Click on any title or picture to read a specific story. Campaign Kick-off Big Brothers Big Sisters Union County Cancer Society Special Needs Council Turning Point Personal Needs Pantry Child Care Network Mental Health Association American Red Cross Salvation Army Loving Care Hospice 2005 Campaign Kick-Off Ellen Pond of Sky Bank and Tony Eufinger of Marysville Schools are the volunteer Co-Chairs of the 2005 United Way Campaign Committee. Pond has been a key participant on the Campaign Committee that has helped United Way raise $1.4 million in the last two years. Eufinger's work last year on the Marysville Schools campaign more than doubled results. Studies show that Union County is the third fastest growing county in Ohio. Two side effects to that population growth are increasing demand for existing social services and the addition of new services to meet the changing needs of a growing community. Recognizing that shift and responding to the growing budget requests of its 25 Member Agencies, the United Way of Union County Board of Trustees established a record-setting goal of $775,000 for its 2005 fundraising campaign at its August meeting this morning. Kicking off this week and running through November, hundreds of area businesses and thousands of residents will invest in their community via the United Way of Union County’s annual campaign. United Way programs and services touch the lives of more than 16,000 Union County residents each year, showing how much of an impact the campaign has on our local community. Requests for assistance are at all-time highs at several United Way agencies. In many instances, it’s the working poor who are being served. 75% of the 118 households served by The Salvation Army’s Homeless Prevention Program during the first four months of this year were working women with children. 400 families a month have been utilizing the Union County Personal Needs Pantry. And the Union County Cancer Society has had to cut financial aid for certain services as much as 50 percent because of increased usage and referral. Some of the increased need is a result of the growth that’s already occurred. Some is an indication of the changing needs of the community. 15 years ago, there would have been little to no need for a homeless prevention program. Some of the services provided have little bearing on one’s economic status, such as the domestic violence programs offered by Turning Point or those suffering from depression who utilize the Mental Health Association or Wings Enrichment Center. In these instances, population growth naturally leads to increased usage. United Way of Union County raised an all-time high $740,774 in 2004. More than 3,400 households invested with an average individual gift of $132. Just 10 years ago, the organization raised $379,069. To help make up the $35,000 difference between the amount raised last year and this year’s campaign goal, United Way is unveiling a new incentive to help increase giving. Those who pledge $100 or more to the United Way of Union County will receive a Community Care Card as a thank you for giving back to the community through United Way. Nine local businesses (Buckeye Sports & Family Chiropractic, Dave’s Pharmacy, eWaves Wireless, Family Time Video, Funtrail, Hickory Lane Farms, House Medic Handyman Service, Marysville Cinema, and Stockyard Steakhouse) are offering free or discounted services to cardholders through next August. (Click here for more details.) Those wishing to give to the United Way of Union County can do so via payroll deduction at work if their business participates in the United Way campaign. Individually, they can make donations via the mail in care of the United Way of Union County, P.O. Box 145, Marysville, Ohio. Donations can be made in person at the United Way office located at 232 N. Main Street, Suite UW in Marysville. Donations can also be made online at www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org/pledge.htm. The United Way of Union County, like the other 1,400 United Ways across America, is an independent and autonomous organization, with a local volunteer governing board determining funding to reflect the values and needs of our own community. All money raised here stays in the community unless designated elsewhere by donors. United Way of Union County is the only non-profit organization in Union County to apply for and meet all 20 standards of charitable accountability established by the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio.