Issued Quarterly by United Way of Union County, Inc., 232 N. Main St., Suite I, P.O. Box 145, Marysville, Ohio 43040-0145 Shari Marsh, Executive Director -- Dave Bezusko, Campaign and Public Relations Director
Vol. 3, No. 3 Summer, 2005
In this issue: -- Volunteer Campaign Chairs up for the challenge -- Why the Marion Shelter Program is part of the solution for Union County’s homeless population -- and United Way’s 25th Member Agency -- Leadership giving remains at the heart of the annual United Way campaign -- 2004 Workplaces with Pillar Society members -- A Pillar’s Strength -- A Pillar’s Potential -- Volunteer for Community Care Day 2005 -- School supply drive benefits area students -- Agency Spotlight: Union County Cancer Society
Volunteer Campaign Chairs up for the challenge The number one reason why people don't give to United Way is simply because they're not asked! So a pair of dedicated volunteers want to make sure that everyone in Union County has the opportunity to learn about United Way and make a gift this fall. Marysville native Tony Eufinger of Marysville Schools and Sky Bank's Ellen Pond have agreed to co-chair this year's Campaign Committee. "I want to help people to look at United Way as an investment," Eufinger said. "At some point in our lives, we're all going to be touched by a United Way Agency. Whether it's when we join the YMCA, when we have a child in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, know a friend who loses their home in a fire, or neighbors who are going without a paycheck for a particular month. It's important that we invest in this so United Way can continue to provide that kind of support to the community." "What really gets me excited about United Way is the satisfaction of knowing that you're helping people," Pond said. "That you're reaching out to people who didn't know about United Way, weren't familiar with the Member Agencies, and people who could benefit from United Way in their everyday lives."	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.
Why the Marion Shelter Program is part of the solution for Union County’s homeless population -- and United Way’s 25th Member Agency “We don’t have a homeless shelter in Union County,” said Dr. Charita Cooper, one of two United Way Board Members who visited the Marion Shelter Program in May and recommended that it become 25th Member Agency. “They’re our neighbor and they are taking care of the residents of Union County, so we should support them.” Twelve Union County residents utilized the shelter in 2004 for a total of 205 nights. But increased referrals from Union County social service agencies has led to increased usage, as 11 residents have already spent 180 nights in the shelter in 2005. The Marion Shelter Program serves 14 counties and is the only immediate emergency alternative for Union County’s homeless population. It’s a last-resort referral for providers serving the homeless or near-homeless population. “I don’t know if we’re a tip-of-the-iceberg agency, but if we’re seeing a dozen people a year from Union County, my assumption is that there are probably upwards of a hundred that are technically homeless,” said Mark Lovett, Director of the Marion Shelter Program. The Salvation Army’s Homeless Prevention Program served nearly 100 households in the first three months of 2005 and refers single males to the Shelter. Most of the Arny’s clients are working families with children. The Shelter continues to work with United Way and the Union County Housing Coalition on solutions for residents who can’t leave town or need transportion to the Shelter.	The Marion Shelter Program serves 14 counties and is the only immediate emergency alternative for Union County’s homeless or near-homeless population.
Leadership giving remains at the heart of the annual United Way campaign The slogan "Bringing neighbors together, improving lives" is so appropriate to describe the work of the United Way of Union County. One need look no further than the annual campaign, where the individual contributions of an entire community are collectively pooled to enact lasting change for the common good. Last fall, more than 3,500 individuals who live and work in Union County made a pledge to invest in their community through the United Way. These individuals, professionals, small businesses, and corporations conducted workplace campaigns, completed payroll deduction forms, contributed corporate gifts, or made in-kind donations totaling a county record of $739,177.17. Those pledges are being fulfilled throughout the year. As with any successful endeavor, the success of the campaign hinged on the example established by its leaders and their generosity. The 180 leaders recognized here are true Pillars in our community, giving of their time, talent, and treasure to make an impact in their neighborhood and their place of work. They are shining examples of commitment to their community. Together, these 180 Pillars invested a total of $139,982.82, or 19% of the money raised last year. The average Pillar Society Member’s gift was $778.	Dave Burke of Dave’s Pharmacy, a Pillar Society Member, presents a check to Shari Marsh, United Way’s Executive Director. The Pharmacy annually conducts “United Way Week” in October. Burke donates $1 for every prescription filled that week to United Way. In addition, Time Warner Cable has a cartoon character like Scooby Doo present on Saturday for pictures with children. Proceeds from that even are designated to Big Brothers Big Sisters, a United Way Member Agency.
