The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
United Way celebration looks back at 2016
Maintaining its legacy while building a brighter future for Lorain County has been the mission of the United Way of Greater Lorain County for 100 years.
The private, nonprofit organization that strives to be a catalyst for measurable community transformation through collective impact in education, financial stability and health began its work as the “Elyria War Chest” in 1917 under the leadership of Edgar “Daddy” Allen.
Fifty years later, in 1967, the Elyria War Chest and six other charities combined to form United Community Services of Lorain
County, now known as United Way.
And while the organization is celebrating its new milestone, it’s also celebrating the outpouring of support it received during the 2016 United Way fundraising campaign.
Many of the nonprofit’s more than 130 partners gathered April 6 at Lorain County Community College’s Spitzer Conference Center, 1005 N. Abbe Road in Elyria, for the annual Celebration of Community Impact.
United Way Executive Director Bill Harper began by thanking all of those who help make the fundraising effort possible, including donors, volunteers, campaign managers and United Way’s staff.
Harper said he considered the members of his staff champions in their own right for the time and hard work they contribute.
“United Way, together with our collaborative partners, aspire to improve the lives of individuals beyond the duration of the programs in which they are enrolled,” he said, noting fundraising is a huge part of achieving that goal. “We need to find ways to raise funds and new strategies to diversify our revenue so we can continue to build and support these community collaboratives.”
The 2016 campaign effort, which includes annual fundraising campaign and funds that were leveraged through the community collaboratives, generated a total of $3,015,587.
However, Harper said the goal of the celebration isn’t just to share how much was raised last year.
It also was meant to showcase the connection between corporate and community support and the work achieved by the community collaboratives who benefit from the support, he said.
Sarah Ross, senior membership director at the Vermilion Family YMCA, gave an update on the accomplishments of THRIVE! Southern Lorain County, one of United Way’s community collaboratives.
Ross, who also is the facilitator of THRIVE!, said the group’s mission is to build upon local culture to provide affordable access to healthy living through improved nutrition, increased physical activity and informed behavioral health.
The collaborative focuses on the southern end of the county, which includes communities such as Wellington, Brighton Township and Camden Township.
Ross said this past year, THRIVE! created bylaws and a board for the Wellington Farmer’s Market, hosted the “Run For Your Life 5K/10K Fun Run” and implemented Super Market Flash Mobs with a nutritionist who helped a lucky customer shop and learn new, healthy recipes.
“It’s hard not to be a part of what’s happening with THRIVE! Southern Lorain County,” Ross said, noting the collaborative only have nine months under its belt and is looking forward to doing more in the coming years. “When you support Thrive, you’re not only supporting our collaborative, but you’re supporting all of the collaborative agencies and the entire southern Lorain County community.”
Horizon Education Centers, a United Way partner, received the Community Partnership Award for the second year in a row.
The award is meant to acknowledge a company whose activities have resulted in a positive impact on the quality of life in the county.
Children from the Horizon Education Centers South Elyria facility, 109 Louden Court, helped announce the winner of the LIVE UNITED Award, which was described as the highest honor.
In unison, the children shouted “Invacare” and Matt Monaghan, the corporation’s chairman, president and CEO, then joined them on stage to accept the award.
“It is in our spirit to be aligned with what United Way does,” Monaghan said. “I’m grateful to be here, in Elyria and in Lorain County, with an organization that is so well wired to make a difference.”
Monaghan also thanked the United Way for its efforts to keep communities and organizations in the county connected.
Looking ahead, Harper announced plans for United Way’s centennial celebration taking place throughout the remainder of 2017.
Events include Spring Day of Caring with Leadership Lorain County on May 20; June Day of Action on June 24; Week of Caring between Sept. 9 and Sept. 16; and the grand opening of the Center for Community Transformation, 642 Broadway Ave., in Lorain sometime in August.
“This center will enable us to better serve our community and our collaborative partners,” Harper said. “Underneath everything we are and everything we do, we are all people.
“Connected, interdependent, united. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all and that’s what it means to live united.”