Newsletter 
  June / July, 2018
  United Way of Knox County, Ohio

In This Letter

Power of the Purse

Red Feather Gala

Tax Program a Success

Girls on the Run 5K

Free Meal Schedule

2019 Investment Process

Campaign Kick Off

Volunteer Spotlight
2018 Campaign Chair

Join us!

Upcoming 
United Way events
June and July 2018

June 21, 7:30 a.m. 
Women in Recovery Breakfast 
Open to all Women United Members. To learn more or to become a member
Contact Elizabeth

Every Tuesday 6-7 p.m.
YMCA Youth Enrichment
YMCA, OSU Extension and United Way join forces: Get a workout while you child learns something new each week! Free for YMCA members, $5 non-members
Call 740 392 9622

Daily
Edible Knox
305 E High Street and along Main Street and Downtown Mount Vernon

Email for more details.

Jon Our Friends!

Upcoming 
Community Events
June and July 2018


June and July
SPI Where Science and Play Intersect
Youth Camps
400 South Main St
Mount Vernon
Registration is Open!

May 1 through Summer
Ariel Foundation Park
Summer Fitness Schedule - Free Events
Ariel Foundation Park 
Schnormeier Event Center

1st Monday Each Month, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
the Freedom Center
Family Education Session
106 East Gambier St Mount Vernon

May 1 through Summer
Ariel Foundation Park
Summer Fitness Schedule - Free Events
Ariel Foundation Park 
Schnormeier Event Center

Saturdays May-October
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Mount Vernon Farmers Market
Open Market
1 Public Square, 
Mount Vernon.   

Ongoing:
Get Healthy Knox County

Email for more details or to share your organization's events in the next newsletter!
In the News!

Recent Partner Events

The Knox Health Planning Partnership  has finished the 2018 Knox County Community Health Assessment, which is due for release online. This document summarizes the findings of the county-wide health assessment survey from January to March 2018. Results will guide the community health improvement plan (CHIP) and well as community and agency priorities. Read a draft. 

Girl Scouts held a STEM themed a Mad Science Event at the Mount Vernon Middle School. Mad Science is focused on STEM  and aims to spark the imagination and curiosity through fun, interactive activities that instill a clear understanding of what science really is and how it affects the world.

Groups opioid recovery treatment community opened their n ew location June 1. The center is to be located at
401 West High Street
Mount Vernon, Ohio 

Email for more details or to share a story or event for the next newsletter.
Get Involved!

Active Volunteer and Enrollment Opportunities

Women United 
Utilizes the power of women to advance the common good in our community.

Imagination Library 
Encourages learning by providing free books to children birth to age 5.
To become a sponsor or to donate to the program, Contact  Karen

SPI Where Science and Play Intersect Discovery Play Space,  
Is  offering 

Knox County YMCA
Promotes health & fitness programs for all ages.

Muskingum Valley Council
scouts are actively recruiting Boys AND girls for their scouting programs. Visit BeAScout.scouting.org and enter your zip code to find a troop 

Touchpointe KnoxWorks
Removes barriers for Neighbors in need of a second chance to transition to the workforce.
This is a win-win for both 

Email and tell us if you have an active program to include in our next letter.
 

  
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"In addition to hard work, it was the support of others who gave me the opportunity to succeed"

- Brian Gallagher
President and CEO of United Way Worldwide 

United Way 
of Knox County, Ohio 
is dedicated to being an agent of change, creating opportunities that move individuals and families to self-sufficiency, while eliminating barriers for future generations. 


Power of the Purse

This year's Power of the Purse event took place on May 4, 2018 in Gund Commons at Kenyon College. With 287 attendees filling 34 tables and over 20 waiters, this was the largest Power of the Purse event that we have held to date! Thank you to everyone who helped us exceed our fundraising goal $50,000. By the end of the night, guests contributed over $63,000 to support Women United projects. We are accepting 2018 Grant Applications through July 4.



Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Power of the Purse a success! Our Event Program ( available upon request ) contains a full list of contributors. 

Images from the event are available on our 

Red Feather Gala

The Red Feather Gala was held in celebration of United Way's achievements and in appreciation of contributions to the Red Feather Society. The Gala took place  April 21, at the Mount Vernon Country Club.

At the Kentucky Derby-themed party, guests came fully dressed in florals and hats! The star of the event was a horse, who
provided a more real  glimpse at a Derby Day experience and a unique photo opportunity!

