See what volunteers have been up to this summer, pages 3, 4, 5, and 8!

Summer 2013, Vol. 9, No. 2

Education incomE HEaltH

ImproVINg KINdergarteN readINeSS IN our regIoNKindergarten Readiness Summit Brings Together Educators, Community Leaders• Akindergartnerfeelscomfortableenoughatthebeginningoftheschoolyeartoasktheprincipaltoautographher"ReadySchools"bookshowingpeopleandplacesathernewschool.

• Aschooleliminatesoutbreaksofmeasles,thankstoaschoolclinicprovidingvaccinations.

• Achildcareprogramopensinaneighborhoodschooltoprovidemuch-neededinfantcareforyoungfamilies.

These were just a few of the successes shared at the Hamilton County Summit on Kindergarten Readiness April 9, sponsored by United Way Success By 6® (SB6) and PNC Bank. "The goal was to inform and inspire community leaders to work together to improve kindergarten readiness, with an emphasis on third grade reading proficiency," said Stephanie Byrd, SB6 executive director.

Participants included educators and administrators of area school districts, community early childhood education providers and community leaders with an interest in the importance of kindergarten readiness and the impact it has on future school success.

"Members of the community can help these efforts by building awareness, advocating and providing funding," said

Continued on page 2

IN rIght place at rIght tIme James C. Ellerhorst Steps into Role as New Board Chair

continued on page 5

Prepare yourself to deal with the issues facing you, make quick decisions, be transparent about your decision-making process, and execute. Teaming is very important in how success is achieved, so make an effort to consult and build teams to solve issues, even though it can be painful at times. That's how Jim Ellerhorst, new Board chair of United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC), summed up his leadership style during his first conversation with staff at a recent meeting. He said this is

necessary in the dynamic and fast-changing world we live in.

"At the same time," he said, "we need to be cognizant of the effect our decisions have on our stakeholders, funders and the organizations we impact."

HiSviSionfoRHiSteRmASBoARdcHAiR

"I don't like to commit to something I can't see all the way through," he said, adding that good timing in his career

Students in a kindergarten transition class at Cincinnati Early Learning Center - East End take part in activities that combine development of literacy and fine motor skills, both important for future school success

Kay Geiger, president, PNC Bank. She said the PNC Grow Up Great initiative – a $350 million, multi-year, bilingual initiative that began in 2004 – aligns with the goals of SB6 by helping prepare children from birth to age five for success in school and life. She was presenting the business perspective in relation to the need to start early to develop a strong future workforce.

Angel Rhodes, Ph.D., LSC, early childhood and development officer, Ohio Governor's Office of 21st Century Education, and Rob Reifsnyder, United Way president, also spoke on the importance of quality early education. "Although 90 percent of a child's brain develops by age 5, 90 percent of school funding in our state is spent on students over age 5," said Reifsnyder, speaking on behalf of Jim Zimmerman, former chair and CEO of Macy's and the founding chair of SB6. According to Reifsnyder, "In Jim’s words, kindergarten readiness is the most

commuNIty MaTTERS

GiVE adVocatE VoluntEERKindergarten...continued from page 1

important long-term issue in our community.""High-quality preschool improves kindergarten readiness

and third-grade reading, both significant predictors of high school graduation and future success in life," says Byrd.

"Lessons from the Field" panelists included Greg Landsman, executive director, The Strive Partnership, which works with several community partners, including United Way and SB6, to achieve "cradle to career" success for children in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. "We are all working to help children prepare for kindergarten, achieve third-grade reading level by third grade and graduate from high school," he said. "But the key to all measures of success is access to a quality pre-school

experience so children enter kindergarten prepared." Additional panelists were Dr. Martha Angello and Anne

Marie Reinke, Sycamore City School District; Matt Wagner, principal, William Bick Primary School; Patricia Gleason, president, Cincinnati Early Learning Centers, Inc., a United Way agency partner; Craig Hockenberry, principal, Oyler School, and Dr.Tonya Matthews, vice president of museums, Cincinnati Museum Center.

Participants had an opportunity to ask questions of panelists and exchange ideas during a discussion session following the program. The summit took place at Cincinnati Museum Center.

“I am a boy. I can read.” This statement was written by a former kindergarten-ready preschool student who attended Cincinnati Early Learning Center - East End (CELC), a United Way agency partner and one of several area quality-rated preschools. It sums up the importance of an effort by a group of local leaders who gathered at CELC to pledge to create the Cincinnati Preschool Promise, aspiring to responsibly finance and provide high quality preschool for every Cincinnati child.

