Everyday across our community there are success stories being lived by people who have found help through community initiatives and programs funded by United Way.  United Way focuses on the results that change lives.

Read our most recent Testimonials published in the Akron Beacon Journal

Once a Brother, Always a Brother - Big Brothers/Big Sisters by Cory Marinan
Good Advice of Friends - Akron Urban League  by Triva Manley
An Organized Support System - Stewart's Caring Place by Aalayah Muhammad
A Vision of Hope - United Disability Services by Raeed N. Tayeh

The life-long effects of youth mentoring programs are embodied in Cathy Parker and Lisa Neighbor.  Recently, they shared their inspirational story.

A phone call from a telemarketer -- 'for each magazine subscription you buy, a donation will be made to Big Brothers/Big Sisters' -- inspired Cathy to volunteer for the organization.

Lisa was a 12-year-old from a dysfunctional family in Barberton.  "My Mom was a paraplegic after an accident, and because she was having difficulty dealing with her situation, she wasn't there much for us," Lisa recalled.  "Mom did a wonderful thing though when she signed us kids up for Big Brothers/Big Sisters."

They were matched together by a new case manager, Gary Voelzow.  When the two spent time together with Cathy's family, Lisa saw what a normal, healthy family was like.  And while those few hours a week for the two or three years they were an official 'match' couldn't immediately overcome the influences of Lisa's home environment, the seed was planted.

Despite making what she readily admits were bad decisions (dropping out of school and getting married at 16), Lisa always felt Cathy's gentle nudges trying to get her back on the right path.  Cathy recalled, "We stayed in touch over the years, and I would always ask if she'd started working on her GED yet.  I knew she was capable of so much more."

And eventually, Lisa realized it too.  She broke away from all the negative influences in her life and returned to school.  Not only did she get her GED, she went on to college, got her degree in the medical field.  She's turned her life around, and she feels that she and Cathy are now truly sisters.  She was a babysitter for Cathy's children through the years, and now she's watched them grow up and get married.        

After all these years, Cathy and Lisa still get together on a regular basis.  Cathy works for ExxonMobil here in Akron, and Lisa is a surgical assistant at Aultman Hospital.  Gary Voelzow is now the Executive Director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters. 

And Cathy never subscribed to those magazines.  She made a much bigger commitment.

Pictured in both photos left to right: Cathy, Gary and Lisa.

United Way Helps Seniors Remain Independent at Home
Ed, age 72, needed help with exterior and kitchen paint jobs and an urgent need to fix a gas leak on his stove. In early 2007, United Way of Summit County provided development funding to CYO Home Service Project, which provides low-income older adults with assistance that enables them to remain independent and in their homes for as long as possible. To Ed's relief, CYO Home Service Project was able to match him with willing volunteers to fix all these problems.

CYO also learned that Ed was a veteran of the Korean War but had never applied for benefits. With many health issues and basic needs, it was surprising to learn that he was living on less than $700 per month. CYO helped him apply for benefits with the local veteran's commission resulting in a monthly income increase of over $300 plus medical and other benefits. CYO was also able to locate volunteers to install new laminate flooring in Ed's water damaged kitchen and to replace his battered living room furniture. United Way funding of CYO Home Service Project helps low-income seniors across Summit County remain in their homes by matching them with caring volunteers.  CYO and Community Services is a United Way affiliated agency.

United Way Funded Program Helps Mother Reunite with Children
Through a Development Fund Grant, the United Way is funding a program of a new agency called Grandparents Against Sexual Predators, or GASP.  The director of GASP spoke at a staff meeting of the Battered Women's Shelter (also funded by United Way).  After learning about GASP, a resident of the shelter decided to utilize one of their programs and had her children fingerprinted.  The resident shared the ID cards containing the children's fingerprints and pictures of the children with the shelter staff.

Only two weeks later her children were kidnapped by their father from the church daycare while their mother was worshipping. He transported them over state lines by the morning.  That morning while the mother was fairly hysterical with fear, the shelter manager sat calmly with the police at the shelter making copies of the ID cards with the fingerprints and photos for the police to use in their investigation.  One of the photos even included a picture of their father/kidnapper!

Thanks to the ID cards, the children were located and the shelter was able to assist the mother with a plane ticket to fly out of state to pick up her children.  Thanks to the grassroots action that GASP has started with United Way funding, families are being helped.  Your donation really does make a difference!

Vision Support Services

Coming Full Circle
by Aretha

Boys & Girls Clubs of Summit County

The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties

Aquatic Relief for Arthritis
by Mona

Arthritis Foundation, Northeastern Ohio Chapter