United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties :: 2014-15 Annual Report by United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties

2014-15 Annual Report United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What a privilege to be here on the planet to contribute your unique donation to humankind, each face in the rainbow of colors that populates our world is precious and specialâ&#x20AC;? -Morris Dees

CONTENTS Message to the community Great Things Happen Education

2 3-4 5-12

Income

13-16

Health

17-22

Wayne County

23-26

Give

27-30

Advocate

31-34

Volunteer

35-38

Fund Distribution Volunteers

Board of Directors

Members at large

Financials

Our Staff & Mission

bringing LIVE UNITED to life

United Way

Dear Friends, Thanks to you, we’re bringing LIVE UNITED to life! Since 1921, the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties has worked with a singular focus—to improve lives in our community. With a shared vision in which all individuals and families achieve their fullest potential, we galvanize a diverse group of public and private partners, business and community leaders, donors and volunteers. With your support, the United Way accomplishes what no other organization can do alone –help local residents achieve their potential through a quality education, become self-sufficient with stable income and enjoy a healthy, safe quality of living. As you read through this report of our work in the past year, we thank you for the passion needed to achieve real, lasting impact in our community. Your passion, your commitment and your steadfast dedication inspire our work every day. With your support, children enter school ready to learn and have the necessary tools to stay on the path that leads to graduation, a steady job and a bright future. Thanks to you, older adults in our community live with dignity and independence. Because of you, families are thriving – not just surviving and those with special needs focus less on their challenges and more on their opportunities. Your support makes all of this—and more—possible. On behalf of the thousands of lives you impact each day in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, thank you for bringing LIVE UNITED to life! Warmest regards,

Sandra Chickeletti Chair, Board of Directors

Gary Drapek President

great things happen when we live united

United Way

The hungry are fed. The homeless are sheltered. Children are prepared for success. Disabilities are overcome. Basic and emergency needs are met. Families are financially stable. Neighborhoods are safer. People have access to quality health care. Survivors of domestic violence are given a voice and safe shelter. Seniors remain independent. Teens are mentored. Lives are improved.

Thank you for bringing Live United to Life! Partner Agency List

American Red Cross of Lackawanna County

The ARC of NEPA Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA Catholic Social Services Day Nursery Association Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA Greater Carbondale YMCA Greater Scranton YMCA Hemodialysis Patients’ Association of NEPA Jewish Community Center of Scranton Jewish Family Service of NEPA Lackawanna Blind Association Meals on Wheels of NEPA Northeastern PA Council, Boy Scouts of America St. Joseph’s Center The Salvation Army Scranton Primary Health Care Center Serving Seniors Telespond Senior Serivces United Cerebral Palsy of NEPA United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA Voluntary Action Center Womens’ Resource Center Wayne County grantees listed on page 24.

education

United Way

Together, we’re investing in our children…and our community’s future. You bring LIVE UNITED to life by providing children and teens with opportunities for quality learning and skill development. Our focus:

• School Readiness • Academic Achievement • Development of New Skills and Knowledge • Quality Out-of-School Time

The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties is committed to ensuring that the children and teens in our community have access to quality education and life-long learning opportunities. Academic achievement is the gateway to future success and is vital to later health and prosperity. To help support this ultimate success, our work in Education is centered around the core focus areas of school readiness, attendance and summer learning with an emphasis on parental/caregiver engagement, healthy growth and development and literacy to help increase 3rd Grade reading proficiency.

SCHOOL READINESS / SUCCESS BY 6 Research shows that for every $1 invested in early education, the return is more than $17, measured in crucial

metrics such as lower crime rates, fewer teen pregnancies, better access to health care and stable employment. Since 2003, the United Way’s Success By 6 program has been at the forefront in advocating for a quality education for our area’s very youngest learners.

THE FIRST STEPS

Building on a successful parental engagement initiative started two years ago, Success By 6 continued the First Steps as an online resource library for parents and caregivers with information and links to help them support their child’s growth and cognitive development; activity guides to make everyday moments into learning moments and resources to help parents make informed decisions when choosing childcare.

KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION AND REGISTRATION OUTREACH

Furthering our mission to help ensure children enter school ready to learn, Success By 6 continued our proven Kindergarten transition program as 2,175 children and their families prepared for success even before the first day of Kindergarten. Through field trips and publications, including the customized “What Do You Wonder About Kindergarten” books sponsored by PNC Grow Up Great and M&T Bank, the students and their families built excitement around the start of kindergarten while being more comfortable about making the transition. This program reached children in 25 elementary schools within 11 districts throughout Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. To help ensure all area children had access to these successful transition strategies, Success By 6 again worked with the school districts in both counties to distribute kindergarten registration dates and information for each elementary school in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties.

