IN THIS ISSUE

Strauss Named 2007 Campaign Chair

Union Counselor Training

Project Blueprint Alumni Meet & Greet

JCPenney

FedEx IT

Letter Carrier Food Drive

Nominate 'Woman Philanthropist of the Year'

Docs Who Rock

Meet the Team

Remember United Way in your Will

Brown Bag Seminars

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Be A Volunteer

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

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

Summa CEO Tom Strauss Named 2007 Campaign Chairman
The United Way of Summit County has named Thomas J. Strauss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Summa Health System, as the 2007 volunteer campaign chairman.

As chairman of the United Way/Red Cross annual campaign, Strauss will be involved in planning and implementing the fundraising effort, recruiting members for the cabinet, and attending campaign special events. Tom will spearhead the effort to make personal visits to more than 300 businesses and organizations in our community to encourage support of the United Way campaign.

Strauss has led the Summa Health System, including Akron City, St. Thomas and Cuyahoga Falls General Hospitals; six community health centers; SummaCare, Inc.; the physician-hospital organization, Summa Health Network; Summa Enterprises Group and the Summa Hospitals Foundation, since 1999. He holds a doctor of pharmacy degree from Duquesne University. Strauss and his wife Susan live in Cuyahoga Falls and have three sons.

Others joining Strauss in volunteering for the 2007 United Way Fundraising Drive are: Nick Anthony of Rubber City Radio Group; Omar Banks of John S. Knight Center, Charlie Booth; Mike Caporale; Theresa Carter of OMNOVA Solutions, Inc.; Craig Chaffinch of American Red Cross - Summit County Chapter; Laura B. Culp of Brockman, Coats, Gedelian & Company; John & Betty Dalton; Ann Durr of Valley Saving Bank; Richard Fedorovich of Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Company; Brian Fortney of Cleveland Magazine; Richard France of Fifth Third Bank; Lee Giller of B. Berger Company; Marty Hauser of SummaCare Health Plan; Judy Joyce of Greenleaf Family Center; John Kovatch of The University of Akron; William Lowery of Annaco, Inc.; Brian Moore of Roetzel & Andress; Donald Pavlik of National City Bank; B. Louis Poppovich of Sky Bank Green Financial Center; Bill Roderick of Barberton Citizens Hospital; James Rollins of Meaden & Moore, Ltd.; Jeff Rovnak of Morgan Stanley; C. Michael Rutherford of Summa Health System; Kathy Smid; the Honorable Linda Tucci Teodosio, Judge of Summit County Juvenile Court; and Ted Walter of CHASE Bank.
Meet all of the 2007 Campaign Cabinet Members

Bob Kulinski, president of United Way of Summit County said, "Tom Strauss is CEO of Summit County's largest employer, and is recognized as a thoughtful and compassionate leader. He is passionate about our community and about achieving ambitious goals, so I know he will lead our staff and volunteers to a successful campaign."

JCPenney Kicks-off Year-Round Efforts
JCPenney 1071 at Chapel Hill Mall recently presented United Way with over $180 raised as part of their year-round efforts to raise money in support of the local community. Jars are set up in the break room to collect extra change from associates as part of a friendly competition between the first-floor and second-floor associates. Thanks go out to Sandy, Brenda and Mary for their efforts to encourage year-round support of United Way!  Pictured above is (l to r) Sandy Nesit, Margaret Grimm - United Way Resource Development Director, and Brenda Ballard.

Meet the Team

Brenda Farrell joined the United Way of Summit County staff in 2004, but she was a veteran of the United Way system.  She spent 20 years with the Barberton Area United Way, (14 as Chief Professional Officer) until that organization merged with the countywide UW.

She works in the Community Impact division of United Way and is currently shepherding our new web-based system -- Community TechKnowledge, Online Data Manager.

Brenda is a consummate United Way professional -- she says that what she loves most about her job is that "I can come here and do my work, and when I leave at the end of the day, I know that someone's life has been made better because of what I do.  That's a great feeling."

Bob Kulinski, President of United Way of Summit County commented "There were many benefits to our community and organization that resulted from the merger with the Barberton Area United Way three years ago. One of the best outcomes of that action was having the opportunity for Brenda to join our staff. She brings long and dedicated experience and good judgment, and is a real asset to our Community Impact Division and our entire organization."

Brenda and her husband of 37 years, Mark, are the proud parents of Dena, Scott and Jamie and the proud grandparents of Jacob, 10; Brayden, 9; Alayna, 7; and Brooke, 1 1/2.
 

Remember United Way In Your Will
Remembering United Way in your Will is one of the easiest ways to continue the impact of your annual gift.  People need not be wealthy to create a meaningful and lasting legacy.  When you draft or update your Will, your attorney will know how to handle the wording for the charitable bequest.  It can be as simple as inserting the following sentence: "I give and bequeath to United Way of Summit County, 90 North Prospect Street, Akron, OH the sum of $_____ dollars or ____% of my estate."

Have you already remembered United Way in your Will?