IN THIS ISSUE

Be a Holiday Angel!

United Way Hosts
Read-to-Me Day

Women's Society Members Read at Sam Salem School

Young Leaders Society Holds Exclusive Party

Project Blueprint Alumni Enjoy First Golf Outing

Campaign News:

• Sterling Jewelers

• MACtac

• Myers Industries

• PPG Industries

• ASC Industries

• Lockheed Martin

• Allstate

• Akron Bar Association

Attorneys Unite for
United Way

IRAs and Charitable Giving

First-Time Campaigns

Brown Bag Seminars

Are you a 
Diamond Donor?

Take Our Survey

Be A Volunteer

Docs Who Rock Photos

Help Shape a Child's World with

You can donate securely online or call 330.762.7601 for more information.

• Ardmore, Inc.
• Arthritis Foundation NE Ohio Chapter
• Cambridge Home Health Care
• Country Pure Foods, Inc.
• Evant, Inc.
• Gayson Silicone Dispersions, Inc.
• HCR Manor Care
• Interfaith Hospitality Network Summit Co.
• Mickey Thompson Tires
• North Akron Savings Bank
• OPEN M
• Portage Country Club
• Rose Pest Solutions
• Shelter Care, Inc.
• Stewart's Caring Place
• Viox Services, Inc.
• Witschey, Witschey & Firestine Co., LPA

Brown Bag Seminars are a great way to provide informational and educational seminars to your employees in the workplace.  They work well as an addition to your United Way campaign, or can be held any time of year. Click here to learn more!

Youth & College Brown Bag Seminars also now being offered!

BE A VOLUNTEER

For the fourteenth consecutive year, United Way of Summit County Volunteer Center coordinated "Read-to-Me" Day in cooperation with its Corporate Volunteer Council, other local businesses and organizations, and the Akron Public Schools.

On Wednesday, October 24th, 320 Akron area classrooms took on a different atmosphere, as 169 volunteers from 30 local businesses and organizations came together to promote literacy. Childhood favorites were read to children in kindergarten through 3rd grade. In addition to reading, and in some cases donating a book, volunteers also answered students' questions about their occupations.

Participating companies and organizations were: A. Schulman; Advanced Elastomer Systems; Akron General Medical Center; Allstate Insurance; Akron Public Schools; BCG Company; Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Company; Bridgestone/Firestone; Charter One Bank; Akron Children's Hospital; First Merit Bank; Goodrich Corporation De-Icing & Specialty Systems; Goodrich Power Systems; GPD & Associates; Harwick Standard; Kaiser Permanente, Chapel Hill; Kaiser Permanente, Fairlawn; Klais & Company; Lockheed Martin; Meaden & Moore; Ohio Edison Company; OMNOVA Solutions; PPG Industries; Sterling Jewelers; Summa Health Systems; The Akron Beacon Journal; The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; United Way of Summit County; UPS; and United Way of Summit County's Women's Leadership Giving Society.

Bob Kulinski, President of United Way of Summit County, said, "By spearheading Read-to-Me Day, we show these students and the community our strong support for literacy. We're grateful to these employers that allow their employees to participate, and I can speak from personal experience how much the children enjoy Read-to-Me Day and how gratifying it is to us readers."

Women's Society Members Read at Sam Salem School
Members of the Women's Leadership Giving Society participated in Read-To-Me Day at Sam Salem Elementary School on Wednesday, October 24th. Nine classes ranging from kindergarten to 3rd grade, were read to for one-half hour by Women's Society members through this program that works to increase literacy by motivating students to develop good reading habits at a young age. Books were purchased by Women's Society readers and then donated to the classrooms and the school library.

The Women's Leadership Giving Society was created by United Way of Summit County to inspire, educate and engage women in philanthropy, community service, advocacy and mentoring in order to positively impact the lives of people and our community. Female donors, giving at the leadership level of $1000 and above (alone or combined with their spouse), are automatically welcome members of The Women's Leadership Giving Society.  The Women's Initiative holds regular monthly meetings on the 1st Tuesday of most months at 8:30 a.m., United Way of Summit County Offices.  Please contact Beth Houseman, Senior Director, Leadership Giving, at 330.643.5519 or bhouseman@uwsummit.org for more information.