To learn more about the Red Feather Society, call us at 740.397.5721 and ask to speak with Kelly.

United Way Tax Program is a Success

Since 2007, United Way has provided free tax preparation assistance to our community through The Ohio Benefit Bank. R esults of the program for 20018 included:
  • 15,282 federal tax returns filed 
  • 111% of the goal set for tax returns
  • Over $22 million tax refunds and credits
  • Program Return on Investment of 192:1
Our Tax Preparation Team, lead by LaShawn Small, was recognized as one of the top 16 Tax Sites in Ohio for 2018! We came in at number 11!

To learn more about the program or to volunteer next year, visit the website or contact us!

Girls on the Run 5K Race

The first year of Girls on the Run has officially ended.  On May 20,  Girls on the Run participants traveled to Columbus Commons to take part in the organization's 5K race and program celebration.



The program, supported by United Way of Knox County and Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries, Inc., teaches elementary girls  (grades 3-5)  life skills and self-empowerment through conversation-based lessons and running games. It extends over 12-weeks and culminates in completion of the organization's 5K race and celebration.  Each girl ran with a family member or coach - United Way's program coordinator joined the group as well.

The team was well prepared for race day. One girl declared that after all of the training, "Running the 5K felt like it was really easy" 

The following week, the girls met for a final recap of program themes and celebrate a successful season. They also carried out their Community Impact project, selling Popsicles at recess and raising over $94 for the dog shelter!

To learn more about this program, please visit the Girls on the Run website.

Free Meal Schedule
Any child age 1 to 18 is invited to receive the free meal. As are those age 19 through 21 who have been identified as having mental or physical disabilities and are currently enrolled in an education program and are following Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

Breakfast 
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. at the Salvation Army

Lunch
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at  Riverside Park 
 
11:30 a.m. - 1:00  p.m.  at Hiawatha Park

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.  at Salvation Army

Meals are available June 4 through August 3
For more information, and for a complete schedule of meals (including dinners) call 211!

2019 Community Investment Process

Our sincerest thank you to the representatives of our Community Investment Panel and Community Investment Committee for their review, evaluation, and recommendations for 2018 for 2019 Community Investment Agenda.

These recommendations were reviewed at the United Way of Knox County Ohio, Inc. June 19th Board Meeting. We plan notify our partner agencies of investment decisions, and release the 2019 Investment agenda! 
 
For a sneak peek at what to expect, review the 2018 Invest Agenda of $702,868 in 
or  request a copy of United Way's 2017 accomplishments in the  Live United Journal - 2017 Annual Report.  


Campaign Kickoff Upcoming

We are anxious to announce the upcoming 2019 Community Investment Agenda. 
Campaign event planning is well underway.

Our 2018 Campaign Goal is $1,050,000 to be used to support the programs described in the  2019 Community Investment Agenda. This includes investing $743,384 in 26 partner agencies, who will run 17 programs in the areas of Education, Health, and Financial Stability. 

Our Campaign Kickoff Week will be held September 10 through 14. The Campaign Kickoff Week Schedule featuring our community events will be shared on our Website, Facebook, and in the August/September Newsletter.

Volunteer Spotlight
 
We are proud  to introduce you to......

Steve Oster 




United Way of Knox County Ohio, Inc. is excited to announce Steve Oster as chair of the 2018 campaign.

Steve Oster, a previous board member and president of the board of United Way of Knox County, now joins us as the Campaign Chair. 

His current position is as the Superintendent for the Knox and Coshocton County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, a position he has held for the past 10 years. He has worked on both the State and Local levels and for the past 6 years, he was the Presidents of the Superintendents Association. 

We are thrilled to have Steve carry the torch. He is a true advocate of our work at United Way and knows directly how important United Way is to supporting programming in Knox County.


Women United Grant Applications
The Founders of Women United are looking for projects that impact the lives of our friends and neighbors in Knox County.
Do you have an idea for a project? Do you think that Women United might be interested in funding it? Have you been in recent conversation when someone mentioned a need in Knox County? Is there a cause for which you feel passionately?
Complete the Women United Grant Application in order for a project to be considered for funding August 2018 through August 2019. Please note, projects funded for 2017 to 2018 must submit a current application in order to be considered for 2018 to 2019 investment.
Applications are accepted now through July 4. 
Women United's founding members review Grant Applications and select which to support.
Grant awardees will be announced at the Women United Luncheon August 2, 2018.
For more information, please email  elizabeth@uwayknox.org, call 740.397.5721, or  visit visit the website .