United Way

PA ONE BOOK READ OUT LOUD

To highlight the importance of early literacy, Success By 6 continued the popular read out loud guest reader program as part of PA ONE BOOK and the Celebration of National Volunteer Week in April. This event recruits volunteers from local companies and organizations to Read Out Loud in area preschool classrooms. This year, 37 volunteers from eight different companies visited 34 classrooms and read to 578 children.

EDUCATIONAL TAX CREDITS

The Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs enable businesses to support the United Way’s commitment to education. Support of this vital program rose to new heights last year as we obtained more than $600,000 in EITC and OSTC funds to help area children achieve success. Through the Opportunity Scholarship program, we assisted 42 children with an additional 14 Scholarship Opportunities in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties.

PRE-K TAX CREDITS

Since beginning our Pre-K Tax credit program in 2005, more than $2.7 million has been contributed to help 1,433 preschool children attend quality Pre-K programs. We thank those generous companies who share our commitment to investing in the education of local children for this Decade of Difference for so many preschoolers in our community! Last year, the United Way leveraged the Pre-K tax credits to provide tuition assistance to more than 230 children in six counties.

SUPPORTING BUSINESSES – Fiscal Year 201415

•Absolute Distribution, Inc. – A Times Shamrock Company* •AQUA Pennsylvania •Community Bank NA* •Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply •The Dime Bank* •Fidelity Bank* •First National Community Bank* •Gertrude Hawk Chocolates* •The Honesdale National Bank* •M & T Bank* •NBT Bank •PNC Bank •PNC Capital Advisors, LLC* •PPL Electric Utilities* •Towanda Printing Company – A TimesShamrock Company* •Wayne Bank* •Weis Markets

*Denotes a company that contributed Pre-K tax credits.

United Way

CHILDREN’S PRODUCE MARKET/ NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER ONE ROOF To help us better engage parents and to support healthy growth for children, the United Way has

partnered with CEO/Weinberg Food Bank and the Scranton School District to hold monthly Children’s Produce Markets in two Scranton elementary schools—McNichols Plaza and Bancroft. Eighty-three percent of the students at McNichols and 89 percent of those at Bancroft are considered “at-risk.” This innovative program utilizes the community school concept to bring much-needed services directly to the school on a monthly basis in order to connect the social service community, the school community and the families with healthy and nutritious food as well as access to vital services in the school setting. By creating an event each month, this program removes the stigma that can be caused and creates a welcoming and respectful environment for the families. At Bancroft Elementary, volunteers from Cigna, Penn Foster, PPL, the Lackawanna College Police Academy Cadets, the Independent Living program and the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services have rolled up their sleeves to support this endeavor. At McNichols Plaza, each month dozens of Bank of America employees arrive at the school in the afternoon and stay through the evening in rotating shifts to help setup and distribute the food. In total between the two schools, 641 families have received fresh produce and other nutritious foods as well as nutrition activities, cooking demonstrations and support from dozens of local social service agencies.

“Gracias por brindarme la despensa. Es muy bueno for my familia.” Quote from one of the moms at the Children’s Produce Market. Translation: Thank you for bringing us the food pantry. It has been very helpful for my family.

ATTENDANCE AWARENESS Improving student attendance is an essential, cost-effective but often overlooked strategy for

ensuring our students are on-track to learn and succeed. While absenteeism is typically related to high school or middle school students, we are working with the Office of Youth and Family Services/ Truancy Liaisons to implement an Attendance Awareness campaign for all Lackawanna County elementary schools. Although not truancy, chronic absence of just one or two days per month during these foundational early learning years can cause a child to fall behind by as much as a full month at the end of the school year. Good attendance matters for school success, starting as early as Pre-K and throughout elementary school. By middle and high school, poor attendance is a leading indicator of dropout so developing the habit of good attendance prepares students for success in school, on the job…and in life. The school-based campaign that began last year focused on creating awareness with parents about the importance of positive school attendance and encouraged schools to look more closely at chronic absence and the barriers to attendance for many families in their school community. The United Way provided all Lackawanna County elementary schools with banners, posters and flyers/ materials for the students to take home and share with their parents. The campaign centered on a county-wide art contest with 16 schools participating. The winner was Kaitlyn, a 2nd grade student at Jefferson Elementary. Her artwork was featured on a billboard donated by Lamar Advertising and will be the centerpiece of next year’s attendance awareness campaign in the schools. Additionally, we began a pilot program at Carbondale Area Elementary school to offer more intensive parent supports while conducting a grade level contest spotlighting the classroom with the best attendance record halfway through the school year and by the last day of school which impacted more than 900 elementary students in Carbondale.

