and the Lafayette County Literacy Council, has led a Read Aloud 15 Minutes campaign, hosted Growing a Great Reader parent workshops, brought together out-of-school time providers for networking, and launched the Literacy Leaders training to maximize the power of volunteer tutors. Learn more from the new website, loureads.org! While both of these coalitions depend on dozens of individual volunteers and organizational partners, United Way provides essential leadership. Coalition work is at the heart of living united.
Horizons Summer Learning Program
Funded Partners Early Childhood Education Lafayette County Literacy Council Dolly Parton Imagination Library L.O.U. Excel By 5 Coalition Character Development and Enrichment Boy Scouts of America Yocona Area Council Traditional Scouting Exchange Club Family Center Correcting our Past & Establishing Skills Girl Scouts Heart of the South Girl Scout Leadership Experience Lafayette County 4-H 4-H Programs Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Arts Education & Outreach
4 | United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County
Reading at Grade Level Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi Power Hour Lafayette County Literacy Council Reading Rockets Leap Frog Program Tutoring L.O.U. Reads Coalition University of Mississippi Horizons Summer Learning Program Adult Education Lafayette County Literacy Council Adult Basic Literacy Education
almost 100 teachers and administrators learned how to
implement the Early Learning Standards
promote optimal child development photo by Sylvia Stewart
MEETING NEEDS & PROMOTING STABILITY 2014–2015 Investments in Basic Needs: and Financial Stability:
$39,067
L.O.U. Saves
INCOME
Meet Becca & Tom Recently, two local organizations—both funded by United Way—supported a family in overcoming homelessness. Becca, Tom, and their children were homeless—but were committed to getting their family together and back on their feet. How would they begin? For Becca and Tom, like many other homeless individuals in Lafayette County, the first stop was Interfaith Compassion Ministry (ICM). ICM provided overnight shelter, food, and toiletries, all essentials and all desperately needed. Just as important, however, was the referral that ICM provided to its close partner, Doors of Hope Transition Ministries. Becca and Tom applied and were accepted into Doors of Hope’s Self-Sufficiency Empowerment Program (STEP), where they were quickly housed with their children in a two bedroom shelter unit. As required by the program, Becca and Tom began meeting with Doors of Hope’s case manager twice weekly. Through their meetings, Becca and Tom started planning and practicing ways to save, building an escrow account, paying off debts, managing their money better, and looking for permanent housing. Tom continued with full-time employment. After 4 months in the program, Becca and Tom had saved more than enough money for their own housing, utility payments, and deposits. Continuing to use skills they learned in the program, they have remained in their own housing for over 2 years. Becca and Tom now contribute to Doors of Hope Transition Ministries!
$108,500
photo by Sylvia Stewart
Funded Partners Basic Needs American Red Cross Disaster Relief Interfaith Compassion Ministry Homeless Client Assistance Interfaith Compassion Ministry Indigent Client Assistance Salvation Army Financial Assistance Three Rivers PDD Meals on Wheels
6 | United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County
Financial Stability American Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Doors of Hope Transition Ministries Self-Sufficiency Transitional Empowerment Program Holding Hands Resale Shop Employment for the Mentally Ill L.O.U. Home Homeownership Services L.O.U. Saves College Savings Program Pro Bono Initiative at the University of Mississippi School of Law Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center United Way Worldwide Stock Photography. All names have been changed.
STRONG FINANCES
photo by Jessi Hotakainen
2014–2015 was a great year for United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County. For the second year in a row—and only the second time in our history—we raised over $525,000 towards our mission of improving lives and meeting community needs in Lafayette County. We continue to appreciate all our donors—those with the means and vision to give at extraordinarily high levels, as well as those with fewer resources who nonetheless donate with humbling generosity. Every gift— indeed every penny—counts.
2015 Board Members President: Bryon Cohron Community Investment Chair: Ryan Upshaw 2014 Campaign Chair: Connie Hwang 2015 Campaign Co-Chair: James Harper 2015 Campaign Co-Chair: Susan Massey Treasurer: Melissa Swetland Secretary: Sarah Ball Past President: Karen Chain Sarah Ball, Volunteer Oxford Cheryl Cannon, Cannon Motors Karen Chain, Community Trust Bank Bryon Cohron, ProMatura Group Thelma Curry, University of Mississippi LaTanya Dixon, University of Mississippi Jacqueline Gilner James Harper, James D. Harper Law, PLLC Mary Harrington, Retired Connie Hwang, FNC, Inc.
