Auglaize County United Way will collaborate with Lima to 'improve lives'

The United Way of Auglaize County board of directors has announced the organization will

now share staff with the United Way of Greater Lima in order to best serve county residents.

“The United Way is committed to continuing to be the best financial

steward of the resources we’ve been given,” said Carrie Knoch, board chair for the United Way of Auglaize County. “These changes

allow us to invest more in programs and initiatives that improve lives in our community.”

The United Way of Auglaize County has served the community for more than 50 years. During that time, it has brought the

community together each year to address county’s need and has invested thousands into meeting those needs. In an effort to continue to impact the community for years to come, the strategic changes to its internal operations are the result of a yearlong process in which the board has evaluated

staffing levels, budgets, and outside contracts in order to maximize its impact in the community. The primary focus of the changes will include sharing services with neighboring United Ways and expanding the organization’s use of volunteers to help carry out its mission.

By reducing operations through shared services and increasing volunteer support, the United Way will ultimately be able to invest approximately 20% more of its funding into the community each year. In fact, in July, the United Way invested an additional $1,000 in each of its partner agencies. Similar changes have helped the United Way also add new programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program that is dedicated to inspiring a

love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from

birth to age five. This program is currently serving 1,388 children in Auglaize County.

One of the key areas of shared services for the organization will be sharing staff with the United Way of Greater Lima. Natasha Kaufman, Resource Development

director for the United Way of Greater Lima, has been named as the Interim Executive Director for the United Way of Auglaize

County. Kaufman is a long-time Auglaize County resident and looks forward to serving and impacting the community through

her work with the United Way.

“I’m so excited for the opportunity to

serve my community in this role,” said Kaufman. “We look forward to this new

chapter and for the greater investment that we will be able to make in our community in the years to come. Through sharing services with our

neighboring United Ways, we will be able

to reduce our back-office costs, share best practices, and ultimately expand the impact of the United Way in our community.”

Each year the United Way touches thousands of lives across the county. Just last year, the United Way along with its partner agencies were able to provide:

• 1907 hours of continuing education

• 159,523 miles of transportation to seniors

• 9,272 weekend food backpacks

• 3,318 domestic violence crisis calls

• 1200 hours with a mentor

• 839,845 minutes logged during summer reading

• 10 families received end of life care

• 115 Cancer Warriors assisted

• 466 Scouts inspired

• 6,477 books mailed This impact is just a

portion of what the United Way and its partner agencies have accomplished together, but there is still a great need in our community. For more information about the

organization, visit www.auglaizeunitedway.org.

The United Way of

Auglaize County improves lives by uniting the caring power

of the community. In collaboration with its

nonprofit partners, it focuses on fighting for the health, education, and financial stability

of every person in the community.