LIVING UNITED

mObILIzES 28,435 VOLUNTEErS TO

2012, ISSUE IV

ThE COLUmbUS VOLUNTEEr ChaLLENGE

ImprOVE LIVES aND STrENGThEN OUr COmmUNITy
LarGEST VOLUNTEErING EVENT Of ITS kIND IN CENTraL OhIO hISTOry

The Columbus Volunteer Challenge mobilized 28,435 volunteers who worked on more than 500 projects over more than three weeks. The city-wide volunteer event focused on lifting up and highlighting the importance of service to others. Led in partnership by the City of Columbus and United Way of Central Ohio, the Columbus Volunteer Challenge began with The Ohio State Universitys volunteering efforts on Community Commitment Day and concluded on United Way of Central Ohios Community Care Day, September 11, which is also the National Day of Service. Volunteer projects have engaged individuals, families, young professionals, teens, faith-based and corporate volunteers.

lasting legacy of our bicentennial year, said Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman. The people of Columbus stepped up like never before to help their friends and neighbors and make the city we call home an even better place to live, work and play. The Columbus Volunteer Challenge is a shining example of the spirit of Columbus, said Janet E. Jackson, President and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio. Its success shows that there are thousands of caring and engaged people in Columbus who work together to improve lives and strengthen our community.

teaching young children about healthy foods, donating blood, mentoring youth, collecting school supplies and food, and countless other projects. The estimated total financial impact of the Challenge to the community is more than $1.5 million. The Challenge successfully mobilized far more people in our community than ever before and it was just the beginning. People can continue to serve by registering for volunteer opportunities at liveunitedcentralohio.org/volunteer, sharing volunteer activities on the Story Wall at columbusvolunteerchallenge.org and passing on Pay It Forward cards that are downloadable from the Challenge website.

Throughout the Challenge, volunteers were mobilized at schools, community gardens, parks, and nonprofit and faith-based organizations. The Columbus Volunteer Challenge really Important work was undertaken, including lived up to its promise as the premier beautifying neighborhoods, repairing books at bicentennial service event it will be a preschools, serving meals to the homeless,

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prESIDENTS UpDaTE
Well, we did it! Through the Columbus Volunteer Challenge we inspired more people to volunteer and serve our community than we ever have before. Far more. 28,435 people gave their time to improve lives and strengthen our community during the Challenge -- that is impressive result and we should all be very proud. Mayor Coleman has often said that the Columbus Volunteer Challenge will be the lasting legacy of the bicentennial year, and it could not have happened without the many engaged and caring partners who came together to make the Challenge a reality. I want to thank our partners who have worked so hard: Vineyard Columbus, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, HandsOn Central Ohio, Pay It Forward at the Ohio Union, Keep Columbus Beautiful, and the Columbus City Schools. I also want to thank every faith-based organization that participated, and there were so many that stepped up. And special thanks are due to the countless educators in school systems throughout central Ohio who volunteered their help. The Challenge ended with a bang on Community Care Day which was once again sponsored by Kroger and Bob Evans. Their continued support of volunteering deserves a special recognition they were a big part of our overall success. The list of our corporate partners who participated is long, but I want to call out Grange Insurance for supporting a very successful food drive for LifeCare Alliance, U.S. Bank for sponsoring the Ultimate Back to School Drive which collected school supplies for Columbus City Schools students, and Lowes for helping Kroger volunteers create gardens at Godman Guild that will provide fresh vegetables for the people they serve. Thanks also to Jenis Splendid Ice Creams, Donatos and Home Depot for their in-kind support and to our media partners: The Columbus Dispatch, Media Source, Orange Barrel Media, Clear Channel Outdoor, WBNS-10 TV, WCMH-4, Radio One and CD 102.5. We have a lot to to celebrate during this bicentennial year, but for me the Columbus Volunteer Challenge stands out as the best example of the spirit of Columbus. The people in our community are dedicated to service and to getting things done. When we see needs we address them. When we face problems we solve them. Columbus is our city, and together we will work to make it the best city it can be. Sincerely,