2004 Workplaces with Pillar Society Members (Number of Leadership Givers in parenthesis) Honda of America, Mfg. (46) Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (33) Nationwide (21) State of Ohio Employees (9) Ashland, Inc. (8) Nestle R&D, Inc. (7) Cannizzaro, Fraser, Bridges & Jillisky (4) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (4) Memorial Hospital of Union County (4) Union Rural Electric (3) Wendy’s International (3) Allen Yurasek & Merklin (2) Cardinal Health (2) Fifth Third Bank (2) Honda Transmission (2) Invensys Climate Controls (2) Parker Hannifan (2) Union County Dept. Job & Family Services (2) United Way of Union County (2) Residential Campaign (2) Curves of Marysville (1) Dave’s Pharmacy (1) Diamond Innovations (1) Fairbanks Local Schools (1) Franklin International (1) Goldman, Sachs & Company (1) Hewlett-Packard (1) Hilb Rogal & Hobbs (1) Industrial Ceramic Products (1) Jerry’s House of Hunan (1) Kroger (1) Marysville Journal-Tribune (1) Meeder Financial (1) Mental Health and Recovery Board of Union County (1) Midwest Express (1) Moody-Nolan, Ltd. (1) Ohio Waste & Water Supply (1) Parrot Implement Company (1) Sky Bank (1) Union County Board of MR/DD (1) Union County Coroner’s Office (1) Union County Engineer’s Office (1) Wing Builders (1)
A Pillar’s Strength Growth of the Pillar Society 2000-2004 Years Pillars Pillar Total Campaign Total Pillar Percent 2004 180 $139,982.82 $739,177.17 19% 2003 167 $134,953.28 $690,646.25 20% 2002 120 $103,822.72 $702,325.00 15% 2001 132 $86,750.00 $651,415.00 13% 2000 123 $91,000.00 $688,164.00 13% Year Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Total   ($2,500+) ($1,000+) ($750+) ($500+)   2004 4 33 24 119 180 2003 3 34 27 103 167 2002 3 27 12 78 120	Listen for daily reports on the United Way of Union County on Your United Way Today at 7:50 a.m., 11:40 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. weekdays on
A Pillar’s Potential 344 investors contributed at levels between $250 and $499 last year. These "Potential Pillars" have an ability to make quite an impact in our community this year. By becoming Pillars, they would collectively boost the campaign by $86,000, dramatically increasing the number of lives we could touch next year. Membership in the Pillar Society begins at $500, or just under $10 a week. In fact, if every current Pillar carefully considered making a pledge at the next Pillar Level next year, that would pool an additional $45,000 in resources for the United Way programs and services you already believe in. Your decision to become a Pillar or continue Membership makes a true difference in the lives of your neighbors. You can pledge today online, or remember to complete your pledge form when you receive it this fall at work or home. Thank you for your leadership!	Mike Heifner (left), a Pillar Society Member, is also a member of the United Way Board of Trustees. His work behind the scenes with United Way led to the creation of the Youth Arts & Recreation Grant Fund in 2002. Since its inception, more than $57,000 in grants have been awarded to local youth organizations allowing hundreds of Union County youth to participate in recreational activities.
Volunteer for Community Care Day 2005 Community Care Day, presented by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and Honda of America, Mfg., is the United Way of Union County’s annual day of caring. Last year, more than 200 volunteers from 51 different businesses and organizations completed 108 social service projects on a single day. The day symbolizes the true spirit of volunteerism as participants help elderly residents do odd jobs around the house, clean area parks, aid social service agencies, conduct a food drive, and more. National Honor Society members from Marysville High School cleaned all the UCATS vans on Community Care Day last year. Volunteers from Nestle R&D go over instructions prior to getting started on a group project at the Windsor Apartments.	Tuesday September 13, 2005   Learn more and sign up online.
School supply drive benefits area students For the second year in a row, AmeriHost Inn is sponsoring United Way’s annual School Supply Drive. Those who make a donation of a needed item will be given a $20 discount coupon for a future stay at the Marysville AmeriHost Inn. Volunteers from United Way, our Member Agencies, AmeriHost Inn, and CHUMS will be conducting the drive on August 6 and 13 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon outside Big Lots, K-Mart, Kroger, and Wal-Mart in Marysville and Lovejoy’s Market in Plain City. Donations can also be dropped off during the week at the United Way office or AmeriHost Inn. All items collected will be distributed to every elementary and intermediate school in the Fairbanks, Jonathan Alder, Marysville, and North Union districts before school begins.
Agency Spotlight: Union County Cancer Society P.O. Box 557, Marysville Karen Ruetty, Director 937.642.3910 What it does: Unaffiliated with the American Cancer Society, the Union County Cancer Society provides direct financial assistance to Union County residents and their families suffereing from cancer. This includes money for prescription medication, transportation to treatments, equipment, wigs, prostheses, and other supplies. Because of increased usage and referral, the Union County Cancer Society had to reduce the maximum levels of aid it is able to provide for clients by as much as 25 to 50 percent. Working closely with local hospitals, Loving Care Hospice, and the American Cancer Society, the Union County Cancer Society refers clients through the network of available help. Fast Facts: 2005 United Way allocation was $30,000 (or 86% of its budget). The rest of its revenue come from grateful residents who make memorial donations. Receives no funding from the popular Relay for Life, which benefits the American Cancer Society for cancer research. Serves about 200 Union County residents each year. 70% of the clients they serve are elderly on fixed incomes. An original United Way Member since 1958.	send your comments to: United Way of Union County, Inc. 232 N. Main St., Suite UW P.O. Box 145 Marysville, Ohio 43040-0145 or eMail us at: mailbag@unitedwayofunioncounty.org