News Release

Contact: Michael G. Gaffney, APR
Vice President, Marketing
Office: 330-643-5532
Cell: 330-701-8080

Date: October 5, 2007

For Immediate Release

UNITED WAY OF SUMMIT COUNTY ESTABLISHES COMMUNITY IMPACT PRIORITIES

(AKRON, OH) – United Way of Summit County’s Board has, as a core part of its mission, voted to establish Community Impact Priorities by considering relevant data and studies, the work of United Way’s Impact Councils, and the recommendations of its Community Impact Cabinet.

United Way of Summit County commissioned the Center for Marketing and Opinion Research (C-MOR) to analyze a number of recent community research sources and to identify high priority community issues that United Way could target for increased resources and community awareness efforts to improve these conditions through positive and documented outcomes.

The research sources included the Thriving Communities Needs Assessment, a partnership that included United Way of Summit County, The Akron Community Foundation, and the University of Akron; The Summit County 2010 Quality of Life report; Voices and Choices recommendations; INFOLINE requests for services; The University of Akron Summit Poll, and others.

The report and recommendations have been under review for nearly a year, and the United Way Community Impact Cabinet recommended to the United Way of Summit County Board of Directors the following Community Impact Priorities: School Readiness for Children and Economic Stability for Families

Community Impact Priorities will be addressed beyond allocation of additional revenue. Public policy advocacy, mobilization of volunteers, facilitated discussion and collaboration among community partners and implementing sound business practices to increase efficiency will all be mechanisms to move the needle on these priorities.

A portion of undesignated and unrestricted United Way revenue will be set aside for distribution through an open Request for Proposal process.  Proposals will be accepted from any qualified health and human service 501 (c) 3 agency serving Summit residents, including current United Way Affiliated Agencies. The proposals will be reviewed and recommendations made to United Way’s Board of Directors by a separate United Way RFP committee.

According to United Way of Summit County President Bob Kulinski, “We believe that an open RFP process will provide the greatest opportunities for collaboration with education, health care, human services, private sector and local government to help United Way and these partners create sustained beneficial change in our community.”

United Way of Summit County improves lives by mobilizing community assets for health and human services. For more information, call 330-762-7601, visit our website at www.uwsummit.org, or write to us at United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., P.O. Box 1260, Akron, Ohio 44309-1260.