****Spring Newsletter**** |
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2021 Annual Meeting Recap
Looking Back on 2020
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The Magic of Reading was the theme for this year's event. Prior to the program, magician Isaac Robertson performed card tricks for the 160 guests in attendance. Lori Faust, Youth Services Manager for the Warren - Trumbull County Public Library gave a special presentation on how books open up new worlds for all of us making reading magical. |
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We would like to give a special thanks to the Cafaro Foundation who sponsored the
event held at the new
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United Way of Trumbull County (UWTC) held its 2021 Annual meeting with a look back at 2020. Kathy Kiniklis, Board Chair for UWTC, opened the meeting reflecting on the many challenges during the pandemic but focused on the positive work the organization was able to accomplish. She noted that United Way, with the help of community partners, were more united than ever to provide strength and hope in an unprecedented time. In addition, recognition was given to outgoing board members and area businesses and individuals who supported United Way of Trumbull County by giving, advocating, and volunteering.
Ginny Pasha, President of UWTC, spoke about pivoting from the organization's original plans to a focus on meeting needs created by the pandemic. A survey of the Trumbull County community conducted by UWTC provided insight into priority needs.
Based on the results of the survey, the following was provided in 2020:
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Increased funding through a COVID-19 fund to help front-line partner agencies address food and housing insecurities
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1500 masks made by volunteers and 288 gallons of sanitizer to keep essential workers and those they serve safe
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200 prescriptions for diabetes related medications to the underinsured and uninsured
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1000 diapers to families in need
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A "Boatload" of school supplies to Trumbull County School Districts with the help of the Trumbull County Education Service Center and local Dollar General Stores
UWTC also introduced Thankful Acts of Kindness to recognize frontline essential workers. Gift cards, small gifts, or meals were purchased from local small businesses to give to selected nominees to demonstrate our appreciation. Nominations were open to the community.
In spite of the pandemic, UWTC continued to focus on early childhood literacy with Virtual Read Alouds, The Ohio Governor's Imagination Library, and breaking ground on the new Born Learning Trail in Perkins Park.
Ginny wrapped up by thanking everyone for their support and looking to the future to Recover, Reimagine, and Rebuild so that every child and family in Trumbull County can Thrive.
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United Way of Trumbull County is pleased to recognize the following list
of outgoing Board Members and award recipients.
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Outgoing Board Chairs for both 2019 and 2020 were recognized for
their outstanding service to United Way of Trumbull County.
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KATHY KINIKLIS, Mercy Health
UWTC Board Chair
June 2020 - June 2021
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ERIC LANHAM, 7 17 Credit Union
UWTC Board Chair
June 2019 - June 2020
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Outgoing Board Members include:
Mayor Doug Franklin, City of Warren
Danté Capers, Warren City Schools
Scott Masters, Berkman, Jorgensen, Masters & Stafman, LLC
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Greenwood Chevrolet was recognized for their corporate donation, sponsorship for United Way’s Nine is Fine Golf Outing, and the Extra Mile Giveaway, an incentive for donors to give to the United Way. In 2020, donors who contributed or pledged $260 ($5 a week) or more were entered into a raffle to win their choice of a 2020 Trax or $15,000 cash.
The drawing is typically conducted at an annual event where five finalists from United Way of Mahoning County and five finalists from United Way of Trumbull County are joined by friends and family as each finalist turns a key to see if they are the lucky winner.
For 2021, due to the restrictions created by the pandemic, Greenwood Chevrolet went over and beyond and provided the services of 898 Marketing to promote the event through videos and graphics and created a fun, virtual, event that everyone could attend safely.
It was a true nail biter as everyone watched (via Zoom) nine keys fail to start the car. The tenth key, belonging to Joe Datchuk from 7 17 Credit Uniion, ignited the vehicle as Ginny, who served as a surrogate for the Trumbull County finalists, turned the key. The look on Joe’s face was priceless as he realized no keys remained except his. Joe decided to take the $15,000 in cash. The event was later broadcast on WYTV.
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A BIG THANKS to Greenwood Chevrolet
and the 2020 Extra Mile Giveaway Finalists
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Tim Schaffner, Trumbull County Children Services
with Ginny Pasha
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Stanley Elkins
Trumbull County
Prosecutor’s Office
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Sonya Marshall
Warren City Schools
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Ginny Pasha chooses the keys selected by each finalist.