United Way

SUMMER LEARNING Although school is not in session during the summer, the learning should not stop! Research indicates

that children lose an average of more than two months of grade level equivalency over the summer, and that trend is even more alarming for children from lower income families. Last year, we celebrated National Summer Learning Day in June with a social media campaign, encouraging local families to read with their young children and share a #SummerLearningSelfie with us on Facebook and Twitter. The results were outstanding as our Facebook posts reached more than 2,000 people while we had 1,500 impressions on Twitter and one even appeared on the Twitter feed of Reach Higher, First Lady Michelle Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education initiative! We will continue our widespread community awareness campaign for Summer 2015 with additional media outreach in traditional, outdoor and social formats. In addition to this broad community-wide awareness, we piloted summer learning programs in the Scranton and Carbondale Area School Districts last summer. Eighty incoming kindergarten students in Carbondale received Summer Learning Book Packs containing five books and activity sheets. In the Scranton School District, 240 children entering 1st- 3rd grade also received a Summer Learning Book Pack and were invited back to school to attend two Summer Learning programs where they completed a variety of activities and received a hot lunch. In the summer of 2015, these programs will continue, and we will expand our Summer Learning activities to reach another 750 children through a partnership with the Summer Food 4 Kids program of the CEO/Weinberg Food Bank. Children visiting 10 Summer Food sites will receive books donated by HarperCollins publishers and volunteers will be at each site to read to the children and lead them in educational activities.

EDUCATION PROGRAM PARTNERS Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA * Day Nursery Association * Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA * Greater

Carbondale YMCA * Greater Scranton YMCA * Jewish Community Center of Scranton * NEPA Council * Boy Scouts of America * United Cerebral Palsy of NEPA * United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA * Voluntary Action Center of NEPA

EDUCATION IMPACT Thanks to you last year, 62 teens participated in the Leaders in Training program that engages at-risk

youth through weekly sessions and community service projects * 170 children benefited from having a caring mentor as part of the Big Brother/Big Sister program * 702 youth received financial assistance to join Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts * 74 children with special needs borrowed adaptive toys through the Lekotek toy lending library * 966 children attended Summer Day Camp and enjoyed safe, structured and fun educational activities Please visit us online at UWLC.NET for more about the impact you made in education.

income

United Way

Together we’re investing in the financial stability of area families so they can thrive, not just survive. You bring LIVE UNITED to life by helping families and individuals achieve greater self-sufficiency and empowering them with skills and knowledge. Our focus:

• • • • • • • •

Financial Competency Workforce Development Community Benefits Family Sustaining Employment Income Supports Savings & Assets Manageable Expenses Affordable Housing

In times of crisis and dire need, local people with nowhere else to turn have sought help from the United Way—dating back to our earliest days as the Community Chest. Despite investing roughly $800,000 annually to address necessities such as food, clothing and shelter, it is simply not enough. With roughly 15 percent of the residents of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties living in poverty, far too many families in our area are forced to walk a financial tightrope. The United Way’s Financial Stability Partnership aims to change that stark reality through time-tested programs that promote fiscal stability and economic independence through maximized income, increased savings, sound financial decision-making and budgeting with careful asset management for long-term stability.

VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE The hallmark of our Financial Stability work, this marked the eighth year of our VITA program expansion. We

partner with the University of Scranton to provide free tax preparation for low to moderate income individuals. Last year, the taxes were prepared at the University and in nine different locations in Lackawanna, Wayne and Susquehanna Counties by University of Scranton students and volunteers—all of whom were trained and certified by the IRS. Our program is the 3rd largest in the state of Pennsylvania while boasting the lowest return rejection rate of any VITA program in the Commonwealth. Last year, 1,911 FREE tax returns were filed with $2,298,410 being returned to the community, including more than $763,000 in Earned Income Tax Credits and fee savings for the clients of almost $300,000.

GIFT OF WARMTH To help protect our community’s most vulnerable residents during the harsh cold of winter, the United Way

began the Gift of Warmth program to augment our Emergency Heating Fund. This innovative program began in 2008 by Patrick McMahon, owner of OnePoint, Inc., to encourage business leaders and individuals to give the Gift of Warmth to clients, vendors and friends in lieu of holiday gifts or tokens of appreciation. Combined with generous foundation support, last year, $91,000 was raised across both counties to assist five households with furnace repair or replacement and 243 with emergency heat and utility assistance.

United Way

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COUNCIL To address unmet and emerging needs in the community, the United Way reviews special requests

and awards grants to programs addressing these issues. Among the grantees last year was the Jewish Community Center of Scranton’s Community Garden. This Healthy Living Initiative mobilized the JCC’s preschool, Camp Daleville Counselors-in-Training, the children in the afterschool program and senior adults to plant, grow and cultivate a garden which yielded enough fruits and vegetables to help supply healthy snacks to Camp Daleville’s day camp and the afterschool healthy cooking club.