Corinne Jackson, Lulu’s Shoes & Accessories Rich Joyce, Winchester Susan Massey, Caterpillar Lucile McCook, University of Mississippi Sonia McKeithen, Baptist Memorial Hospital–North Mississippi Kelley Norris, University of Mississippi Matt Parham, Bank of Commerce Andrew Robinson, Second Baptist Church Moni Simpson, Invitation Oxford Kathleen Sullivan, Retired Melissa Swetland, Swetland Cook, PLLC James Thomas, University of Mississippi Ryan Upshaw, University of Mississippi
Staff Alice Ricks, Executive Director Katherine Drinkwater, Assistant Director Chelsea Herbert, AmeriCorps VISTA Sylvia Stewart, AmeriCorps VISTA
Community Investment Committee
UWOLC’s Board of Directors.
Health Sub-Committee Chair: Moni Simpson, UWOLC Board, Invitation Oxford Melissa Bass, University of Mississippi Mary Bragg, Baptist Memorial Hospital–North Mississippi Jeong Jolee, Baptist Memorial Hospital–North Mississippi Russ McNees, Holcomb Dunbar Ryan Wally, Oxford Eye Clinic/Vision Source
3%
Local Business Gifts
4% Workplace Campaign Employee Gifts
68%
12%
Income Sub-Committee Chair: James Thomas, UWOLC Board, University of Mississippi Jonathan Hill, Oxford Housing Authority Rich Joyce, UWOLC Board, Winchester Melissa Leach, Early Years Network Libby Lytle, Oxford Police Department Chris Maples, WIN Job Center Matt Parham, UWOLC Board, Bank of Commerce
giving over time $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 0
allocation of resources Data drawn from UWOLC’s 2013-2014 audit and IRS Form 990 for 2012.
100 80
82%
60 40
17%
20
1%
0
Program Expenses*
8 | United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County
13%
Other
Education Sub-Committee
Chair: Kathleen Sullivan, UWOLC Board, Retired Joel Amidon, University of Mississippi United Way is committed to maximizing the impact of our donors’ contributions. Doing so James Harper, UWOLC Board, requires us to listen to our community as we James D. Harper Law, PLLC determine funding priorities, set goals for improving James Herod, Rust College lives, and invest funds. Our Community Investment Lynndy Hurdle, Oxford School District Committee is a diverse and knowledgeable group of volunteers charged with reviewing grant Alecian Mathis, Little Angels applications and recommending awards to Preschool & Daycare Center Chair: Ryan Upshaw, UWOLC Board, University of Mississippi
Individual Gifts
Workplace Campaign Corporate Gifts
2014 CAMPAIGN TOTAL: $527,141
UWOLC Board of Directors 2015
giving by sector
Fundraising & Management Expenses
*Program spending is restricted to Lafayette County, except in the case of donor-designated gifts to organizations outside of Lafayette County. This includes employee gifts from GE-Aviation which are designated to Panola County.
United Way Worldwide Dues 2014–15 Report to the Community | 9
WORKPLACE GIVING CAMPAIGN United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County is proud to partner with many local employers to promote charitable giving in the workplace. This year’s contributions came through payroll deduction, corporate gifts, and—most fun of all—special events! Caterpillar’s County Fair. Winchester’s Golf Tournament. Oxford University Bank’s Battle of the Banks. The Oxford Eagle’s Kiss the Pig. FNC’s chili cook-off and silent auction. The University of Mississippi’s Open the Envelope social media campaign. And many, many more… We are grateful to the companies and their thousands of employees, especially the United Way campaign coordinators, for advancing our mission by investing in Lafayette-Oxford-University. CORPORATE LEADERS (corporate gifts of $1,000 or more) $10,000 – $24,999 Caterpillar Winchester
The United Way Golf Tournament, hosted by Winchester and sponsored by many local businesses, raised almost $6,500.