Signing the pledge were nonprofit, faith community, education, state and local government, and business leaders. Also attending were members of the Leadership Cincinnati Class 36 project team that developed the Preschool Promise to create "a chair for every child."

access to Quality Preschool is Key

The Cincinnati Preschool Promise aspires to provide high-quality preschool for every Cincinnati child. On April 23, a large group of local leaders pledged support to responsibly finance high quality preschool for Cincinnati children. Pictured: the Leadership Cincinnati Class 36 team that developed the promise: Front row (l to r): Patrick Lafley, Quandrant Partners; Jamie Gerdsen, Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning; David Jenike, Cincinnati Zoo. Back row (l to r): Shiloh Turner,The Greater Cincinnati Foundation; Sherri Prentiss, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; Jennifer Dauer, P&G; Cheryl Rose, PNC Bank; Pamela Coleman-Brailsford, Cintas; Liza Smitherman, Jostin Construction. They are seated on, and displaying, some of the small chairs they decorated to represent "a chair for every child," to be used for future fundraising.

According to Success By 6®, a variety of factors are preventing "a chair for every child" in a quality preschool: • Theinabilityoffamiliestocover

the cost (which can approach $10,000 or more a year);

• Makingtoomuchmoneytoqualify for Head Start;

• Notqualifyingforpublicly-funded child care subsidy due to income guidelines or work requirements;

• Toofewprogramsparticipatinginthe voluntary quality rating system;

• LackofenoughHeadStartorpublic school spots due to lack of funding in a community.

ready, Set, go - to KINdergarteNReady Schools has systems in place

to bridge the divide as children move from home or preschool to the formal expectations of school. "It helps prepare families for transitions within the system and put into place structures that will help us be better prepared," says Jina Bohl, director, curriculum and instruction, and federal programs coordinator, Western Brown Local Schools, where the program is in place in Hamersville and Mt. Orab elementary schools.

"The program is an extension of the work being done by Success By 6®," Bohl says. “The schools have really taken on a ‘what can we do’ attitude with this program, and it shows in the amount of emphasis they put on making sure that transition is as smooth as possible.”

Research findings determined that successful transitions – from home or preschool to kindergarten, from elementary to middle school, from middle to high school, and upon high school graduation – are correlated with a child's future school and life success.

One goal of Ready Schools is to have the majority of students registered for the next school year fairly early in the

summer. This provides an opportunity for early screening of basic skills and the creation of make-it-take-it activities for the children to take home and work on with parents to strengthen needed areas.

"It also helps with logistics at the school, such as telling us how many teachers are needed, how many supplies, etc.,” says Matt Wagner, principal, William Bick Primary School, Bethel-Tate Local School District. “It also gives students the opportunity to develop a relationship with their teachers before the first day, so leaving mom or dad is easier.”

The program works with parents of children in preschools to make sure that the learning doesn’t stop once they leave, providing parents with materials so that they have the tools they need to help their child be ready for kindergarten. "It is important for parents to continue the learning at home with their child,” says Wagner.

Over the summer, the schools host events and activities that bring together all parties involved in this transition. "For example," says Wagner, "parents and students are invited to come into the school so that the kids can meet the teachers and become accustomed to the environment

Noah gets ready for kindergarten at William Bick Primary School, Bethel-Tate Local School District, with his Ready Schools book displaying photos of school staff. Ready Schools, a joint effort of school districts, Success By 6® and the Southwest Ohio Ready Schools Consortium, involves kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, Head Start and child care center teachers; family and home care providers, and HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), a program of United Way agency partner YMCA of Greater Cincinnati.

of the classroom. On family playground nights, the kids can become familiar with the other students their age and still feel the comfort of their parents being around.

“We can usually tell which students have taken part in Ready Schools

Continued on page 32

GiVE adVocatE VoluntEER

Ready...continued from page 2

uNIted Way VoluNteer hIghlIghtS

Thanks to Herbert R. Brown Society volunteers and their families who came out to Live United June 1 at Gabriel's Place. They worked on projects to help improve reading skills, planted and harvested fruits and vegetables and enhanced the appearance of a community center, adult housing and the public library in Avondale, a United Way place matters neighborhood.