INCOME PROGRAM PARTNERS: Catholic Social Services * St. Joseph’s Center * The Salvation Army * United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA * Voluntary Action Center of NEPA * Women’s Resource Center

INCOME IMPACT: Thanks to you last year, 767 homeless individuals received shelter meals and a plan to help them become more stable * 92 women and 75 children in immediate danger had a safe place to stay when fleeing from domestic violence * 816 emergency requests to FIRST were referred to the appropriate community resource while another 622 emergency plans were implemented to address basic needs such as shelter or food * 309 Latino individuals were helped through outreach programs * 13 new moms living with their babies at the Mother Infant Home participated in parenting, financial management and other life skills programs * 13,667 families received emergency food and clothing assistance. Please visit us online at UWLC.NET for more about the impact you made in income. >>

health

United Way

Together we’re investing in the health and wellness of our community because better health leads to better lives. You bring LIVE UNITED to life by providing all residents the opportunity to achieve optimal physical and mental health while promoting healthy lifestyles and communities. Our focus:

• • • •

Safe Homes and Healthy Communities Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Development of Healthy Behaviors Access to Health Care

Good physical and mental health is a basic need that impacts every aspect of life. A child without enough to eat has difficulty concentrating on her schoolwork. A family who loses health insurance falls to the brink of bankruptcy when a serious illness strikes. An older adult without prescription assistance is often forced to choose between critical medications and paying other bills or putting food on his table. The United Way knows that strong, vibrant and healthy individuals and families are the cornerstone of a successful community.

BULLYING PREVENTION According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, bullying is defined as unwanted,

aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Bullying can threaten students’ physical and emotional safety at school and can negatively impact their ability to learn. The best way to address bullying is to stop it before it starts. To address this important issue, the United Way obtained a grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to implement a Bullying Prevention training program in the Scranton School District (SSD) with support from the Scranton School Board, Scranton Federation of Teachers and District Administration. Twenty SSD teachers and one education coordinator from United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA will complete an online course to help teachers identify and prevent bullying. The goal of the program is to have one trained and certified bullying expert in each of the district’s schools with on-going support for program implementation. The course was developed by renowned bullying expert, Dr. David Hall—a nationally recognized expert in the field and frequent CNN contributor on bullying issues. Following the completion of the course Dr. Hall will host a one-day forum for social service providers, teachers, parents and others in the community interested in this critical topic.

United Way

TIPS TELEHEALTH Thanks to another grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the United Way is partnering with

PACE University, the University of Scranton and the West Chester Public-Private Partnership on Telehealth Intervention Programs for Seniors (TIPS) in our community. Through this exciting and innovative initiative, 200 area seniors with diagnosed chronic health conditions such as heart problems or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have their vitals (blood pressure, weight, pulse and oxygen levels) monitored twice weekly using HIPPA approved, state-of-the-art portable electronic equipment at five local senior centers. The results are immediately transferred electronically to a nurse practioner for review. At the first sign of an abnormal reading, the client and their physician are notified. The ultimate goal of this program is to reduce hospitalizations and keep seniors independent in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible.

FAMILYWIZE

Saving people money on necessary prescriptions is vital to the health and well-being of area families and our community. The United Way brought the FamilyWize partnership to Lackawanna and Wayne Counties in 2007 to offer substantial discounts for people with little or no prescription coverage. FamilyWize cards are distributed free of charge throughout our community and can be downloaded by visiting UWLC.NET or by texting “Family” to 700700 (Data and message rates may apply.) During 2014, 12,175 claims were made in our two counties with a total savings of $477,169. The average savings per prescription was more than $39 or nearly 49 percent. Since the program’s local inception in 2007, nearly 65,000 claims have been made in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties with a total savings of more than $2 million.

HEALTHY FUTURES The United Way continued this award-winning program to target childhood obesity within five partner agencies – the Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA, Jewish Community Center of Scranton, Greater Carbondale and Greater Scranton YMCAs and United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA. More than 500 children participated to increase their physical activity and nutritional knowledge with support at home.

STATE & FEDERAL AID PROGRAMS In 2014, the United Way continued its role as local administrator for the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP)

and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Last year, we leveraged $316,637 in SFPP funds to provide more than 239,000 pounds of food to help 11,445 households through 11 agencies. The FEMA dollars provide supplemental funds for emergency food and shelter needs. Last year, more than $102,000 in federal funds were awarded to six local organizations to help meet those needs.

United Way

HELP FOR HUNGER Recent statistics indicate that nearly one in four people in our area do not have enough food. Working

to change that, the United Way helped to support the CEO Weinberg Food Banks’ Summer Food 4 Kids program that provides healthy food to children in need during the summer. We also held the 4th annual Caring and Sharing Healthy Food Drive as a signature project of Day of Caring last year as area companies and volunteers donated nearly one ton of food for local food pantries.

HEALTH PROGRAM PARTNERS: The Arc of NEPA * American Red Cross of Lackawanna County * Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA *

Catholic Social Services * Greater Carbondale YMCA * Greater Scranton YMCA * Hemodialysis Patients’ Association of NEPA * Jewish Community Center of Scranton * Jewish Family Service of NEPA * Lackawanna Blind Association * Meals on Wheels of NEPA * St. Joseph’s Center * Scranton Primary Health Care Center * Serving Seniors * Telespond Senior Services * United Cerebral Palsy of NEPA * United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA * Voluntary Action Center of NEPA * Women’s Reource Center

HEALTH IMPACT: Thanks to you last year, 58 adults and children received much-needed dental care * 1,971 adult and

child victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and/or stalking called a hotline for immediate crisis intervention and support * 1,818 hot meals were delivered to convalescing seniors recently released from the hospital * 5,523 children and 1,300 adults participated in vision screenings and eye safety educational programs * 568 uninsured or unemployed people received medical care * 572 frail seniors maintained their independence and enjoyed 202,536 hours of friendly visits. Please visit us online at UWLC.NET for more about the impact you made in health. >>

wayne county

United Way

Together, we’re investing in programs and services that make a difference for everyone who calls Wayne County home. You bring LIVE UNITED to life when your support helps our communities come together collectively to make a difference and improve the quality of life for all us in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Wayne County Fund Distribution committee awarded grants totaling almost $54,000 to 13 organizations serving Wayne County residents. The funds were raised through workplace campaigns, corporate gifts, individual donations and foundation awards during the prior year’s campaign. The 2014 grant recipients are:

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

The Arc of NEPA Catholic Social Services Devereux Pocono Center Hawley Public Library Honesdale Communities That Care Hose Co. No. 1 – Honesdale Fire Department Victims’ Intervention Program Wallenpaupack School District Wayne County Area Agency on Aging Wayne County Food Pantry Wayne County Public Library Wayne County YMCA Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance

EDUCATION During the 2014 campaign, 17 businesses—including The Dime Bank, The Honesdale National Bank and Wayne Bank—made contributions to the United Way’s Tax Credit program. The Pre-K tax credits allowed 56 children in Wayne County and four children in Pike County to attend quality preschools last year.

Our Success By 6 program continued working to positively impact Wayne County children in 2014. We mobilized volunteers from several Wayne County businesses to “Read Out Loud” as guest readers in five early learning centers/preschools throughout the County as part of PA One Book and National Volunteer Week. Kindergarten registration materials were shared with early care providers in Wayne County, and we worked directly with four schools in the three Wayne County school districts to help more than 300 children transition successfully to Kindergarten.

INCOME In the fifth year of this program in the Wayne County community, 70 households were given the Gift

of Warmth and received help with emergency heat/utility assistance during the cold winter months last year. To illustrate the scope of this program, the oldest individual receiving the Gift of Warmth in Wayne County was 89 while the youngest was a newborn infant. As part of our commitment to improving the financial stability of Wayne County families, we continued our VITA program expansion to prepare federal, state and local income taxes for free for individuals and families in need in the greater Wayne County community and surrounding rural areas. 24

United Way

HEALTH The United Way distributes free FamilyWize prescription discount cards to individuals with little or no

prescription coverage. In Wayne County last year, there were 2,614 claims made with prescription savings of nearly $132,500. The average savings per prescription was more than $50 or nearly 54 percent.

WAYNE COUNTY IMPACT: Thanks to you last year in Wayne County, 1,440 people without enough to eat enjoyed fresh produce * 9 students with special needs successfully transitioned from school to work in the community * 14 children were provided a safe after school environment and were able to achieve measurable improvements in their math and reading * 3,098 toddlers and preschoolers developed a love of reading through early literacy programs * 112 children receive crisis and counseling services during school hours * 1,475 individuals and families in need of emergency assistance with basic needs like heating, utilities, rent and food were helped. Please visit us online at UWLC.NET for more about the impact you made in Wayne County. >>

give

United Way

2014 CAMPAIGN – HIGHLIGHTS Led by Attorneys Joe and Judy Price, partners in the lawfirm of Dougherty, Leventhal and Price, and their

dedicated campaign cabinet volunteers, the 2014 Campaign raised $3,590,682. This figure was announced at a “Price is Right” themed event in November. As Joe and Judy traveled our region, visiting every United Way partner agency and our Wayne County grant recipients throughout the Campaign, they led the way with a tireless enthusiasm that was nothing short of inspirational. Along the way, they met people whose lives have been touched by the United Way and shared their eye-opening experiences with countless employee groups and other donors. We are truly fortunate to have such passionate, dedicated and engaged leaders to inspire our donors, corporate partners and foundations to invest in the future of our community through the United Way.

