Rockin' Out at Lock 3 Live

Spend your July Fourth rockin’ downtown Akron's Lock 3 Live stage with Accent, 2006 Docs Who RockTM Champion.

This gig was made available to the band through the City of Akron as a prize for their winning performance.

The one-hour set begins at 3:00 pm on the Lock 3 Live stage (on Main Street, next to the Civic Theatre). Your $5 admission gets you into the Akron Family Barbeque and all the ‘Star Spangled Fourth of July’ festivities, including performances by ‘Classic Albums Live – Fleetwood Mac, and Survivor, as well as fireworks at 9:45 p.m.

For more information on all Lock 3 Live events, visit http://www.lock3live.com/.

For more information on Accent, visit http://www.accentlive.com/

United Way of Summit County improves lives by mobilizing community assets for health and human services. For more information on any program or to volunteer, call the office at (330) 762-7601, visit our Web site at www.uwsummit.org, or write to us at United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., P.O. Box 1260, Akron, Ohio 44309-1260.

To donate to United Way of Summit County, click on: https://ipledge.uwsummit.org/Personal.aspx

Day of Caring

For the twelfth consecutive year, United Way of Summit County is hosting ‘Day of Caring’ on Friday, June 15, 2007. This year, 1,267 volunteers from 59 area businesses and corporations will take the day off from work and volunteer on 97 projects at 73 nonprofit organizations. FirstEnergy Foundation is the sponsor of the 2007 United Way of Summit County Day of Caring.

The Day of Caring allows individuals hands-on experience with non-profit agencies and the opportunity to see the important ways they serve the community. Many of these agencies rely on United Way donations for a portion of their funding. “After seeing first-hand the real difference these non-profit agencies make in peoples lives, the generous people who volunteer their time on Day of Caring gain a greater understanding of community needs and resources.
Thanks to the coordination of our Volunteer Center and the time commitment of these community-minded individuals, more than $100,000 in volunteer services is provided to these organizations,” said United Way of Summit County President Bob Kulinski.

In addition to those participating in Day of Caring on June 15, approximately 160 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. employees provided two days of volunteer service at Camp Y-Noah on June 7 and 8.

Among the sites where volunteer work will be done are: United Disability Services, 701 S. Main Street (volunteering will be employees from FirstEnergy); Jerry Shaw Jewish Community Center, 750 White Pond Drive (volunteering will be employees from SummaHealth System); and Community AIDS Network (Harmony House) 1950 McTaggart Drive, Suite 105, (volunteering will be employees from WAKR/WONE/WQMX).

A Kickoff Rally/Celebration will be hosted by the Jerry Shaw Jewish Community Center, 750 White Pond Drive, beginning at 8:00 am on Friday, June 15. United Way of Summit County Board of Trustees Chair Thom Mandel, President of the Rubber City Radio Group, will welcome and thank the participants at the Rally. January Paint & Wallpaper has made a significant contribution of paint and painting supplies to help in the ‘Day of Caring’ effort.

United Way of Summit County improves lives by mobilizing community assets for health and human services. For more information, call 330-762-7601, visit our website at www.uwsummit.org, or write to us at United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., P.O. Box 1260, Akron, Ohio 44309-1260.

UW/Labor Community Service Dinner

Akron/Medina County Labor Council, AFL-CIO and United Way of Summit County served as co-hosts for the annual Community Service Awards Dinner last night, Wednesday, June 6th, at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. United Way of Summit County and Organized Labor have a long history of working together to make our community a better place to live, work and raise a family.

As always, the event ran flawlessly, thanks to the coordination of United Way's Labor Liason, Beth Curley. (pictured at left)

A crowd of more than 200 was on hand to recognized the honorees, Rose Juriga, who received the Peter Bommarito Award, and Don Bingman, who was presented the Leo E. Dugan Award.

Rose Juriga is the executive director of the Tri-County Independent Living Center, Inc. Since joining the organization in 1990, she had grown the Tri-County ILC from its grassroots beginnings to the progressive, vital advocacy and service agency it is today.

From the offices in Akron, Rose (pictured at right) provides leadership, vision and guidance in directing the organization in its mission to serve people with disabilities in Summit, Stark and Portage County. During her 17 years at the helm, she has increased the organization’s funding base from $75,000 to more than $400,000.

In fact, Rose had dedicated her life to serving those in need. She has served as Director of the Training and Employment Institute in Washington D.C., and held a variety of positions with the Akron Urban League, Goodwill Industries of Akron and the Vocational Development Center. She is a past member of the Mayor’s Commission on Children, the Tuff Stuff Committee, the Bishop’s Task Force on Church in the City, and Christmas in April, and has served as chair of the Catholic Commission, and president of the Community Welfare Forum. Rose has been listed three times in Marquis’ Who’s Who in America. She lives in Tallmadge, Ohio.