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Joe Datchuk reacts as he realizes he is the last to turn the key and will be the winner
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Above: Joe Dathcuk of 7 17 was new to the company in 2020 and pleased to learn of their support for United Way. This was his first year to give as a 7 17 employee and he had forgotten about the Extra Mile Giveaway until we notified him that he was a finalist.
Left: Ginny smiles as she turns the winning key for Joe Datchuk.
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The Advocate Award was given to both Mark Marvin of the Downtown Development Group and Ken Haidaris of Sunrise Entertainment, LLC for advocating for United Way of Trumbull County by opening the Robins Theatre in December 2019 for a special evening to benefit United Way of Trumbull County. |
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This year’s recipients of the Volunteer Award included Dana Warren-Tolios of The Middlefield Banking Company for her volunteer service and her part in conducting auditions for United Way’s spokes kids and preparing a United Way of Trumbull County campaign video.
Spokes Kids Cadence Treich and Bailey Tolios were recognized for volunteering and representing United Way of Trumbull County in the community. A special thanks to Crissy Treich, Cadence's mom, whose commitment made her daughter's involvement possible.
Barton Malow and Laborers' Local 935 were both recognized for installing the Born Learning Trail in Perkins Park. When completed this spring, the Born Learning Trail will provide fun activities that promote early literacy and childhood health.
Special awards were presented to the volunteers who made 1,500 masks for people in Trumbull County when PPE was not as readily available. These individuals included Ardele Alfonsi, Gayle Beil, Shirley Davis, Danielle Durkin, Linda Gee, Marian Hecker, Janet Jarrett, Susan Kidd, Sue Kisak, Natalia Kresic, Sherry Moliterno, Julia Vandergriff, and members of the Warren Junior Women’s League. We would also like to thank the other members of the community who anonymously donated masks at local Dollar General Stores who accepted them on behalf of United Way of Trumbull County.
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Left to right: Ginny Pasha, Dana Warren - Tolios, Bailey Tolios,
Cadence Treich, Kathy Kiniklis, Crissy Treich
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Left to right: Anyah Marsh, new spokes kid in 2021,
and Cadence Treich, current spokes kid
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Click the button above to watch the campaign video created by Dana Warren-Tolios and Bailey Tolios! |
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Ginny Pasha and Jim Ledenko, Laborers' Local 935 |
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Representatives Ron Hasenbusch and Ken Boyea from Barton Malow and Kathy Kiniklis |
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The special ladies who made masks for our community
when PPE was not readily available
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The Give, Advocate, Volunteer Award - Small Business |
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This award was new this year and was given to TEMA Roofing Services for giving a financial contribution, volunteering to read for Read Across America, providing a team for United Way at Work, creating a video for Let's Talk Trumbull, and advocating for United Way of Trumbull County in their newsletter and in the community.
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The Give, Advocate, Volunteer Award |
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Left to Right: Eric Lanham, 7 17 Credit Union; Kathy Kiniklis, UWTC Board Chair; Brian Boetcher, 7 17 Credit Union
THANK YOU to 7 17 and all their employees who support us throughout the year!
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7 17 Credit Union has been a strong supporter of United Way of Trumbull County for many years. Not only do they provide a corporate donation, their leadership also advocates on our behalf by conducting a work place campaign and encourages employees to learn more about the work we are doing in the communities they serve. Their employees are also encouraged to volunteer by serving on UWTC's Board Directors and various committees as well as volunteering at various events throughout the year. In 2020, 7 17 went over and above by contributing additional dollars to our COVID - 19 fund to help people with immediate needs in Trumbull County, and by sponsoring the new Born Learning Trail in Perkins Park. Their commitment to our community is outstanding.
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This concludes our Annual Meeting Recap. Read on for what
United Way of Trumbull County has been up to in 2021!
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This year, Women United has focused on creating awareness around keeping healthy and getting vaccinated while continuing to provide financial support for prescriptions due to the generosity of the Ladies Auxiliary at the Trumbull Regional Medical Center, Litco Manufacturing, and Premier Bank.
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To encourage healthy habits from a young age, four additional signs were created for the new Born Learning Trail which consists of colorful and interactive signs with activities for adults to engage in with young children to turn an outdoor trip into a fun learning experience. We are the first United Way to add these health related signs and are grateful for input from Jenna Amerine from the Trumbull County Health District, and from Melissa Maki of Middlefield Bank whose marketing expertise helped make the signs engaging for kids.
