Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2013, ISSUE I
(Top Photo) Curtis Jewell. (Middle Photo, from left) Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Janet E. Jackson, Anna Deveare Smith, Abigail and Les Wexner. (Bottom Photo) Larry James, Demetries Neely Walker, Marian Wright Edelman and Adam Troy.
---------------------------------------------------------------Online Extra: ---------------------------------------------------------------Buy tickets to the Champion of Children Signature Event here, or go to liveunitedcentralohio.org/buy-tickets ----------------------------------------------------------------
prESIDENTS UpDaTE
One purpose of the LIVING UNITED newsletter to is keep our United Way of Central Ohio family informed about what your generosity and service is accomplishing in our community. That means we celebrate the many ways that together we improve lives and strengthen our community. As we begin 2013, we celebrate the 90th anniversary of United Way of Central Ohio, and we couldnt have helped so many people for so many decades if it were not for generations of dedicated central Ohioans who believed in the idea behind our movement together we can achieve much more than we can individually. This dedication has manifest itself in countless ways over the last 90 years, and 2013 will continue our ever-growing efforts to create collective impact by bringing partners together and mobilizing our community to create concrete, measurable change. One important group we will celebrate this year is Key Club. Fifteen years ago, a group of engaged community leaders came together to form what has become one of the premier African American giving groups in the country and we will honor their many accomplishments in 2013. Another purpose of the newsletter is to shine a light on the conditions in our community that make giving, advocating and volunteering through United Way so crucial to our shared well-being. With this in mind, we will take a look at poverty in central Ohio from the perspective of the people who live this devastating experience on a daily basis. As many of our leadership givers who participated in a recent poverty simulation event discovered, trying to survive, much less care for a family, on a poverty-level income requires tremendous patience and resourcefulness. Its hard to plan and work for a better future when all of your time and efforts are consumed with simply surviving. But thanks to your support, United Way is providing the opportunities that individuals, families, and most crucially, children, need to rise out of poverty and reach their potential. Sincerely,
To learn more about the Loaned Executive Program and how your company can participate please contact Chanelle Smith at 614-227-2750, or chanelle.smith@uwcentralohio.org.
LIVING UNITED
Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown was one of the more than 80 community leaders and United Way leadership givers who lived the roles of a person in poverty. I had no idea my entire perception about poverty and the culture of scarceness could change so much in one hour, she said. The Cost of Poverty Experience makes very real and tangible the challenges that many of our residents face every day, simply to survive. Every public servant and safety-net provider, from the executive director to the front office receptionist, should have this experience - it will forever alter the method and quality of service delivery.
---------------------------------------------------------------Online Extra: See a chart of how free and reduced-price lunch eligibility has ---------------------------------------------------------------grown in all of the local school districts in central Ohio. ---------------------------------------------------------------3
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JED mOrISON NamED 2013 ChampION Of ChILDrEN bIG brOThErS bIG SISTErS Of CENTraL OhIO NamED 2013 ChampION Of ChILDrEN NONprOfIT OrGaNIzaTION
mOrISON aND bIG brOThErS bIG SISTErS wILL bE hONOrED aT ThE 20Th aNNUaL ChampION Of ChILDrEN SIGNaTUrE EVENT
Jed Morison, Superintendent/ CEO of Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, has been named the 2013 Champion of Children. Morison joins a group of dynamic local leaders who have been recognized as Champions of Children and have worked to create a better tomorrow for all of the children in central Ohio. Over his long and distinguished career, Jed has been a steadfast leader of efforts to ensure all children, especially those with disabilities, get the high quality education they deserve, said Elfi Di Bella, president and CEO of YWCA Columbus, and chair of the Champion of Children Selection Committee. Jed understands that providing educational opportunities not only improves individual lives, but strengthens our entire community, and through his leadership he has had a deep and far-reaching impact that will continue to inspire us for years to come. Morison has served as the Superintendent/CEO of the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities since 2000. The Board provides early intervention, educational, therapeutic, employment and residential support services for over 17,000 children and adults who have developmental disabilities, helping them to live, learn and work in our communities. Prior to his current service as Superintendent, Morison served as Assistant Superintendent from 1977 - 2000. The Champion of Children Nonprofit Organization award went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio for its decades of effective work and the inspiration it has provided to others through its proven record of success. The United Way member agency has served more than 100,000 central Ohio children since it was founded in 1933 and is the third-largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the country. Last year, it served 4,000 central Ohio children through one-to-one matches with volunteers and 5,000 children through its mentoring programs at Camp OtyOkwa. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, businesses, civic and faith-based organizations, and others in the community, the agency operates community-based mentoring
programs, school-based mentoring programs including Project Mentor and mentoring programs at Camp OtyOkwa in the Hocking Hills, plus its Mentoring Center of Central Ohio. Mentoring is such an important part of helping children succeed in school, said Linda Kass, Champion of Children founder and chair of the Advisory Committee. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio has created the thousands of lasting mentoring connections that have helped generations of students graduate high school and pursue productive careers. The organizations positive impact on education in our community simply cannot be overstated. The Champion of Children Nonprofit Organization recognition includes a $5,000 award generously donated by Nationwide that will help Big Brothers Big Sisters further its mission. Morison and Big Brothers Big Sisters will be honored at the 20th Annual Champion of Children Signature Event featuring Geoffrey Canada to be held at 5:30 p.m. on February 13, 2013 at The Southern Theatre. Since 1994, Champion of Children has been a leading voice in raising awareness on education issues, mobilizing our community to support education and investing in effective efforts that help children succeed in school. In 2010, Champion of Children joined forces with United Way of Central Ohio and has taken on a key leadership role in United Ways work in the education impact area . To learn more about cutting edge research in education and read insightful commentary from local and national education leaders, sign up to receive the Champion of Children Education Journal. This online journal is available at liveunitedcentralohio.org/education-journal.
