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Issued Quarterly by United Way of Union County,
Inc., 232 N. Main St., Suite I, P.O. Box 145, Marysville, Ohio 43040-0145 |
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| Many calculations needed to complete allocations Investors' impact made in agency funding The generosity of more than 3,200 individuals who invested in United Way last fall will pay dividends in Union County this year. The United Way of Union County Board of Trustees approved 2006 funding allocations at its January 18 meeting. "More than half a million dollars is going to 24 United Way of Union County Member Agencies," said Brian O’Kane, Chair of the Budget & Admissions Committee that’s responsible for dividing up donor dollars. "This funding will provide programming and care that will have a positive impact on thousands of lives in our community. You have to feel great about those results." $527,795.16 in United Way support will be disbursed throughout the community to assist work in four major Impact Areas: Emergency & Basic Needs, Youth Services, Senior Services, and Health & Human Services. Because United Way is projecting that it will raise $715,000 in pledges and donations, $60,000 short of its $775,000 fundraising goal, funding cuts were made to most programs. Some that received increases did so because donor designations are always honored. "It never feels good to cut funding to any agency because that cut ultimately affects a child or a family," said Barb Nicol, a longtime committee member. "Often, those services are the difference between making it or not making it for that individual. However, I think we came to decisions that we can live with given the circumstances we have this year. The B&A Committee tried to be as objective as possible in deciding funding questions. We worked hard to be fair." Committee volunteers visited every Member Agency in the fall to make sure that they are efficient and effective in their use of United Way dollars and the services they provide. The committee reviews and analyzes each agency’s request for United Way funding, then prioritizes the agencies based on the needs they fulfill. "We are becoming more diligent in our agency reviews and truly trying to be good stewards of the public's donations," said Derric Brown, a committee volunteer. "As we continue to assess our United Way agencies, we will look deeper into their operations to be completely satisfied that they are spending their United Way dollars wisely. I believe more will be expected of the United Way Agencies and their boards." Nicol said the five-month process was more difficult than in any of her previous years on the committee because the funding requests from Member Agencies were so much higher than the money available to allocate. United Way suffered $96,000 in losses in workplace and corporate campaign accounts that were lower in 2005 than they were in 2004. Solid efforts by United Way’s Campaign Committee volunteers closed the gap to within $25,000 of the $740,000 raised in 2004 and within $60,000 of the 2005 campaign goal. "We have a very generous community that is doing its very best to support the United Way of Union County," said Brown. "As the community grows, so do the demands on these United Way Agencies. We’ve set lofty goals, but we will soon achieve them. In the meantime, our agencies are still serving the community to the best of their abilities with the funds that they receive." "We hear over and over again about how the volunteers for Memorial Meals are more than just someone who drops off food," Nicol said. "They often provide critical contacts for the seniors they stop to see. And the Red Cross will continue to make contacts for military personnel and arrange bloodmobiles. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts will continue to provide kids with good adult role models and activities that help them build the self-esteem that will help them become valuable members of their communities. All of the ‘emergency service’ programs will still be able to do a lot of what they have been doing. They won't disappear completely."
