October 5, 2007
News from the United Way of Summit County
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Our thanks to these companies and organizations that have agreed to run a United Way Campaign for
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| ARE YOU A DIAMOND DONOR? |
| You are if you have been giving to United Way -- any United Way in any city, in any amount -- for 25 years or more. It doesn't matter if you have given individually or as a couple. If you are a Diamond Donor, United Way would like to know so you can be recognized as members of this outstanding group. For information about the Diamond Donor Society, contact Charlene Corlett, Vice President Major Gifts at 330-643-5537 or ccorlett@uwsummit.org. Click here to enroll online. |
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| United Way of Summit County is conducting surveys of donors and non-donors. The information gathered through these surveys will help determine United Way marketing plans in the future. Please complete the brief survey online. Thank you. |
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2007 Campaign Progress Our Goal: $11,372,000 We are currently at 32.6%. THANK YOU! |
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 Don't
Miss Docs Who RockSince its inception in 2004, United Way of Summit County's 'Docs Who RockTM,' a physician talent show, has quickly grown into one of the region's 'must see' productions. Docs Who Rock IV, sponsored by The University of Akron, will be held at E.J. Thomas Hall on Saturday, October 13th, beginning at 7:00 pm. Tickets for the show are available at the E.J. Thomas box office or at ticketmaster.com for $12 and $25. For more information, visit www.docswhorock.com. |
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Helping Others Look Good…Feel Better® One of the key volunteers for this program is Callee Weyrick (pictured), manager of the salon at Dillard's Summit Mall, and a certified instructor for the program. Callee's involvement with supporting cancer-related organizations began with supporting her grandmother, who was herself a cancer survivor. Every other month, Callee leads the group through a class developed by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation that offers each participant a kit with high-end, name-brand products and regimens to help deal with the effects of radiation and chemotherapy on hair, skin and nails. As a member of the National Cosmetology Association, which supports the program, Callee received certification from the American Cancer Society to facilitate the program, and has been doing so at Stewart's Caring Place for several years. United Way of Summit County would like to recognize Callee for her dedication to helping people going through such a difficult time to look good and feel better. For more information on the Look Good…Feel Better® program, contact Stewart's Caring Place at 330-836-1772 or go online to www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org. Stewart's Caring Place is a United Way Affiliated Agency. United Way funds free cancer wellness services through the agency. |
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United Way Relies
on Loaned Executives
The program runs for 13 weeks, and is
being sponsored by many local companies. Those companies are: Dominion East
Ohio; The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; Bridgestone/Firestone North American
Tire; Sterling Jewelers, Inc.; First Energy Corporation; Advanced Elastomer
Systems, LP: American Red Cross, Summit County Chapter; Myers Industries, Inc.;
Baker McMillen Company; Allstate Insurance Company; and the Office of John A. Donofrio, Summit County. |
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Tocqueville Society Has Donor Appreciation Event The purpose of the reception was to thank members of the Tocqueville Society for their generosity. Bob Kulinski, President of Summit County United Way was present throughout the event. He gave a speech about updated United Way activities and how people can get involved in the organization. The Tocqueville Society was started in 1989. In 2006, 116 members of the Tocqueville Society raised $1,375,079, an 11.5% increase from 2005. United Way's goal in 2007 is to keep increasing monetary giving and raise $1,415,000 from Tocqueville Society members. To learn more about the Tocqueville Society, contact Charlene Corlett, Vice President of Major Gifts at 330-643-5537 or email ccorlett@uwsummit.org. |
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| Campaign News |
Goodyear
Goes for Gold, Supports United Way Eggs shattered and armchair wheels squealed as
The Goodyear Tire
& Rubber
Company employees battled to earn the title of "Olympic Champions" during the
annual United Way Office Olympics Friday, Sept. 21st.Fourteen teams, clad in a rainbow of United Way T-shirts, competed in an armchair relay race, a wastebasket basketball shoot-off and an office supply relay. The competition was fierce heading into the egg toss -- the final event -- as teams vied for the gold. "Team Pink" from Global Engineering & Manufacturing Technology emerged victorious, having displayed supreme sportsmanship in every event. While the Olympic event allowed Goodyear associates to have fun and celebrate their philanthropy to the United Way, it also provided the opportunity to honor an especially compassionate, community service-oriented individual with the highly-regarded Obie A. Williams Spirit of Caring Award. Obie Williams assisted United Way committee chairman Greg Stucker in presenting the honor to Cathy Giebel of NAT Manufacturing for her dedication to volunteerism and the United Way.  "I am deeply touched to be part of a group that