THE PILLARS As the 2014 campaign results came in, ten companies synonymous with corporate philanthropy emerged as

the highest grossing campaigns in our region. These Pillars combined corporate and employee giving to raise more than $1 million last year:

• • • • • • • • • •

Fidelity Bank Gentex Corporation Gertrude Hawk Chocolates Moses Taylor Hospital – An Affiliate of Commonwealth Health PNC Bank PPL Utilities The P&G Paper Products Company – Mehoopany Plant Scranton School District The Scranton Times-Tribune TMG Health, Inc.

Sources of Revenue 2014 Campaign Corporat e Giving 15.1 % Individual Giving 7.3 %

ivi . rp n G o o n C ati No und Fo .1 % 10

Other 31.8 %

Employee Giving 35.7 %

United Way

THE SPIRIT OF CARING CHAIRMAN’S AWARD These awards are the highest honor United Way bestows annually for service above and beyond the

campaign. The Attorney’s Division was honored for attaining a 33 percent increase over the previous year, resulting from the “Attorney Challenge” matching gift program from Margaret Briggs Foundation and an anonymous donor. The Boscov’s employees received this award with a 15 percent increase in giving through a store-wide campaign effort that lead the way in local retail store employee giving. The City of Scranton employees were awarded due to a reenergized focus that met with incredible success as giving increased nearly 1,000 percent while tripling the number of donors from the prior year. The employees of The Scranton Times-Tribune and Times Shamrock Communications were honored for surpassing their ambitious fundraising goal with 20 employees setting a high standard of giving at the leadership level of $1,000 or more. The employees of Sordoni Construction Services, Inc. sharpened their regional focus and enjoyed renewed enthusiasm, leading to an increase of 500 percent over the previous year. The final Chairman’s Award was presented to the corporate and employees of TMG Health, Inc. for achieving record levels of giving by surpassing last year’s total by more than $20,000, bringing their employee total to more than $100,000.

MIKE MUNCHAK CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC The United Way was delighted to welcome Mike Munchak—2001 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee and Offensive Line Coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers—home to his native Scranton for the 19th Annual Mike Munchak Charity Classic at the Country Club of Scranton to benefit our United Way. In the nearly two decades of this golf tournament, more than $550,000 has been raised, making it our largest single fundraising event.

Mike’s ongoing commitment to the people of our community inspired the Mike Munchak Community Services Scholarship, awarded to a local high school student who demonstrates the leardershp and community activism Mike displays both on and off the field. The one-time financial award of $6,300 honors Mike’s #63 that was retired by the Houston Oilers. The 2014 recipient was Sarah Wagner, a graduate of Holy Cross High School. Sarah volunteered for United Cerebral Palsy’s Lekotek program, assisting teens and children with special needs to enjoy games, crafts, computers and other adaptive activities. Sarah is attending Marywood University, where she is majoring in Musical Theater.

advocate

United Way

THE UNITED WAY OF LACKAWANNA AND WAYNE COUNTIES is a recognized leader in collaborations and creating positive, measurable community impact. We strive

to provide a forum for both people and organizations to share their passion for our community while advancing the common good in the areas of education, income, and health. We listen to the community, identify needs, priorities and gaps in service to direct resources or create programs addressing the issues that matter most. With nearly 95 years of experience, we know that this community-based approach to problem solving requires more than simply successful fundraising. Our United Way is a grassroots community organization providing innovative and needed services to thousands of individuals with needs as varied and diverse as they themselves are. While our United Wayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work has evolved, our focus remains singularâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to help provide a better quality of life for everyone in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. Uniting decision-makers, industry experts, community leaders, and policy makers at the local, state and even national levels, the United Way keeps the needs of our region at the forefront. We need you. The United Way needs people like you who share our passion for the education, income and health of our community to join us and help champion the cause. Use your voice and make a difference! Start by signing up for email updates at UWLC.NET, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to learn more about the issues facing our community. Engage your co-workers, friends and family and encourage them to volunteer. From a public policy perspective, in addition to voting, let your elected officials know where you stand. Write letters, attend meetings and share your opinion. Even by simply wearing your LIVE UNITED shirt, you can help inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow.

United Way

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PARTICIPATION UNITED WAY AND ORGANIZED LABOR: WORKING TOGETHER In 2014, the United Way’s Department of Labor Participation continued successful partnerships with both the Lackawanna County and Pocono Counties’ Workforce Investment Boards to promote community initiatives. The Department also continued its work with the Northeast Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center to help promote manufacturing in our region to retain jobs and create new employment opportunities for dislocated workers. Additionally, the Department continues to be an integral part of the Commonwealth’s Rapid Response team, deploying immediately to meet with displaced workers and quickly help them access important services during times of unemployment or layoffs. The Department prepares an informational “Services for the Unemployed” brochure, widely distributed throughout the area and at the CareerLink of Lackawanna County. The Department was pleased to once again support the Letter Carrier Branch 17’s successful Stamp Out Hunger food drive to help fill the shelves of area food pantries; and it also proudly carried on the tradition of honoring an individual or group from the ranks of organized labor with the William E. Cockerill, Sr. award. In recognition of the 25th anniversary of this honor, the award was presented to the Greater Scranton Central Labor Union at the annual Awards Breakfast and Celebration in April. The Department of Labor Participation is proud to support our local veterans and the UAW local 1193, employed by General Dynamics Land Systems Division, pictured at left in Scranton’s Armed Forces Day parade in May.