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____________________
Diabetes Initiative
Launched Fall 2019
250 + prescriptions for diabetes related medications
65 years old is the average age of a person receiving financial assistance.
$154 is the average cost per prescription
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Read Across America - 2021 |
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This year created many challenges for our annual Read 4 Fun volunteer event typically held on March 2nd. But thanks to Cortland Bank employees, we were able to offer virtual reading sessions. United Way of Trumbull County began offering virtual Read Alouds during the summer of 2020 to keep kids engaged and reading while at home. For Read Across America Day, four Cortland Bank employees created a video to be shared in schools or at home for Read Across America Day. |
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Ohio Governor's Imagination Library |
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3,224
kids in Trumbull County, under age 5, receive a book in the mail each month.
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United Way of Trumbull County is committed to helping kids LEARN WELL from an early age. Read the quotes below from moms whose children receive the books to see just a few examples of how the Ohio Governor's Imagination Library is helping to achieve this mission!
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"Through the Imagination Library, our son has learned that books are a treasure, a friend, something to be loved and shared. Whenever Liam gets his books, he can't wait to take it to preschool to show everyone his "special" book."
Caitlin Damaska, mother of Liam 3 years
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"We love getting books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library! We get regular print books but also braille tales for her as well! It is making her familiar with braille as she grows older and they are great for her."
Jessica Divencenso, mother of Serenity, 4 years
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Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
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"As a teacher who is currently teaching children through online instruction due to the pandemic, I was so happy when It |
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was Favorite Book Day and my student showed the class " Coat of Many Colors" by Dolly Parton! The book had arrived in the mail and she was so excited to share her favorite story. She retold the whole story to her friends. She knew the song as well. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is making a huge impact on my students in their homes, especially now."
Jessica Logan, Teacher of Ally, 4 years
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Community Conversations
in Trumbull County
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Work began early in 2020 with a survey of the Trumbull County Community conducted by United Way of Trumbull County. A second but similar survey was distributed in the fall of 2020. The intent of the surveys was to identify changes in needs as the pandemic began to clearly impact our community and how our families LEARN WELL, EARN WELL, and STAY WELL. The questions were asked in a way that would reveal how seniors, adults, and children were being impacted now and into the future.
On February 4th, 2021, United Way of Trumbull County convened community leaders to discuss the challenges that were documented by the surveys. Expectations from the discussions were to help prioritize action steps to address urgent and long-term needs in Trumbull County. Areas of focus included education, readiness to work, and successfully communicating challenges to funders and policy makers.
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Recognizing Volunteers - April 2021 |
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Thankful Acts of Kindness are a way of showing our appreciation for those in our community who have gone over and above in their service to others. The program was started in 2020 to recognize essential workers and volunteers during the pandemic and was received so well that we plan to keep asking for nominations in 2021. |
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April was volunteer month and we ended the month by taking the opportunity to do something a little different from our past requests for nominations. We asked for
volunteers only whose service to our community is outstanding. Nominations were accepted through the month of May.
The individuals selected from the overwhelming number of nominations are:
Rocco Corr
a 24 year old recent nursing graduate who volunteered over a hundred hours
to help administer the Covid 19 vaccine.
Attorney Ned C. Gold
for securing The Norman Rockwell Scouting Collection of paintings,
valued at approximately $130 million, currently on display
at the Medici Museum located in Howland
Madelyn Fonagy
a 14 year old student who started a food pantry
Becky Bucco
for volunteering in the community for over 20 years including the prom dress giveaway at Champion High School and promoting literacy by chairing the Education & Library Committee for the Warren Women's Junior League
Each will receive a Thankful Act of Kindness ...a gift card from a local business or restaurant. This is just one way we can show our appreciation to those who make our community a better place.
Thanks to all who nominated and to all nominees
for your outstanding service.
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We thank ALL the students for their hard work (while having a little fun) and helping children and families thrive right here in Trumbull County.
Read more at the Warren City Schools website! |
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Students at Lincoln PK – 8 raised $1,655 for United Way of Trumbull County with a Penny War! |
Every year, Warren City Schools holds a workplace campaign and students are encouraged to participate. This year, their commitment to the challenge was off the charts!
Seventh grade students may have come in at first place in the Penny War challenge but in the end United Way of Trumbull County and our community are the winners.
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Registration Coming Soon!
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United Way of Trumbull County Website
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