|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volunteers Make All the Difference Volunteers are the lifeblood of any non-profit organization, and the United Way of Union County is blessed to have some of the most dedicated, hard-working contributors in our community lending their helping hands. You can volunteer too! Call the United Way office at 644-8381 to find out how you can get involved in an area of interest to you. The following volunteers were recently elected by the Board of Trustees to lead the United Way through the 2003-2004 campaign. Brad Gibson enters his second year as a United Way Board member. As President, Gibson becomes the chief executive officer of the United Way of Union County and assumes the management of the businesses and affairs of the Board of Trustees. Gibson is the Media Manager for Union Rural Electric. He is also involved on the Union County Join Recreation Board, the First Presbyterian Church Board of Trustees, and in the Marysville Lions Club. “I volunteer in the community that I live and work in to help make it a better place for everyone,” he said. Brien Dickson is entering his fourth year as a United Way volunteer. As 1st Vice President, Dickson would assume the duties of the President in the absence of Gibson and will also sit on the Budget and Admissions Committee. Dickson is the owner of Water Tech, Inc., a member of the Union County Chamber of Commerce, and the Water Quality Association. He is also a coach in the Union County United Soccer League. "I volunteer to support the community and to help the community support the needs of others," Dickson said. John “Turk” Michel begins his second year as a United Way volunteer. As 2nd Vice President, Michel serves as the Campaign Chairperson, organizing and conducting the annual campaign. Michel is the Assistant Manager of Manufacturing New Model Development at Honda of America Marysville Motorcycle Plant. Michel is also President of the Marysville Junior Football Association, Co-President of the North West Central Ohio Junior Football League, and a coach for several youth athletic teams. Brady Waltz is in his third year with the United Way, serving as treasurer for a second straight year. His duties include keeping an account of all the money, funds, and property of the United Way of Union County. Waltz works at Sky Bank. Avanelle B. Oberlin has been a United Way volunteer for more than three years. As Secretary, Oberlin will keep the minutes of all Board meetings. The retiree is involved in many organizations, including the First United Methodist Church of Marysville, the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, the Marysville Art League, Community and Seasoned Citizens, Union County Retired Teachers, the ORW advisory board, the Cemetery Conflict Resolution Committee, and others. “I think it is important to give back to your community,” she said. “It is a way of paying for your right to be here.” Michele Mercer has volunteered with the United Way since 2000 and has served as the Publicity Committee Chair for the last two years. As Assistant Secretary, she assumes the duties of Secretary in the absence of Oberlin. Mercer is the Communications Coordinator at United Rotary Brush Corp. "I know that I am making a difference in our community and that feels really good," Mercer said. "When I participate in hands-on activities like Community Care Day or Day in the Park, I really enjoy getting to provide services face-to-face." Bill Sallee has volunteered with United Way for 13 years, the last five in Union County. Sallee is this year’s Past President. He is the Management Services Manager for Nestle R&D Center, Inc. Sallee is also President of the Rotary Club of Union County and the International Family Center and a member of the Marysville Christian Assembly. "I have been blessed Dy God in many ways," he said. "My volunteer time and work enables me to share those blessings with 'others." |
 The United Way of Union County's new slate of officers for the 2003 campaign year. From left to right: John Michel, Michele Mercer, Brien Dickson, Brad Gibson, and Bill Sallee. Not pictured: Avanelle Oberlin and Brady Waltz. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marysville Victory Center Becomes a Member
Agency It’s a win-win situation for the Marysville Victory Center and the United Way of Union County. The gathering place for area youth has recently been named a new United Way member agency. The UW Board of Trustees approved a motion for the center's membership during the February 26 meeting. Beginning this fall, the Marysville Victory Center will become one of the agencies receiving funds raised during the annual fund-raising campaign. The Board also awarded the Victory Center a $12,000 grant to fund projects and operating costs in 2003. “Words cannot express our gratitude for the generous contribution," said Keith Roshon, President of the Marysville Victory Center. "We truly were not expecting it. We count it a privilege to operate a safe, free youth center to our community. The United Way of Union County's gift enables us to continue to impact the lives of our youth.” Located in a refurbished armory at 124 East 4th Street, the Marysville Victory Center provides area children with a place to go after school. Open Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., the center is a safe, free, and supervised environment that provides youth with opportunities to play games, watch videos, or just hang out. The MarysvilleVictory Center serves between 40 and 50 youth a night, though as many as 80 have turned out in recent months. Hours may be expanded to include Friday afternoons if additional volunteers step forward to help staff them. Members of the United Way of Union County's Board of Trustees were impressed by the fact that the center serves a population not served by any other agency in the area. |
“The United Way is pleased to be able to lend a helping hand to our neighbors at the Victory Center. We admire the Roshons’ efforts to provide this kind of safe environment for kids to hang out.” -- Shari Marsh, Executive Director, United Way of Union County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pennies (and nickels, dimes, and quarters)
from Heaven Area students collect more than $4,000 for Caring Hearts Project Union County students emptied their piggy banks, searched the cushions of the family sofa, and dug deep into their pockets to collect loose change for the United Way of Union County’s 2003 Caring Hearts Project. Students at six area schools teamed up to donate $4,178.43 for the annual appeal that collects money for the United Way’s Youth Arts and Recreation Grant Fund. That makes this year’s Caring Hearts Project the most successful in its four-year history and nearly triples the previous high of $1,427.10 raised in 2000. The donations included an incredible 83,500 pennies, totaling $835. “It’s just pocket change that you might throw on the counter when you come home at the end of the day," said Shari Marsh, Executive Director of the United Way of Union County. "You don't think it can make that much of a difference. But it's amazing how quickly it all adds up when you gather it together. It's the same message we try to send to the kids when we visit them in their schools. That one person can make a difference in their community, especially when you team your efforts with others." Students at Edgewood, Claibourne- Richwood, Fairbanks, and Mill Valley Elementary schools; Creekview Intermediate; and Fairbanks High School participated in this year's project. Mike Heifner, Chair of the Youth Arts and Recreation Committee; and volunteers John Michel; Dani Nicol; Virg Rankin; and Chris Schmenk visited each school and spoke to students about the United Way of Union County. Fueled either by the incentive of an ice cream party given to the top donating class or their own generosity, the students responded in record fashion. Students were creative in their fund-raising efforts at Fairbanks High School, where Bonnie Ayars' Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America class held a bake sale for Valentine's Day. Cookies and snacks shaped like hearts were sold with proceeds going to the Caring Hearts Program. Loose change and dollar bills from all six schools were collected in dozens of jugs and then counted by United Way of Union County volunteers, staff, and tellers at the Richwood Banking Company. Students in the top donating class at each elementary school will receive an ice cream party sponsored by United Dairy Farmers and Nestle R&D. The United Way of Union County's Youth Arts and Recreation Grant Fund supports youth-focused organizations, primarily helping with registration fees for individual participants. |
 Learn more about United Way of Union County’s Youth Arts and Recreation Grant Fund
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Your Investment in Our Community Your donation dollars at work (2003 agency allocations)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