Janet E. Jackson President and CEO United Way of Central Ohio

UNITED Way Of CENTraL OhIO WELCOmES NEW SENIOr VICE prESIDENT Of COmmUNITy ImpaCT
United Way of Central Ohio welcomes Dawn Tyler Lee to the organization as Senior Vice President of Community Impact. In this key leadership role, she will guide United Ways ongoing work to address the most challenging issues facing our community in the interrelated areas of Education, Income, Health and Home. We are very fortunate to have Dawn Tyler Lee joining the United Way leadership team, said Janet Jackson. We are deeply indebted to Rick Carrick, retiring Senior Vice President of Community Impact, for his innovative leadership. Dawns wealth of experience in the central Ohio nonprofit, government and higher education communities will greatly enhance our efforts to improve lives and strengthen our community. Dawn also shares United Ways deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, and will be a champion of our work in this area. Dawn most recently served as Executive Director of the Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT), a historic redevelopment initiative on Columbus Near East Side. PACT is a partnership of the Ohio State University, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, the City of Columbus and Near East Side stakeholders. Dawn has also served in the Office of Outreach and Engagement and the Office of Government Affairs at Ohio State, as Board Liaison for the Columbus Board of Education, Legislative Aide to Columbus City Council Member Charleta Tavares and Housing Policy Director for the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio. She is a graduate of the African-American Leadership Academy, Project Diversity and a recipient of the Business First 40 Under 40 Award. Dawn is chair of the Central Ohio Transit Authority Board, a member of the Columbus School for Girls Boards of Trustees and a member of the board of ROX Ruling our Experiences - an organization committed to the leadership development of adolescent girls.

LIVING UNITED

UNITED Way Of CENTraL OhIO SETS $52.55 mILLION GOaL fOr 2012 CampaIGN
GOaL rEprESENTS bEGINNING Of mULTI-yEar TraNSfOrmaTIONaL EffOrT LED by CO-ChaIrS, CINDy aND STEVE raSmUSSEN
United Way of Central Ohio announced a 2012 campaign goal of $52.55 million. This goal represents the beginning of a multi-year transformational fundraising effort that will improve lives, strengthen our community and fight poverty. It is more than $2.5 million, or 4.9 percent higher than the 2011 campaigns final result. The goal was presented to the United Way of Central Ohio Board of Trustees by 2012 Campaign Co-Chair, Steve Rasmussen. Rasmussen is Chief Executive Officer of Nationwide, one of the strongest national corporate partners of the United Way movement, and co-chairs the campaign with his wife Cindy. The 2012 Labor Co-Chair is Dennis Nicodemus, President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 683. Today we announced an ambitious goal for the 2012 United Way campaign because tackling poverty in our community is an ambitious undertaking, said Steve Rasmussen. United Way is uniquely positioned to address the challenge of poverty in central Ohio by identifying the most pressing needs in our community and working across multiple nonprofits and other organizations to apply coordinated strategies. I urge donors to support United Ways Community Impact Fund, which addresses the fundamental building blocks that help improve peoples lives and provide a clear, successful and sustainable path out of poverty. Cindy and Steves dynamic leadership is just what we need to achieve this ambitious goal, said Janet Jackson. Their vision for transforming our fundraising efforts over the next few years will speed our communitys efforts to fight poverty and ensure everyone has the opportunities and resources they need to reach their potential. Its imperative that we come together as a community to invest in United Way and build for the future, Rasmussen added. Were asking local business and community leaders as well as members of the general public to begin, continue or increase their support of United Way. A critical element in meeting this campaigns ambitious goal and the growing challenge of poverty in our community will be attracting the support of new corporate partners and individual donors. The Rasmussens are leading efforts to transform United Way of Central Ohios annual campaign to inspire and mobilize more people to give, advocate and volunteer. Projects include: A comprehensive review of fundraising opportunities and development of long-term action plans to reach people both within and outside of workplaces. Re-designing the United Way website to greatly enhance user experience, make it more mobile-friendly and better integrated with social media. Creating compelling marketing materials that explain the poverty challenge central Ohio faces and United Ways important role in addressing this challenge. The 2012 United Way of Central Ohio Campaign ends on March 31, 2013. Results of the campaign will be announced at the Celebration of Excellence on May 8, 2013.

