Best of 2019: Because Change Doesn’t Happen Alone

Written by United Way

December 30, 2019

We have come to the close of an impactful year! Thousands of needs were met through 211 calls, meal and hygiene kit builds, backpack builds, our funded partners’ unique services and so much more! Read on for stories that highlight some of the impact made in our community made this year. 

 

Kickoff to Caring: Packing an Impact: A Tool for Academic Success

Deanna Johnson anxiously stood at the check-in desk, waiting to receive her student ID for her freshman year at Owens Community College. The process may seem simple – possibly even a burden –  to most, but it was a big…

Education: A New Day of Hope: Affordable Child Care Solutions to Help Families Succeed

Exhaustion. That is the only word I could think of to explain how I felt walking into my Granny’s house that night. The day had begun bright and early, with an interior paint job in West Toledo. My next job took me to…

Financial Stability: Tax Time: Keeping Your Full Refund

Even if you don’t own a calendar, you know when it’s tax season. From the do-it-yourself tax filing software commercials on television, to the sign-flipping mascots on street corners promoting seasonal pop-up shops. The “it’s tax time!” catchphrase echoes across the country…

Health: Eating the Rainbow: A Culinary Adventure to a Healthier Lifestyle

“Whoa, what is that green stuff you’re eating?” Olivia asked her classmate, Jaime, as they sat down to begin eating lunch.“These are called ‘snap peas’,” Jamie stated, “I learned about them during my cooking classes.” “Oh. What…

Wood County: Reflections on Gratitude and Humility: One Advocate’s Journey

“Will you marry me?” He asked, as he knelt down on the brick path that surrounded the stone water fountain; my favorite spot in the botanical garden. “Yes, of course!” I proclaimed and wrapped my arms around his neck, and almost tackled him…

Ottawa County: A Flood of Memories: Surrounded by Support During Times of Disaster

I woke in the middle of the night to the sound of rain pounding the roof and was glad Stan had fixed the leak last month. I looked to the clock on my nightstand, but its face was dark. “Stan,” I whispered.  “I…

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Donor Education Series

Making an impact in our community does not happen by chance. It takes strategic and thoughtful planning, evaluating data and making decisions informed by that data. This year we focused on making sure our donors were adequately educated to make well-informed philanthropic decisions. Here is a look back on our donor webinar series launched this year. 

 

Where Your Dollars Go: Dispelling the Overhead Myth

We’ve all seen the Facebook posts, calling out nonprofits on their overhead ratio and the percentage of donations that go directly to programming. I get it—these are questions that raise eyebrows, and you certainly deserve some answers as donors. That said, I’d…

 

Public Policy & Advocacy: Taking the Extra Step as a Donor

Give. Advocate. Volunteer. These three words are a core piece of United Way’s message in mobilizing our community to create positive change across Lucas, Wood and Ottawa County. As a United Way donor, you understand what it means to “give” and to donate…

 

Community Data: Taking the Complexity out of Your Social Support Decisions

Lately, buzzwords such as big data, data science, artificial intelligence, predictive modeling and analytics have been popping up everywhere. All of which are typically associated with producing insights, making data-driven decisions and even predicting trends. Yet, what do all these complex phrases really…

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None of what we do as an organization happens alone. The collective efforts of our volunteers, corporate partners, and agency partners showcases the power of community coming together to create meaningful change. We thank you all for such a great year and your ongoing commitment to helping advance our community forward. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

*All agency blog posts are based on true stories / success narratives from our funded partners. All identities of submitted success stories are anonymous for privacy and story details have been added in order to provide a better understanding of the individual’s successes and struggles.

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