$5,000 – $9,999 Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi Oxford University Bank $2,500 – $4,999 AT&T FNB Oxford GE Foundation Roseburg Forest Products
photo by Sylvia Stewart
10 | United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County
$1,000 – $2,499 BancorpSouth Belk Cannon Motors FNC, Inc. Hayakawa Electronics Mechanics Bank UPS Walmart
LOCAL BUSINESS CAMPAIGN
workplace campaign totals (includes employee and corporate gifts) Name
Amounts
University of Mississippi Winchester Caterpillar FNC, Inc. GE Aviation, Panola County FNB Oxford Oxford University Bank Oxford School District United Parcel Service Roseburg Forest Products Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi North Mississippi Regional Center AT&T Walmart Kroger Northeast Mississippi Electric Power Association City of Oxford ProMatura Group Renasant Bank Cannon Motors International Paper Lafayette County School District Hayakawa Electronics CenterPoint Energy Lafayette County Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation Community Trust Bank Mechanics Bank BancorpSouth Nationwide Insurance Belk Regions Bank Bank of Commerce JCPenney Oxford Eagle Johnson’s Furniture Ability Works FedEx
$146,278 $99,614 $32,781 $23,111 $13,030 $11,816 $11,183 $8,574 $7,521 $6,657 $6,343 $5,350 $5,233 $4,706 $4,040 $3,901 $3,888 $3,491 $2,783 $2,848 $2,544 $2,512 $2,475 $2,318 $2,214 $2,030 $1,961 $1,726 $1,487 $1,240 $1,009 $948 $975 $866 $871 $309 $185 $52
Local businesses, both big and small, give generously to United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County and our community coalitions. Their monetary and in-kind gifts are invaluable to the success of our work, and we greatly appreciate their contributions and commitment to expanding opportunity for all who live in the L.O.U. community. Local Business Gifts
In-Kind Gifts
$5,000 – $9,999 Marchbanks Real Estate
$1,000 and Above Baptist Memorial Hospital- North Mississippi First Baptist Church Oxford Conference Center Oxford–Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation Reason to Believe Design SuperTalk North Mississippi and Q93.7
$100 – $249 Animal Clinic of Oxford Beacon Restaurant $1,000 – $4,999 Bim Bam Burgers Endoscopy Center of Farm Bureau Insurance North Mississippi Holcomb Dunbar Gastroenterology Associates Panola Title and Abstract of North Mississippi Paris Nails Holli’s Sweet Tooth Pitner Office Supply Company The J.E. Neilson Co. Rapid Cash & Tax Service The Library Sears LuLu’s Shoes & Accessories Stout’s Carpet Sneed’s Ace Hardware Sugar Magnolia Antiques Swetland Cook Tyler Van Buren Neighborhood Association $500 – $999 Victor Medical LLC Addy Photography Ajax Diner $1 – $99 Elliott & Britt Engineering Don & Dale’s Barber Shop Mayo Mallette Frame Up Oxford Insurance Agency Grantham Construction Oxford Urgent Care Lusa’s Bakery Mississippi Federal Credit Union $250 – $499 Peggy’s Specialty Alterations Elliott Lumber, Inc. Phil Bailey & Associates High Point Coffee S & J Art Gallery and Collectibles Oxford University Club Turner Industries Pickens Pest Control, Inc. The Woman’s Forum Urgent Care Clinic of Oxford Waller Funeral Home
$1 – $999 Alice & Company Salon Caterpillar Cups Early Years Network Farmer’s Market FNB Oxford High Point Coffee Honey Bee Bakery Jimmy John’s Lusa Pastry Cafe McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement Newk’s Eatery Oxford Park Commission Oxford University Club Panera Bread Panini Square Books Starbucks Twisted Twig
The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, led by the National Association of Letter Carriers with volunteer support from United Way, collected almost 5,000 pounds of food for the Lafayette County Pantry.
photo by Sylvia Stewart
2014–15 Report to the Community | 11
LEADERSHIP DONORS United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County benefits tremendously from the outstanding generosity of a growing group of leadership donors, individuals and families who contribute at a level of $500 or more. Their support is critical to the success of our organization and we strive to live up to their example. Alexis de Tocqueville Society: $10,000 + John & Renee Grisham The Tollison & Calhoun Families One Anonymous Donor Visionary: $4,500–$9,999 Bob & Carol Dorsey Drs. Dale & Tonya Flesher Chris & Allison Mullen Laurie & Jeff Triplette Visionary: $3,000–$4,499 Ross & Sonya Bjork Laura G. Harper Kate Kellum & Jason Finch Jerry & Gloria Kellum Jean M. Shaw Kathy & Peter Sukanek Community Builder: $2,000–$2,999 John & Sumali Conlon Charles & Brenda Eagles Glen & Paige Evans Connie Hwang & Duncan Chen Lucile McCook & Cliff Ochs Ronald & Natalie Schroeder Ginny & Cooper Terry Margaret Wylde & Ken Wooten Community Builder: $1,000–$1,999 Ann & Dale Abadie Sharron & Harry Alexander Allison & Bill Bailey John & Ev Barrett David & Karen Blackburn Mr. & Mrs. John R. Bradley, Jr.