recognizes and acknowledges the spirit of caring and honors one of my personal
heroes, Obie Williams," Giebel said, "It is a pleasure and a privilege to work
with the United Way and the Goodyear North American Tire Manufacturing
organization to promote our corporate and personal commitments to individuals in
our community who are in need."Giebel believes it's critically important to shape the development of our youth, to accept without reservation those who can be marginalized and to help everyone in the community where we can. Her volunteer activities include Young Marines, a youth program that fosters a healthy, drug-free life-style; the Special Olympics and, of course, United Way. As part of her contribution to United Way, Giebel spearheads the annual silent auction at Goodyear each year. (Top photo) The winning United Way Office Olympics team members from Global Engineering & Manufacturing Technology; (bottom photo) The 2007 United Way Obie Williams 'Spirit of Caring' winner was Cathy Giebel. |
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This marks the fifth consecutive year of increased support from their employees with a 36% increase from last year's campaign! The number of leadership givers has also tripled this year! Thanks City Scrap & Salvage for your outstanding community support! |
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Non-Profits Recognized for Outstanding Campaigns Thanks to the employees at these organizations that show a tremendous commitment to our community! |
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Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Company Wraps Up Pictured are (l to r) Rick Fedorovich, Managing Partner, Jim Merklin, Mark Bober, Dave Wehrle, Cindy Johnson and Jim Bowen. The seventh partner not pictured is Dale Ruther. |
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Stark & Knoll Raises The Bar |
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The
Akron Beacon Journal Serves Up Beach Lunch The Akron Beacon Journal kicked off their campaign with a Cheeseburger in
Paradise beach-theme luncheon serving the daytime and evening shift employees.
To further encourage support for United Way, they held a 50-50 raffle with great
prizes. The first 50 people to submit pledges received $5 "wooden nickels" to a
local eatery. Through their efforts, the Akron Beacon Journal is expected
to celebrate a 37%
increase in participation and a 22% increase in donations! Thank You! |
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Visiting Nurse Services Flips for United Way |
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PolyOne Corporation Runs First Local Campaign |
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Project Blueprint Applications Available Application deadline is October 31, 2007. If you are interested in more information or would like an application contact Brenda Cox at 330.643.5508, email bcox@uwsummit.org or apply online. |
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Non-Profits: Submit Your Holiday Volunteer Requests and Holiday Wish Lists If
your non-profit needs volunteer help for the holidays or has a holiday-related
wish list for donations needed, submit your needs to the United Way of Summit
County Volunteer Center. We'll try our best to match you up with those wanting
to help. Hurry, the deadline for requests is Wednesday, October 24th. Make your
request with
our online form. For more information contact Pam Beals at
330-643-5512 or pbeals@uwsummit.org.
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Amazing Race Slated for October
14th |
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Meet the Team:
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Child Guidance
& Family Solutions Achieves, Maintains Excellence Individuals
and families with different social, behavioral and emotional issues have turned
to Child Guidance & Family Solutions to find help for years. Now CG&FS has been
recognized once again for the quality and excellence of its professional
services and staff by receiving the prestigious NorthCoast 99 award. This award
recognizes the 99 best employers in Northeast Ohio for top talent. This is the
second time CG&FS has been in the Northcoast 99 in the past three years.Child Guidance & Family Solutions has remained Summit County's leading provider of behavioral and mental healthcare to adults, children and families for close to 70 years. The Agency provides treatment and prevention services to over 4,000 children and 1,000 adults yearly and employs 150 professionals and support staff. Their counselors and care coordinators are also on-site in numerous area school districts. Child Guidance & Family Solutions is a United Way affiliated agency. For more information please call 330-762-0591 or visit www.cgfs.org. |
School
Boards: They Affect Us All The
School Board Governance Project Committee invites you to a panel discussion
on School Boards -- the work, the role, and the responsibility of School Boards
in the education of our youth. The discussion will be held on Thursday, October
18th, 7:00 - 8:30pm in the Main Library at 80 South High Street, Akron.
Free parking will be available in the Library parking deck after 6:00 pm.The panel will consist of a School Superintendent, a School Treasurer, and a Teacher Union Representative. Learn what you should know before you cast your votes this November. For more information please call The University of Akron's Ray C. Bliss Institute at 330-972-5182. |
On
the third Monday of each month, an extraordinary group of people gathers at
Stewart's Caring Place in Fairlawn for a seemingly ordinary purpose. The
group, consisting of cancer patients in various stages, comes together for the
Look Good…Feel Better® program, which provides instruction in skin care,
hair care and make-up to help participants adapt to the changes they experience
during treatment. 
All in attendance were
eligible for a drawing for several great prizes provided by Mr. Stewart, including tickets to an
upcoming Cleveland Browns game. The Dorothy O. Jackson Society plans to hold
events such as this twice a year. Four new members joined the Society because of
this great event. Thanks to everyone who attended!
United Way held the
Tocqueville Society reception on September 11, 2007 at the home
of Richard C. and Lisa Fedorovich (pictured) in Richfield, Ohio. Approximately 60
people attended the donor appreciation event. 
United Way is proud to recognize the non-profit organizations that are
running United Way campaigns. The non-profit division has done an excellent
job of jumpstarting the 2007 Campaign. Tremendous leadership has been
critical to our early success, and with the President of the Greenleaf
Family Center, Judy Joyce, as our acting Campaign Division Chair the level
of enthusiasm has picked up. Below is a list of the non-profit campaigns
that are complete:
Bober,
Markey, Fedorovich & Company celebrated this year's campaign success with a
cook-out hosted by the company's seven partners. The company reached its
goal of 100% participation, a goal that prompted the offer by the partners, and
increased their campaign more than 8% over 2006. The company's campaign kickoff
on August 16th included a speaker from United Disability Services, as well as
Managing Partner Rick Fedorovich, who expressed the company's desire to meet the
100% mark. Congratulations to Coordinator Jeanine Black and everyone who worked
to make the 2007 campaign such a success!
Stark
& Knoll of Fairlawn has once again set the bar high among law firms
participating in the 2007 United Way campaign. In 2006, Stark & Knoll won the
Wendell L. Willkie award, presented by the Akron Bar Association to
the participating firm with the largest increase in per capita giving. The firm
turned in another stellar campaign this year, achieving an additional increase
of more than 61% in per capita giving and an overall campaign increase of more
than 64%! United Way of Summit County would like to thank Stark & Knoll for
their outstanding support of What Matters in our community.
On September 26th,
The Visiting Nurse Services held a pancake breakfast,
to create awareness for their United Way campaign. The employees enjoyed
great pancakes and sausage prepared by their fellow co-workers. Along with
food, they had an opportunity to enter an auction for baskets that included
candy, movies, and Ohio State football tickets. Proceeds from the event were
donated to United Way. Thanks VNS!
The PolyOne Corporation Macedonia site ran a first ever Summit County
United Way campaign
with 41% participation among their employees. Thank you for your support of our
community!
The
fourth annual 'Amazing Race' car scavenger hunt -- presented by Matco Tools to benefit United
Way of Summit County -- will be held on Sunday, October 14, 2007. Drivers
will be sent out between 1:00 and 2:00 pm from the American Red Cross,
Summit County Chapter parking lot, 501 W. Market Street, Akron.
Devoe
Johnson: