UWMC campaign goal & theme set for 2016

 “Envision the Future, Plant Hope for Tomorrow”

            The 2016 campaign goal is set at $195,000, according to Wallick. The United Way made its third consecutive goal raising $202,662 in 2015. Our goal is to “Envision the Future and Plant Hope for Tomorrow,” Wallick said. “There is no better time to invest in the future of Miami County than now.” United Way of Miami County was awarded a 1:1 matching grant of $33,633 through Indiana Association of United Ways.

            Funds from IaUW grant will allow United Way to continue their initiative in the area of Early Childhood Education. These funds will help advance, strengthen, and identify our unmet community needs identified through 2-1-1; such as early childhood education, rural transit, and address an infestation health issue.

            The United Way of Miami County Board of Directors is pleased to be working with this year’s campaign chair, Bryan Maggart. According to Debi Wallick, executive director Maggart has several years experience with the United Way in various capacities. He is currently serving as Vice President of Miami County Child Abuse Prevention and before that he was employed for American Red Cross for several years.  

            “The United Way campaign has made great strides the past few years, but it is time to take the next step and grow the campaign to better meet the needs of the community,” Wallick said. “Our per capita giving is below other communities our size, but we have the same needs.” “I am very happy that Bryan has volunteered to take on this year’s campaign efforts.” “I know that Bryan understands the importance of helping our agencies provide services to the people of Miami County.” “Bryan brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to the position.”

             “The board of directors and I appreciate the hard work and time that Bryan and his team of other volunteers will give to make the campaign a success.” Our new Campaign Cabinet will reach out to a diverse group of people we have not reached out to before. 

The work has already begun.

            This year’s campaign cabinet consists of several business leaders and volunteers from the community. This year’s Campaign Cabinet volunteers are: Campaign Co-Chairs, Bryan Maggart & Shelley Sheneman; Unit Chairs for this year’s campaign will include: Industrial, Brooke Robertson; Commercial, Kathy Brehmer & Carrie Minns Young; Professional Amy Million; Government, Debi Wallick; Leadership, Jeff Price. This year’s Division Chairs for the campaign will include: Finance, Becky Wright; Automotive, Jason Bowman; General Business, Rose Ryan; Commerce, Carrie Minns Young; Large Business & Investments, Tayler Licklider; Non-Profit, Alexi Arnold; Non-Medical, Kathy Brehmer; Insurance & Real Estate, Brian Ege; Education – Peru, Kenny Hanson; Education – Maconaquah, Doug Arnold; Education – Becky Saddlemire; Education – Ivy Tech, Dave Scheblo; Ministerial Association, Dave Fronbly; Professional Institution & Medical, Rachel Neighbors; Professional Attorneys, Bruce Embrey & Cole Beckley.

            Envision what if every General//Professional Business gave $100 who has never given before gave or if every General//Professional Business gave %5 over last year contribution it could …

  • support access to job readiness, soft skills training and continued education opportunities
  • provide access to healthy lifestyles, and emergency dental services, visual & hearing impaired services
  • help promote career building programs to improve job readiness

            Did you know eighty-five percent of a child’s brain development occurs before kindergarten? This means that investing in early childhood development is one of the most promising and cost-effective ways to prepare our young people for success in school and in life.  Envision what our community could become if we made a powerful investment in our future, help plant hope for young people of Miami County.

            Funds from IaUw grant will also help advance, strengthen, and identify our unmet community needs identified through 211; such as early childhood education, rural transit, and-and address an infestation health issues in Miami County.

United Way of Miami County Campaign Cabinet Volunteers, Board, and Staff will be focusing on:

  • Increasing 10 of top 20 current companies by 5% or more from previous year
  • Any company who matches their employee campaign up to $15,000 when employee participation increases 5%
  • Engaging five new businesses to give a corporate gift and add/institute payroll deductions
  • Increasing General/Professional Business 100x$100 Initiative by adding 25 new businesses
  • Increasing non-Emerging Leaders between $100- $249 by 5%
  • Increasing non-Emerging Leaders between $250 - $499 by 10%
  • Increasing Emerging Givers between $500-$999 by 5%
  • Adding two Emerging Givers
  • Increasing Current Leadership Givers by 5%
  • Re-engaging Leadership Lapsed Donors by at least half                                                                                                                                                                     

How will the grant funds be used:

Education: Early Childhood Education

            United Way of Miami County will continue to invest in Early Childhood Education by partnering with Northern Indiana Community Foundation (NICF) and Miami County Community Foundation (MCCF) to make available scholarships to Miami County children. It’s estimated that each year there are nearly 300 children in Miami County who do not attend preschool. As we review the reports from our first preschool scholarship initiative, our goal will be to focus on those families who are financially struggling to send their children to preschool.

Income: Rural Transit System                                                                                      

            Providing access to our Rural Transit System was a priority among Board members at our recent Strategic Planning Retreat.  Rural transit can enhance the quality of life, unite, and deliver real mobility and economic momentum to those in need. At the United Way of Miami County, we focus on four strategic priorities – income, education, health, and basic needs (a foundation for stability) to improve the lives of local families. Our goal is to extend after hours of operation and add non-medical Medicaid out-of-town transportation for low-income clients.

Health: Infestation Issue

            Miami County community impact partners are prepared to provide awareness education classes, home assessments, diatomaceous earth dust, bedbug mattress covers, and mattresses to families who are infested with bedbugs. Purdue Extension, St. Vincent De Paul, St. Charles Catholic Church, The Salvation Army, Miami County Health Department, and United Way are scheduling education classes and providing support to families who live in homes undetected through luggage, clothing, used beds and couches, and other items infected with bedbugs. Their flattened bodies make it possible for them to fit into tiny spaces, about the width of a credit card. Bedbugs do not have nests like ants or bees but tend to live in groups in hiding places. Their initial hiding places are typically in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards where they have easy access to people to bite in the night.

United Way of Miami County is currently looking for volunteers to step up and help with this years’ campaign; if you feel the need to reach out a hand and help influence the condition of all; please leave a message for Bryan, Shelley or Debi at United Way office 765-473-4240.

Do you want to ‘Envision the Future’ of Miami County? You can help United Way of Miami County Plant Hope through their 1:1 matching grant. Double your investment this year by designating to Education (early childhood scholarships), Income (rural transit) or Health (Infestation issues in Miami County).

The United Way is creating lasting change, by focusing on education, income and health. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED. If you would like more information about any of the agencies, volunteer opportunities, or where to turn for help or how to donate, please call the United Way office at 765.473.4240.

You can find us on FaceBook at Miami County United Way. Please start sharing our page today at #UWMC2016!