volunteer

United Way

The United Way movement in our area was started by a group of visionary volunteers in 1921, and their spirit lives on in the thousands of like-minded individuals who roll up their sleeves to make a difference in our community each year. At the very heart of our United Way lies these loyal volunteers who embody the ideal of service above self. We owe our existence to the vision of those long-ago volunteers but we credit our success to the tenacity of today’s dedicated volunteers whose passion and commitment continue to inspire action.

The estimated value of a volunteer’s time in Pennsylvania was $22.63 per hour in 2014 (per the Independent Sector, a nonpartisan leadership network for nonprofits, foundations, and corporations)

DAY OF CARING In 2014, the United Way’s Day of Caring celebrated its milestone 20th Anniversary as the area’s premiere one-day

volunteer effort. Sponsored by NBT Bank, Day of Caring mobilized nearly 400 volunteers from 30 area companies as the volunteers completed 38 projects in nearly two dozen partner agencies and grant recipient organizations in our two counties. The volunteer projects included landscaping, painting, cleaning, maintenance, client visitation and other essential tasks to benefit the local organizations making a difference in our community every day. Under the leadership of Nancy Jackson Matthews, Day of Caring chair since its inception in 1994, more than 11,000 volunteers have completed more than 900 projects by giving more than 60,000 hours of service in our community.

YOUTH DAY OF CARING To encourage and inspire the next generation of dedicated volunteers, the United Way holds the annual Youth Day of Caring for students in grades 7-12. In 2014, nearly 250 area students from six local schools volunteered at 15 sites within eight United Way partner agencies.

GET CONNECTED The United Way invites you to Get Connected with our volunteer portal that will match you with opportunities to make a difference. Accessed through our website at WWLC.net, users create a profile and search for opportunities to make a difference.

In the past year there have been more than 4,600 visits to the site with nearly 3,500 of those being unique. We’ve had more than 400 new, registred users with over 17,500 page views. The individual agency pages were viewed nearly 14,000 times. Join us to Get Connected and make a difference.

United Way

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARD At the annual Awards Breakfast and Celebration, the United Way presented this special award to the volunteers from Bank of America for their support of our Children’s Produce Market collaborative with CEO/Weinberg Food Bank and the Scranton School District. Each month, dozens of Bank of America team members arrive at McNichols school in rotating shifts to help set-up and distribute food to families in need. With the help of these dedicated volunteers, more than 460 families at McNichols received fresh, nourishing food that they might not otherwise have had.

“The best part is when my associates come back and tell me about their experiences interacting with the families and seeing the children. It’s just very rewarding for all of us.” ~ Jennifer Saunders, Assistant Vice President, Bank of America and lead volunteer coordinator for BOA’s Corporate Social Responsibility program

COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS To ensure that donor dollars are being invested into Partner Agency programs that deliver measurable results, a

group of volunteers serves as careful stewards of those funds. Meeting regularly throughout the year, the Fund Distribution Committee volunteers review client data, units of service, budgets, outcomes and other crucial metrics to carefully scrutinize program effectiveness and determine appropriate funding levels. In 2014, we continued using eC-Impact, an online system which enables the agencies to submit their funding applications electronically while also allowing volunteers to review the submissions electronically. Thanks to the dedication of these 54 volunteers who gave nearly 1,000 hours of their time, you can be assured that your gift to the United Way will be carefully invested in monitored programs to have maximum impact in our community. The companies represented by these dedicated volunteers are listed on the next page.

United Way

FUND DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AAA North Barrows Wealth Management Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Boenning & Scattergood, Inc. Case Stack Community Bank NA The Commonwealth Medical College Condron & Cosgrove The Dime Bank Educational Opportunity Center, Inc. EPSCO Gentex Corporation Highlights for Children The Honesdale National Bank Jewish Home of Eastern PA Johnson College Keystone College Lamar Advertising Loveshaw Marywood University Merrill Lynch MetLife Insurance Company Moses Taylor Hospital NBT Bank Nexstar WBRE/WYOU PNC Bank PNC Wealth Management PPL Corporation Quadrant EPP Regional Hospital of Scranton The Scranton Times-Tribune SLHDA Thomas J Kelley and Associates TR Technology Solutions UPS VaxServe, Inc. Wayne Bank Wayne County Area Agency on Aging Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Wayne Memorial Hospital

The dollar amounts and percentages shown were awarded to our partner agency programs by the Community Impact Fund Distribution Committee volunteers for Fiscal Year 2015-16.