2012 Campaign Co-Chairs Steve and Cindy Rasmussen

United Way is uniquely positioned to address the challenge of poverty in central Ohio by identifying the most pressing needs in our community and working across multiple nonprofits and other organizations to apply coordinated strategies.
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LIVEUNITEDCENTraLOhIO.OrG

UNITED Way Of CENTraL OhIOS

21 aNNUaL COmmUNITy CarE Day
ST
On September 11, the 21st annual Community Care Day mobilized more than 2,700 volunteers to bring the Columbus Volunteer Challenge to successful conclusion.

LIVING UNITED

COmmUNITy CarE Day

WAS GENEROUSLy

SUPPORTED By:
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LEaDErShIp
PRIDE
COUNCIL

PRIDE
COUNCIL

COMMUNITy

GIVING

BUILDER

United Way of Central Ohios Leadership Giving groups offer the opportunity for donors to learn more about how their contributions are helping improve lives in central Ohio, develop meaningful service projects and network with fellow donors.

prIDE COUNCIL apprECIaTION EVENT

On September 16, more than 120 PRIDE Council members and their guests gathered at Barcelona for the second annual Appreciation Event. Janet Jackson thanked PRIDE Council co-chairs Sue McManus, Mark Matson, Jeff Porter and Kevin Tyler for their leadership and Nationwide for sponsoring the event. She presented Rick Carrick with the PRIDE Impact Award which recognizes significant impact in the LGBT community and central Ohio, and contributions to United Way of Central Ohios mission through leadership and community involvement. To learn more about PRIDE Council please contact Jeanne Heald at 614.241.3078 or jeanne.heald@uwcentralohio.org.

Tim Birchfield, Janet Jackson and Rick Carrick

Anna Stephenson and Mary Ann Short

Chris Balas, Malcolm Riggle and Mark Matson

Gary Wetterich, Andrea Marshall and Adam Longseth

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WLC aND DSW ShOE faShION prEVIEW

On September 19, DSW and the Womens Leadership Council teamed up to present a very special fall shoe fashion preview. E3 mentees and their mentors modeled the latest fashions, and more than 200 WLC members and friends attended this fun and inspirational event. To learn more about the WLC please contact Betsy McCabe at 614.227.2734 or betsy.mccabe@uwcentralohio.org.

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WLC member and mentor Bev Matthews

E3 participant Trae Booker

DSW event hostesses (from left): Susan Snowden and Kelly Cook

LIVING UNITED

CraNE GrOUp: 65 yEarS Of payING IT fOrWarD

CraNE GrOUp CELEbraTES ITS 65Th aNNIVErSary WITh a $1 mILLION DONaTION TO ThE SOUThErN GaTEWay INITIaTIVE
Even in a community like central Ohio with so many generous and service minded volunteers, The Crane family and Crane Group stand out. They have improved the lives of countless thousands of people over many decades, and have provided invaluable support and guidance to United Way of Central Ohio. So it is not surprising that Crane Group choose to celebrate its 65th anniversary by once again paying it forward. On September 20, Crane Group President and CEO Tanny Crane announced a $1 million gift to the Southern Gateway Initiative to support efforts to revitalize and redevelop Columbus South Side community. The South Side is one of five priority neighborhoods that are the focus of United Ways Home Impact area. Our company has been a proud neighbor in the South Side community for 65 years, Tanny Crane, president and CEO of Crane Group, said. Our continued support of the Southern Gateway Initiative will ensure that the South Side neighborhoods thrive. The contribution will go toward the rehabilitation of the Reeb Elementary School as a multipurpose facility that will offer social programming and house the South Side Learning Center. The City of Columbus has invested $18 million in the Southern Gateway partnerships. Donatos Pizzeria founder Jim Grote and his family contributed $1 million to the effort and were on hand at the Crane Group announcement. United Way has a long history of investment in programs and initiatives that benefit the citizens of the Southside. This year is the first of a three-year commitment to invest a total of $2.6 million in support for housing rehabilitation and afterschool programming with Community Development for All People, as well as investing in high-quality child care through Southside Learning and Development Center. As part of its 65th anniversary celebration, Crane Group donated $30,000 toward playground equipment and provided over 100 volunteers associates to build a new playground at Lincoln Park on the South Side.
Left to right: Jim Crane, Don Kelley, Ann Kelley, Tanny Crane, Jim Williams, Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Jim Grote, Christina Grote, Jane Grote Abell, Rev. John Edgar