The United Way of Union County’s 2006 fundraising and administrative budget has been established at $129,194.48. That means about 18% of the money raised during the 2005 campaign will go to cover the United Way’s administrative costs. A non-profit organization meets one of the charitable accountability standards of the Better Business Bureau if 35% of the money raised goes toward administrative costs. For more information, please contact the United Way of Union County at (937) 644-8381 or visit www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org. |
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| United Way partnering with Consolidated Care to
enhance child assault prevention programming United Way was presented with two options for providing child assault prevention programming this year, and the Budget & Admissions Committee opted to make a change. The United Way is partnering with Consolidated Care to provide child assault prevention programming in 2006. CCI will be integrating this program into the wide array of professional services it already provides in the community and area schools to develop effective intervention aimed at both the victims and perpetrators of child abuse, assault, and neglect. CCI will maximize United Way funding by adding it to funding it is receiving from other sources. As a result of this new partnership, United Way will not be funding the Child Assault Prevention Project in 2006. United Way has also released CAPP from Member Agency status. CAPP had been receiving United Way funding since 1985, providing volunteer-based programming in area schools. |
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 Agency Spotlight: Child Care Network 940 London Avenue, Suite 1800 P.O. Box 389, Marysville Contact: Misty Perry 937.644.1010 ext. 2204 It’s a catch-22 for many families with children not yet of school age. Mom and Dad need to work to pay the bills. But if one of those bills is for day care to watch their children while they’re at work, covering the cost often requires too much of their income. "When you’re only making $6 an hour, the thought of child care is insane," said Crystal Hileman. "By the time you get your paycheck, you just end up putting all of your money into someone else watching your child. You could have been home watching your child yourself." The Marysville mother knows firsthand that working to pay for day care doesn’t make sense. She tried that route before, trying to juggle a work schedule around her daughter, Kennedie. She found it was a struggle not only to make ends meet, but also to even find a child care provider that she was comfortable leaving her daughter with. Then she discovered the Child Care Network, a United Way Member Agency based out of the Union County Department of Job and Family Services office on London Avenue. The agency offers a wide array of services for working Moms and Dads, including free referrals to child care providers and financial assistance for child care through state, federal, and United Way funding for families that qualify. "Not so long ago it was feasible for a mother or grandmother to care for their family in their home," said Misty Perry, a Child Care Specialist with Child Care Network. "Unfortunately, we are in a situation these days where family members are not able to care for children in their home and not feel that loss of income. For most working families child care is the second largest expense in their budget after rent or mortgage. If a two-parent family earning minimum wage was even able to budget 10% of their income to child care, they would still be left thousands of dollars short of the average cost of child care." Hileman said the assistance the agency provided took away some of her stress. At one point, her monthly co-pay for day care was only $22. Since then, Hileman obtained her GED, and last year, set up her own in-home business as a child care provider. She received training and certification through Child Care Network and can care for up to five children in addition to her own. The arrangement allows her to stay home to watch her daughter and earn a living at the same time. The Child Care Network refers many of the clients she serves to her. "I have a parent who works second shift at Honda and she doesn’t get off work until 1:30 in the morning," Hileman said. "And even though it’s only two days a week, she couldn’t find anyone to take her daughter. It’s hard enough to find a provider you like or trust for first shift! Most providers all want the regular 9 to 5 jobs. Most providers I know now have a time limit that they set and won’t watch your child past that time. That’s what makes this job so worthwhile, because I know what these parents who need assistance are going through."" Child Care Network provides a number of free services for all Union County families needing child care, regardless of income level. These services include providing a personalized referral list of child care providers in your neighborhood. The process takes only a few minutes to complete and can even be done online at www.actionforchildren.org. The agency also has free information on choosing child care, child development issues, and creating a child-safe environment. "Choosing child care is a very important decision for parents," Perry said. "Meet with the provider that you are considering, ask for references, and tour the facility. We also recommend that you visit when care is being provided so that you can see how the routine runs and witness the provider caring for children. "I tell parents all the time, ‘You are the expert on your child. You are the one that knows what your child needs over anyone else. Not every child does well in a center setting where as another child needs that stimulation. Whatever option you choose needs to be one with which you and your child feel comfortable." |
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| Thanks, Marysville Journal-Tribune! During the course of the 2005 United Way campaign, Marysville Journal-Tribune publisher Dan Behrens and editor Chad Williamson graciously printed a feature on a different United Way Member Agency each Monday on the front page. The stories, such as this one on the Child Care Network, are told from the point of view of those receiving services or those who work at the Agencies. They provide a personal context for how United Way makes a true impact in the lives of our neighbors. They are archived at www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org/JT series/jt series all.htm so that you may visit and see the many ways in which your investment makes a difference in our community. |
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| Remember to redeem your Community Care Card Growing up, Mom always told us to say "please" and "thank you." So we wanted to develop a special way to thank those who believe in the work we do and support us with their investment. By now, you should have received your 2006 Community Care Card, given by the United Way to all individuals who invested $100 or more in the annual United Way campaign. Valid through August 2006, the cards have special discounts for you, your family, and your home. Please support these areas businesses who have partnered with United Way to thank you for your support of our community. If you haven't received your Community Care Card and did make your annual contribution, please contact United Way at 937.644.8381. United Way is looking for additional businesses to be on the card next year. If your business is interested in partnering with United Way on the Community Care Card, please contact our office for more information.
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