The 2007 Leo E. Dugan Award is presented to Don Bingman. Don is a 39-year member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 148. Although he retired in 2003, he is still active in the Union.

He has served terms as Steward at North Hill Station for 10 years, Trustee for 2 three-year terms, and currently is the Treasurer of Branch 148, a position he has held from 1991 to the present. Don is active in the NALC Food Drive, which has collected over one million pounds of food, locally, since its existence in 1993.

He is a graduate of the Tri-County Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO Union Counselor class, jointly sponsored by the United Way. Like his mentor and friend, Julian O’Neill the 1996 Leo Dugan Award winner, Don (pictured at left) was coordinator of the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon from 1990 to 2001, Jerry’s Kids Labor Day annual event. Don is responsible for the Letter Carriers appearing in the Barberton Labor Day Parade for the last five years.

Don and his wife Cathy are the proud parents of three children, Ann, Donald & Rebecca, and the proud grandparents of Nicole.

United Way of Summit County improves lives by mobilizing community assets for health and human services. For more information on any program or to volunteer, call the office at (330) 762-7601, visit our Web site at www.uwsummit.org, or write to us at United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., P.O. Box 1260, Akron, Ohio 44309-1260.

To donate to United Way of Summit County, click on: https://ipledge.uwsummit.org/Personal.aspx

Good friends of UWSC among Akron's Honored Alumni

The University of Akron held its annual 'A-Day' celebration on June 3 at the beautful Student Union and honored distinguished alumni and others, many of those who received the accolades are good friends of United Way of Summit County.

Among the Alumni Honor Award recipients were:

Shari Whitfield of Robert W. Baird Co., and a long-time United Way Board of Trustees member.

Marty Hauser of SummaCare, who is currently serving as a member of the Campaign Cabinet.

And the Honorary Alumni Award Winner was:

Dr. Terry Gordon, with the Heart Group, and our partner with the successful 'Docs Who Rock' event.

Congratulations to all the winners, and congratulations to the University of Akron on a very successful event.

Development Fund Applications Available

Applications for 2008 Development Fund Grants from United Way of Summit County (UWSC) are now available to 501 (c) (3) non-profit health and human service agencies.

A volunteer group serving as the Development Fund Review Committee will consider proposals for new and/or expanded programs that address critical community needs. “New” programs are defined as services not previously furnished by the submitting agency. “Expanded” programs are currently furnished with plans for expansion into a new geographic area or provision to an additional or replacement population.

Development Fund Grants are awarded based on the merits of the proposal, how well it addresses a critical community need, and the benefits to program participants. The proposals are also compared to currently existing programs and agencies. Proposals that involve collaborative partnering are strongly encouraged.

Organizations submitting proposals should be sure that the programs for which they are seeking funding are in alignment with areas of greatest need as determined in the County’s Healthy Summit 2010 and/or United Way’s Thriving Communities Survey.

Applications must be received at United Way of Summit County’s office by 4:00 pm, Friday, July 13, 2007. For further information and an application, call the United Way of Summit County Community Impact Division at (330) 643-5510.

United Way of Summit County improves lives by mobilizing community assets. For more information on any program or to volunteer, call the United Way of Summit County at (330) 762-7601, visit our website at www.uwsummit.org, or write to us at United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., P.O. Box 1260, Akron, Ohio 44309-1260.

To donate to United Way of Summit County, click on: https://ipledge.uwsummit.org/Personal.aspx

Expanding our reach

When United Way of Summit County created Docs Who Rock in 2004, none of us imagined that the event would grow as it has - from the 430-seat auditorium at the Main Library, to the 800-seat theatre at North High School, and now to the beautiful E.J. Thomas Hall at The University of Akron.

Through the expertise of our friends at the law firm Brouse McDowell, we've trademarked the name and logo 'Docs Who Rock.'

We've created and sold t-shirts and coffee mugs with the Docs Who Rock logo on it, so we're immersing the Summit County and Northeast Ohio area with the name.

And now, we're disseminating the concept across the country. We've already reached an agreement with the United Way of Southern Illinois. For a small copyright fee, we're allowing them to produce a 'Docs Who Rock' event in their community.

We're also currently in conversation with United Way organizations in Omaha, Nebraska and Tyler, Texas about similar arrangements.

So, not only have we raised money and public awareness by holding the event, and increased campaign donations from our medical/health care divisions, we're now looking to bring in additional funds from sharing our good idea with other United Ways across the country.

Farewell, Kiren

Today we're very sorry to say goodbye to Kiren Bansal, our Senior Resource Development Director. After four years with United Way of Summit County, Kiren has accepted a job with United Way International.

Although we're sad to see her go, we're very pleased she's remaining in the United Way 'Family.' We'll miss her dedication, creativity, her passion for the Youth Initiative she developed and her smile and constantly up-beat attitude.

Best wishes, Kiren. Please stay in touch!