27% $441,887

20% $334,006

53% $870,217

Board of Directors Chair

Sandra Chickeletti Vice President, M&T Bank

Senior Vice Chair

Tom Donohue Vice President/General Manager, Lamar Advertising

Vice Chair, Resource Development

Alex Fried Mehoopany PR, HSE & Energy Affairs Manager The P&G Paper Products Co.

Vice Chair, Community Impact Randy Palko Community Volunteer

Vice Chair, Community Impact Marketing Edward F. Dempsey, Sr. Vice President, Boenning & Scattergood, Inc.

Treasurer

John Canavan Community Volunteer

Secretary

Anne Salerno Scranton School District

2014 Campaign Chairs Attorneys Joe and Judy Price Dougherty, Leventhal & Price, LLP

Honorary Lifetime Members Richard C. Marquardt and Judith Graziano United Way

Members at Large Gary Beilman The Dime Bank Craig Best Peoples Security Bank & Trust Dr. Stanley Blondek Physician’s Health Alliance Barbara Bossi Geisinger-CMC Lewis J. Critelli Wayne Bank Christina Curran McDonalds Peter Curtin PNC Bank Justin Davis Moses Taylor Hospital / Commonwealth Health P.J. Dempsey Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply Kris E. Fendrock, Esq. Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP William King Montrose Area High School

Bernadette Montefour Gentex Corp. Sister Anne Munley, IHM Marywood University Dr. Karen Murphy Pennsylvania State Secretary of Health Margo Opsasnick Delta Medix Dr. Ann Pipinski Johnson College William Rosado The Rosado Group Kelly Scheinman Healthcare Consultant Richard Schraeder IBEW Local 81 William Schweighofer Community Volunteer Drew Simpson Carpenter’s Union Local 645 Charles Wayland TMG Health, Inc. Scott Williams Jack Williams Tire

George Lynett, Jr. The Scranton Times-Tribune

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

For the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2014 with summarized comparative information for Fiscal Year 2013.

ASSETS 2014

2013

Cash - unrestricted Cash subject to donor restrictions Cash and cash equivalents $ Pledges receivable, net of allowance for uncollectible pledges of $213,432 and $216,207 Investments Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation Prepaid expenses Other receivables Beneficial interest in assets held by a community foundation

$ 3,660,702 41,710 3,702,412 $

$ 3,379,767 16,521 3,396,288

624,299 2,855,938

832,555 2,688,835

$ 7,302,473

Total assets

51,775 8,734 8,561

73,363 5,793 6,715

50,754

45,482 $ 7,049,031

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Liabilities Accounts payable Accrued payroll and payroll taxes Allocations payable Agency funds Due to designated agencies Reserve for community service Total liabilities Net assets Unrestricted Board designated Undesignated Net investment in land, buildings and equipment Total unrestricted net assets Temporarily restricted Time restricted Purpose restricted Total temporarily restricted net assets Total net assets Total liabilities and net assets

63,510 1,274 802,726 213,061 211,317 34,496 1,326,384

73,485 726 723,760 205,589 145,431 34,407 1,183,398

2,791,383 775,778

2,842,554 575,321

88,121 3,655,282

103,709 3,521,584

1,646,722 674,085 2,320,807 5,976,089 7,302,473

An independent audit was completed by McGrail, Merkel, Quinn and Associates for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014 and is available for review at the United Way office. The offical registration and financial information of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties may be obtained from The Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, in Pennsylvania 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement

United Way

1,724,146 619,903 2,344,049 5,865,633 $ 7,049,031

Our Staff Angela Bassani, CPA, Director of Financial Stability

Lisa Berardelli, Director of Education Programs Bill Cockerill, AFL/CIO Community Services Liaison Gary Drapek, President and CEO Jack R. Evans, Senior Vice President and CFO Stig Fromm, Director of Community Impact Nikki Keller, Vice President of Community Impact Marketing Frank Kincel, Campaign Manager Peg Kopko, Vice President of Community Impact Maripat Kovalkosi, Operational Systems Manager Elena Kozloski, Office Services Manager Dan Nowakowski, Campaign Manager John Orbin, Vice President of Resource Development/Campaign

OUR MISSION

To improve the quality of life of the people of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties and surrounding communities by serving as a catalyst for community problem solving and by conducting an efficient, encompassing volunteer fundraising effort to positively impact the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most compelling social problems.

United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties 615 Jefferson Avenue-Scranton, PA 18510 PO Box 526- Scranton, PA 18501-0526 PO Box 328- Waymart, PA 18472 P: 570-343-1267 - F: 570-969-2977 www.uwlc.net