LEaDErShIp
PRIDE
COUNCIL
COMMUNITY
GIVING
BUILDER
United Way of Central Ohios Leadership Giving groups offer the opportunity for donors to learn more about how their contributions are helping improve lives in central Ohio, develop meaningful service projects and network with fellow donors.
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ImprOVING LIVES. STrENGThENING OUr COmmUNITy: CONGraTULaTIONS TO OUr prOJECT DIVErSITy aND prIDE LEaDErShIp GraDUaTES!
United Way congratulates Project Diversity Cycle 21 and Pride Leadership Cycle 5 graduates! These graduates join a growing group of diverse leaders who are helping to shape the future of central Ohio with their community and nonprofit board service.
Project Diversity Cycle 21 graduates. Front row (left to right): Gentell Harris, Tricia Moore-Hall, Mary Mutegi, Tamia Stewart, Elizabeth Trotman. Middle row: Betty Lovelace-Ross, Leslie Delerme Melton, Louis Blyden, Monique Hall, Emily Scardon, Terrance Mebane, Huda Ahmed, Al Edmondson, Dinessa Soloman, Sahadeo Ramharrack. Back row: Darrell Pierre, Yvonne Brooks, Tracy Turner, Khalila Perrin Hayden, Darrell L. Hunter, II, C. Jenese Bandy.
Pride Leadership Cycle 5 graduates. Front row (left to right): Rachel Bowen, Skylar Branstool, Marc A. Holt, Lee Ann Williams, Alicia Szempruch. Middle row: Amy Price, Mark J. Innocenzi, Kevin Tyler, Julie Lamere, Scott Kerby, Kitrina Spencer. Back row: Alissa Ziemer, Brian E. Sass, Andrew DeVore, Matthew Dyer, Lindy Bobbitt.
ENhaNCE yOUr LEaDErShIp SKILLS ThrOUGh prOJECT DIVErSITy aND prIDE LEaDErShIp
Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 classes of the Pride Leadership and Project Diversity leadership development programs. These programs offer a comprehensive 8-month nonprofit board leadership development experience for LGBT community members and people of color that prepares participants to be knowledgeable leaders. These programs are great examples of United Ways ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Applications are due by 3:00 p.m. on February 7, for both programs. Applications can be submitted at the United Way offices at 360 S. Third Street, Columbus, 43215 or emailed to Kelly McLennan: kelly.mclennan@uwcentralohio.org. Questions can be sent to Shayne Downton: shayne.downton@uwcentralohio.org or 614.241.3076. Applications can also be found online at: liveunitedcentralohio.org/ project-diversity and liveunitedcentralohio.org/pride-leadership.
LIVING UNITED
Tax TImE OffErS frEE Tax prEparaTION ON SUpEr SaTUrDay, fEbrUary 2ND
Tax Time is once again hosting Super Saturday on February 2nd at Columbus Downtown High School. Over 100 volunteers from local colleges, companies, and nonprofit organizations will complete hundreds of tax returns in one day. The event will also include a financial resources fair, with information on opening checking and savings accounts, enrolling in an incentivized savings account, understanding and repairing your credit, FAFSA preparation, and benefits screenings. There will also be childrens activities, and Columbus Kids: Ready, Set, Learn staff will be provide kindergarten readiness assessments. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 4th at Columbus Downtown High School, 364 South 4th St. Call 2-1-1 for appointments. Walk-ins are also welcome and there will be ample free parking. Interested in helping out? There are many volunteer opportunities. Go to taxtimecentralohio.org to sign up for volunteer trainings and shifts.
The Franklin County EITC Coalition is now the Tax Time Coalition of Central Ohio, but you can just call it Tax Time. And the name is not the only thing that changed. Tax Time now includes central Ohio free tax preparation sites that are managed by AARP and the Ohio Benefit Bank in addition to the sites managed by United Way. That means Tax Time will be able to provide even more free, high-quality tax assistance services and financial resources that help low- and moderate-income households achieve financial stability.
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LIVING UNITED
ThE COLUmbUS VOLUNTEEr ChaLLENGE rETUrNS IN 2013
ThE 200 COLUmbUS LEGaCy LIVES ON
SaVE ThE DaTES aND VOLUNTEEr!
The Columbus Volunteer Challenge was the premier service event of the bicentennial year and mobilized an unprecedented 28,435 people to work on more than 500 projects. It was such a great success that it will be back in 2013. United Way will again team up with the City of Columbus, HandsOn Central Ohio and many other nonprofit and faith-based organizations to develop the five-day event that will begin on Saturday, September 7 and end on September 11, our national day of service. Once again, United Ways Community Care Day will be an important part of the Challenge and will take place on Tuesday, September 10. Community Care Day provides a fun and meaningful way to improve lives and strengthen our community by volunteering for a specific project as part of a workplace team. This is the 22nd anniversary of Community Care Day. Last year more than 2,700 volunteers participated in the Community Care Day portion of the Challenge. So, mark your calendars now and plan to be a part of history as this great tradition of service continues. If you have a group that would like to be involved please contact Melanie Murphy at 614.227.2714 or melanie.murphy@uwcentralohio.org.