Pictured reading to a classroom above is Kathy Smid, Chair of The Women's Leadership Giving Society.

United Way's Young Leaders are up-and-coming members of the community, age 40 or under, that contribute at least $1,000 annually to United Way of Summit County.  The mission of United Way's Young Leaders Society is to promote and encourage the spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism. It provides unique opportunities to join with other individuals and couples with similar professional and community interests in a variety of social, educational, volunteer and networking activities. Look for a newsletter soon and more special events.  If you have further inquiries about YLS and would like to get involved, please contact Ing Kiland at 330.643.5505 or ikiland@uwsummit.org.

On Saturday, October 20th, Project Blueprint's Alumni Association had what it hopes to be the first of many golf outings. This year held at Mud Run, class members and guests played a round at the 9-hole course. This event was open to all Project Blueprint alumni, family and friends.

For those interested, a short lesson/refresher course was provided by a trainer. Cara Kennerly-Ford, Vice President of the Alumni Association coordinated this social event along with Angela Smith, Class of 2004. Among the golfers were alumni representing each graduating class: Carla Barner, Robert DeJournett - 2002; Anthony Burwell, Kevin Lockett, Horace Highland - 2003; Fred Barrett, Aaron Burr - 2004; Margaret Williams - 2005; Melvin Blake, Sandra Buckner, Brandon Ford, Armana Milbry, Gisele Ponder - 2006; and Deborah Caldwell, Kim Moss - 2007. Breakfast and lunch were served. A great time was enjoyed by all. See more pictures from the Golf Outing.  Learn more about Project Blueprint.

Sterling Jewelers Shines
For the employees at Sterling Jewelers of Fairlawn, a goal is not an ultimate objective, it is merely a suggestion. They proved that during the 2007 United Way campaign when they refused to settle for achieving the company's goal of a $5,000 overall increase and instead blew past it to raise more than $20,000 over last year's campaign!!

Special events such as the company favorite "Denim Days" helped push them over the top, but ultimately it is the generosity of Sterling's employees in supporting our community that makes them so successful. Many thanks go out to Sterling Jewelers for supporting United Way and our efforts to improve lives in Summit County.

MACtac Has 'Short and Very Sweet' Campaign
A big thank you goes to MACtac North America for having a $6,400 increase over last year. They had a 'Short and Sweet' campaign theme, holding it over a shorter period of time and tying in a 'sweet' theme with a bake sale as their special event and raffling 'pies in the faces' for the President and also for the Vice President of Sales.  United Way would like to thank this year's campaign coordinator, Holly Murphy (pictured with a pie in the face) for her leadership in creating these fun events and coordinating lunch for all shifts to make this the best campaign ever.  Holly stated "This year's campaign was fantastic!  Our employees really enjoyed it and we hope to continue growing our contributions into next year's campaign!"  Thank you MACtac for making Summit County a better place to live!

IRAs and Charitable Giving
If you are over age 70 ½ years -- or if you help older loved ones with their finances -- you should know about a new tax law that lets you make a gift to United Way by transferring funds directly from your IRA without claiming any increased income or paying any additional tax. 

Your tax-free gift can be any amount up to $100,000 for tax year 2007.  If you are married and each spouse has an IRA, both can use their IRA assets to make charitable gifts.  But the law only applies to gifts made before December 31, 2007, and no one knows if the law will be extended for 2008.  Here are several reasons to consider this option.

Simple and Easy:  Just contact your IRA office and request that your gift be transferred directly from your account to United Way.  We receive a much-needed gift and you avoid any additional tax because the amount taken from your IRA is not reported as taxable income. 

Now Is The Time:  The law is set to expire the end of 2007 so now is the time to contact your IRA office to get the ball rolling.  You want to give yourself sufficient "turn-around time" so your funds can be requested, processed and post marked no later than December 31, 2007. 

Special Opportunity: Have you ever considered endowing your annual gift so your caring power can continue forever? By using IRA assets you might be able to make a special gift that would be beyond your means using your regular income.

As always, we encourage you to consult with your professional advisors in advance if you are considering a gift under the new law.   For additional information visit our website at www.uwsummit.org  and click on “Planned Giving.”  For a confidential discussion contact Charlene Corlett at 330.643.5537 or ccorlett@uwsummit.org.