Many thanks to all our supporters for the 2009-2010 Campaign

Congratultions to all of the supporters of volunteer time and monies to help make our 2009-2010 Campaign a success. You folks are the pacesetters for showing our community how to Live United. Many, many thanks to our corporate sponsor, Coshocton County Memorial Hospital. And congratulations and thanks to our Top Giver, Combined AK Steel - Coshocton Works and Employees. You are the best!!

Save the date...February 18th Annual Meeting 7:00 am Presbyterian Church

Clean Up Coshocton Day 09

I would like to take this opportunity to say a big “THANK YOU” to those of you who made Clean Up Coshocton Day a huge success. Over 130 people showed up to the Court Square last Saturday morning to help and we know that there were many groups out around the county doing their own projects too! It was so wonderful to see so many people who were willing to give up a few hours of their day to make a difference in our community.

In a time where many people are struggling to make ends meet and find the positives in the world, this day was an example of the determination and pride of the residents of Coshocton to come together and help one another. Individuals of all ages, families, and numerous groups all came together to lend a hand.

On behalf of the City of Coshocton and the United Way of Coshocton County we want to thank everyone who was a part of Clean Up Coshocton Day and to those who worked in your own neighborhoods to make Coshocton a beautiful place, a place we can all be proud to call home.

Clean Up Coshocton Day Poster Contest

Together with the City of Coshocton, we hosted Clean Up Coshocton Day on April 25th. To add to the excitement, we added a color contest. The contest was open to all city school students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes. The student with the winning poster received their own Clean Up Day T-shirt, $10 in prize money and a pizza party for their whole class! Our winners were:

Rachel Lowzowski, Sacred Heart School

Haven Mizer, Central Elementary

& Shania Zeigler of South Lawn Elementary (who was unfortunately home sick the day we came for her pizza party. Her class enjoyed the pizza that day and Mayor Mercer made sure that she got a certificate for her own personal pizza later!)

A big THANK YOU to Dominoes Pizza and Papa Johns Pizza for donating the pizzas!

April Volunteer of the Month

Penny Egler, April’s United Way Volunteer of the Month!

Penny Egler, who volunteers for First Step Family Intervention Services, inc. has been named the United Way of Coshocton County Volunteer of the Month for April. Egler was nominated by the staff and Farrah Cunningham, Program Director. Nominated for her willingness to help out in any way needed, Egler goes above and beyond to get her jobs done.

Egler is a very active volunteer at First Step. She volunteers every Wednesday night to help with Bingo at the Moose Lodge –a fundraiser for First Step. Egler also helps First Step by cleaning the offices –even cleaning windows! Cunningham describes Egler as “a very caring and compassionate person towards others. She is always willing to help.” Dedication and hard work, like that of Egler is what makes an organization strong. “She never complains and has a smile that always brightens up your day,” says Cunningham.

In addition to helping at First Step, Egler is also an active volunteer at the Coshocton Senior Center and at Windsorwood Place. When not volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her husband Ron Eglar. She has a daughter, Megan and twin grandsons, Austin & Brady.

First Step FVIS provides 24/7 care for victims of violence. They also offer classes to victims of violence, and classes for perpetrators, as well as classes on prevention. For more information on their services or how you can help, contact them at 622-8504 or their offices at 604 Walnut St. Coshocton. First Step will be holding a fundraiser on June 20, 2009 called the “Backwoods Archery & Trap Competition.” It will be held at the Coshocton County Sportsman’s Club. This includes events like Trap competition, Archery Competition and a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament. Food and drinks will also be provided. On August 8, 2009 First Step will host the Backwoods Softball Tournament at the Lake Park Complex. This event will include a Co-ed softball tournament and a Cornhole Tournament. Food and Drinks will also be provided. For more information, contact the First Step office.

On behalf of the Board of United Way of Coshocton County, Inc., I would like to congratulate and thank Penny Egler for being recognized as a person in our community who is willing to volunteer his time and talents to the community. Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED.

March Volunteer of the Month

Kay Hart, March’s United Way Volunteer of the Month!

Kay Hart, who volunteers for the American Red Cross has been named the United Way of Coshocton County Volunteer of the Month for March. Hart was nominated by Caroline Johnson, the Chapter Office Manager.

Hart is very helpful around the Red Cross office. She can be found scheduling instructors for the Health and Safety classes, handling Monday morning tasks that have come in over the weekend and even keeping the office beautiful outside by caring for the flowers. Kay is willing to pitch in and help out wherever needed. She has been a volunteer for over 3 years.

Johnson describes Hart as always “bright and friendly, which is a great to have on Monday morning!” “Kay is dependable and really cares about the Red Cross and our Clients.”

In addition to the Red Cross, Hart is a member of the Roscoe United Methodist church, along with her husband John and children Michelle and Phil.

The American Red Cross is very busy this time of year with CPR classes, Lifeguard training, and preparing and scheduling for a summer full of swimming lessons, Safety City, blood drives and much more! To volunteer or get more information about the Red Cross, contact them at 245 N. 4th St. or by calling 622-0228.

On behalf of the Board of United Way of Coshocton County, Inc., I would like to congratulate and thank Kay Hart for being recognized as a person in our community who is willing to volunteer his time and talents to the community. Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED.

Happy New Year!

First of all like to take the opportunity to wish you good health and much prosperity in the new year.

Now, a little campaign update...
We are currently at 77% of our goal or $288,394. The good new is that there are so many areas that are up this year!

• We have almost $30,000 in new givers! -Some new companies like Baker's IGA, Best Heating & Air, & The Beacon. That's wonderful!
• We have so many places that have really increased their campaigns and made a substantial difference. The School division is over their goal by $1,671. The Public Employees Division is over by $1,757!
• We just received a donation -never received before- from the State Bar Association for $3,300!
• Many companies and/or groups have nearly doubled their totals from last year....Kraft Foods, Century National Bank, Auer Ace Hardware, Time Warner Cable. Lots of positives.
• Others with nice gains...Ohio Heritage Bank, Annin, Jones Metal, Buehlers, Chase, CASCO, Home Loan, WTNS, Dr. Erwin Family Eye Care.
• Unfortunately, this economy has been very hard on our big industry. The industry has been so good to us in the past, making up 67% of our campaign monies last year. To date the Industry division is down $40,721 over last years campaign total. This is understandable, but making it a real challenge on our end. We are still waiting on Clow, AK Steel, Novelty Advertising and Longaberger to come in to boost those numbers a bit.

I refuse to give up. We will tentatively close our campaign (although we NEVER stop taking money!) on January 30th, in order to prepare for the Annual Meeting held in February. That leaves us one more month to beat every bush out there. If you have any ideas on last push efforts, please let me know. We must make a difference when our community needs us most!