Andrea Metzler named Director of Volunteer Center

           Andrea S. Metzler has been named Director of Volunteer Services for United Way of Summit County’s Volunteer Center.

            She comes to United Way of Summit County after serving in several capacities, including most recently as Executive Director, for Cascade Locks Park Association.  Andrea had previously taken on roles with increasing managerial responsibility with Habitat For Humanity of Summit County.

      Bob Kulinski, United Way of Summit County President and CEO, said, “Andrea Metzler is a rising star in the world of Summit County non-profit management, and she’s exactly the right person to continue growing the vital work of our Volunteer Center.  United Way of Summit County works hard to add value to our corporate and workplace donors beyond facilitating the annual fund raising campaign, and the services provided by the volunteer center are some of ways we accomplish that.”

Andrea received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron and a Master’s degree from Regis University.  She lives in Firestone Park with her husband Scott and their two children.

 United Way of Summit County’s Volunteer Center provides essential programs and services at no cost to individuals, non-profit organizations and the business community, such as:

·         Free one-on-one volunteer referral and placement, Done-in-a-Day projects for small groups of employees, and the annual Day of Action, enrolling more than 1,100 volunteers in a wide range of community projects,

·         Planning and execution of Summit County’s only community-wide celebration of volunteerism, coordination of Corporate Volunteer Council activities, and educational training programs and volunteer management workshops,

·         Project Blueprint, which has graduated ten classes of minority men and women who are committed to helping community agencies become more inclusive, responsive and reflective of our culturally diverse community. The program provides training, guidance, placement opportunities and networking related to being on a nonprofit Board,

·         The Neighborhood Leadership Institute partnership, which recently graduated its third class of men and women who have been trained to increase grassroots leadership engagement. Project Blueprint and the Neighborhood Leadership Institute are important components of the leadership development continuum in Summit County,

·         With our Project Blueprint database, our association with community groups such as Torchbearers and Leadership Akron, and our knowledge of community agencies and their volunteer requirements, we help employers access appointments to Boards and committees that may interest their employees.

With today’s economic realities – non-profits seeing greater demand for their services while simultaneously facing shrinking budgets, and business leaders seeking new ways to be engaged in their communities – the value of The Volunteer Center will continue to grow for the people of Summit County.

           United Way of Summit County encourages everyone to LIVE UNITED.  Each of us has the power to improve lives and advance the common good when we give, advocate and volunteer.  For more information on how to give now, on programs and services in our community, or to volunteer, call your United Way of Summit County at (330) 762-7601, explore our website at www.uwsummit.org, or visit our offices at 90 N. Prospect St., Akron, Ohio.