12 | United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County
Michael & Kimberly Bryant Robin & Denny Buchannon Karen Chain Linda Chitwood Alice Clark & Charles Hufford Thelma Curry Norman & Margo Easterbrook Davis L. Fair III Eric Freimark John P. Fullenwider Kathy Gates Matt & Pam Gaw Euphiazene Gray Donna Gurley Priscilla Hamric Mary Harrington & Dave Wheelock Michael & Eva-Maria Metcalf Kristin Newman Will H. Norton Mike H. & Helen G. Overstreet Brian & Vicki Reithel Barbara & Wylie Richards Christopher Ricks & Judith Aronson John Samonds & Kathryn McKee Laura Jean Sheppardson Mark Van Boening James & Kathleen Vaughan Douglas & Jane Vorhies Christine Wallace Steve & Leslie White Brandon Michael Williams Becky & Marvin Wilson Two Anonymous Donors
Foundation Giver: $500–$999 Aileen Ajootian Melvin & Teresa Arrington William Ball James Battle Joel & Jill Bell Brad & Allyson Best Mike & Camie Bianco Danny & Caron Blanton Anne Bomba Walter Boney Rachel Bost Becki Bressler Robert Brown Tom Burnham Beverly Butts Bill Caldwell Ann Canty William Carson Walter & Diane Chambliss Daisy & Alexander Cheng Bryon & Kristy Cohron Marcia Cole Audra Cook Alice Cooper & John Adham Jeff & Katrina Cousar Marshall Crowther, MD Doug Davis Victoria Dickinson Maurice R. Eftink Brad Ewing Mr. & Mrs. John S. Farese Don & Liza Frugé, Jr. Don & Mary Ann Frugé Richard Gershon & Donna Levine Julian & Jacqueline Gilner
Allen Glisson Deborah Gochfeld & Marc Slattery David Guyton Matthew Hall Mark & Paige Hamann William Hamilton James & Julie Harper Kathryn Elizabeth Harrington James Helveston Jeannie B. Hodge Michael Hoffheimer & Luanne Buchanan Alan & Jackie Ingalls Kirk Anthony Johnson Dan & Lydia Jones Ron & Christy Knapp Mari G. Kuhnle Allen N. Kurr Paul & Barbara Lago Eric Gregory Lambert James & Anna Langley Pam & Bill Lawhead Cynthia & Royce Linton Amy Lowe Lewis Cathy Marshall-Smith Mike McCauley Sage Nichols Christopher Noe Lisa & Albert Nylander Jon Parcher Matt & Tammy Parham Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Perry Dennis Pride Jason & Holly Reynolds David & Vivian Roach Andrew Robinson
Lisa T. Rogers Marc Showalter Stuart & Moni Simpson Marquis & Rachel Sledge Hugh Sloan III Stacey & Whitman Smith Larry & Jacky Sparks Hubert & Rose Spears David & Anne Steel JoAnn & Andy Stefani Morris & Cynthia Stocks William Strickland Kathleen & James Sullivan Douglas Sullivan-Gonzalez Debbie Swan Jackson Taylor Jr. Ryan Upshaw Steve & Rosie Vassallo Kathleen Wachter Sherry Wall Jeffrey & Isabella Watt Mitchell Wenger Dr. & Mrs. Curtis Wilkie Ney & Dana Williams Parham & Polly Williams Charles Williams Jonny Wilson Christy Wyandt Louis G. Zachos Four Anonymous Donors In Memoriam Gifts Roger Bynum Annie Lee “Cricket” Hurdle Sue King Jan Robertson
Letters on opposite page photographed from signage throughout Lafayette County: by Sylvia Stewart
United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County 440 North Lamar, Suite 5 Oxford, Mississippi 38655 Phone/Fax: 662 236 4265 info@UnitedWayOxfordMS.org UnitedWayOxfordMS.org
photo by Jessi Hotakainen
©2015 United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.