Jameson (Jim) Crane and Robert Crane, Jr., Crane family members have also long been who lead the Crane companies for many years, some of United Ways most generous donors. have had a long history of support for the Jameson Crane, Loann Crane, Tanny Crane work of United Way. Robert Crane, Jr. served and husband John Wolff, Elizabeth Crane as 1974 General Campaign Chair, his wife, and husband Richard McKee, Paige and Loann Crane joined with Lenny Schottenstein Michael Crane, Jamie Crane and Tim Miller, Sagner to establish an endowed gift which Meredith and Jay Crane and Sally Crane are provides ongoing funding for the work of all Tocqueville Society members. Crane Group community impact. Tanny Crane has been has ranked number one among all central Ohio a tireless volunteer for United Way, serving companies in per capita giving in the past, as Board of Trustees chair and 1999 General and continues to consistently be among the Campaign Chair. Tanny has focused many of very highest givers. her efforts on education and was instrumental in helping United Way establish its early learning initiative Start Smart. She also chairs the Womens Leadership Council. Jamie Crane has served on the campaign cabinet and her husband Tim Miller serves as a member of the United Way Board of Trustees, and has chaired the Income Impact Council among many other leadership roles. Elizabeth Crane and Dr. Rob Left to right: Mike Crane, Jim Crane, Tanny Crane and Crane have both served in volunteer Mayor Michael B. Coleman leadership positions in the past.

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ELVIS haS LEfT ThE bUILDING

rICk CarrICk LEaVES a LaSTING LEGaCy
An era at United Way of Central Ohio has ended with the retirement of Rick Carrick, Senior Vice President of Community Impact. Ricks career spanned 34 eventful years. He began at what was then called United Way of Franklin County as an intern and quickly became an indispensable leader in the organization. He built a strong Community Impact team and helped lead United Ways entire team through every major change it undertook for decades. Rick helped guide the organization when it became one of the first United Ways in the country to embrace the Community Impact model that has proven so effective at identifying needs and implementing lasting change. He also provided his invaluable insights to volunteer leaders when United Way developed its Strategic Framework and when our community came together to launch its Bold Goals. Ricks leadership is also one of the key reasons why United Way of Central Ohio has been such a successful champion of diversity and inclusion over the years. He has consistently worked to develop and promote groundbreaking efforts like Project Diversity and Pride Leadership that have helped prepare leaders of diverse backgrounds to help guide local nonprofits as board members. He was recently honored with PRIDE Councils PRIDE Impact Award in recognition of his significant impact in the LGBT community. There is a common thread that runs throughout all of Ricks work, said Janet Jackson, A reason that he has been so successful, so valuable and so loved. Every time our organization approaches a new opportunity or issue, Rick always thinks first about how our actions can most effectively help the people we serve. Through every strategic discussion and every program analysis he never loses sight of what makes our work so powerful. We improve lives and strengthen our community and countless lives in central Ohio have been improved because of Rick Carricks work. As part of a special video tribute to Rick, United Way Worldwide President and CEO Brian Gallagher, who worked very closely with Rick during his time as President and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio, said, Ricks leadership challenged all of us to re-think both the goals we set for our organization as well as the approach we took to our work. As a result, Columbus continues be on the cutting edge of real community change. To honor Ricks legacy, United Way of Central Ohio created the Richard V. Carrick Community Leadership Award which will be presented annually to a member agency to recognize excellence and collective impact. The award includes an honorarium designed to help agency staff pursue professional and leadership development opportunities. Community Impact staff will participate in the annual selection of the award recipient.