Herbert R. Brown Society Volunteers ‘Dig In’ to Improve place matters Neighborhood avondale

United Way Partnership Receives National Recognition for Innovation, Impact

From left: Brian Gallagher, president, United Way Worldwide; Rob Reifsnyder, president, United Way of Greater Cincinnati; Ross Meyer, vice president, United Way community impact; Stacey Stewart, president, United Way U.S.A.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC) was recognized with United Way Worldwide's (UWW) Common Good Award – one of United Way’s highest honors – at the organization's Staff Leaders Conference in Indianapolis April 19. UWW has presented the award, which recognizes best-in-class Impact, Innovation and Turning Outward initiatives in Education, Income and Health, for the past two years.

"We are honored to have received this award in recognition of our work managing Partners for a Competitive Workforce," said Rob Reifsnyder, UWGC president. "Through Partners, we have developed a deep understanding of our community’s workforce needs and the efforts it will require to meet the employers' needs today and in 2020. We are strengthening and advancing communities through innovative practices that are achieving results and making measureable impact in our priority areas – education, income and health."

Read more: www.uwgc.org/PCW or www.competitiveworkforce.com.

100 Strong – Cummins Volunteers Help Out in Grant Co.

Thanks to Cummins, Inc., for lending 100 volunteers for interior painting and playground construction at the new Grant County Career Advancement Center. The partnership between Gateway Community and Technical College, One Stop Northern Kentucky, Brighton Center, and United Way of Greater Cincinnati will house education, employment and supportive services in one location. These will include adult education, community college classes, Head Start, and transportation to and from the center. Cummins Foundation awarded a $60,000 grant to support this project.

programs and those that did not,” says Wagner. “This is apparent by the children who seem more nervous or reserved vs. the children who seem like they have been there before.”

WhatisaReadySchool?• Hassystemsinplacetobridgethe

divide as children move from home or preschool to the formal expectations of school

• Providesaninvitingatmosphere• Valuesandrespectsallchildrenand

their families• Isaplacewherechildrencansucceed• Iscommittedtohighqualityinall

areas of learning and teaching• Hasdeepconnectionswithparents

and the community• Prepareschildrenforsuccessin

work and life

WhataresomeReadySchoolactivities?• SpotYouAttheLibraryfamilynight• Kindergartenteachersvisitarea

preschools as guest speakers• SummerPopsiclesandPlayground

nights• Kindergartencamp,miniday-in-the-life• First-graderbuddiesassigned• Kindergartenhandbooks

• Welcome-to-our-schoolbooks• Transitiondaysandtieredorientation• BumpItUpDays–allgradesvisit

next grade level and/or buildings• ChooseAFutureNight–8thgraders

create high school academic plans with parents

• Adultlearningcommunitieswithrepresentatives of all involved parties working together

• District-wideandschoolbuildingteams

ReadySchoolsResults:• ConsistentlyhigherKRA-L

(Kindergarten Readiness Achievement - Literacy) scores over last five years 3

GiVE adVocatE VoluntEER

JohnS.dubispresident and CeO

St.elizabethHealthcare

Janem.KellerLeadership COunCiL

Of human serviCe

exeCutives

president and CeO

cincinnatiYouthcollaborative

Patricke.mccausland,esq.Singer&mccauslandco.,LPA

GeoffreyS.mearnspresident

northernKentuckyUniversity

SantaJ.ono,Ph.d.president

Universityof

cincinnati

Scottd.Phillipsmember in Charge

frostBrowntodd,LLcWestchester

manuelZ.Riospresident and CeO

AmericanmoderninsuranceGroup,inc.

JulieSellerspresident

cincinnatifederationofteachers

KennethW.StecherChairman Of the

bOard

cincinnatifinancialcorporation

JamesL.WainscottChairman, president

and CeO

AKSteelcorporation

BretA.callermanager

vikingPartners,LLc

Sarahclarkemerging Leaders

intern

seniOr finanCiaL

anaLyst

ethicon,partoftheJohnson&Johnsonfamilyofcompanies

JuliedietzseniOr business

inCentives manager

equifaxWorkforceSolutions

NeW memberS JoIN board of dIrectorS, executIVe commIttee

coNgratulatIoNS to VoluNteer aWard WINNerS IN mIddletoWN, NortherN KeNtucKy

Middletown Volunteer of the Year is Jackie Phillips, outgoing chair, Action Council, United Way of Greater Cincinnati - Middletown, and health commissioner, City of Middletown (second from right). The award was presented at the 2012 Annual Report and Awards meeting May 15. Also pictured (from left): Gracie Gregory, Middletown City Schools, administrative assistant; Carla Elay, Health Department, City of Middletown; Verlena Stewart, director, United Way place matters Parent Resource Center, and sister of award winner.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC) has elected new officers and 13 members to its Board of Directors. The Board provides leadership in implementing UWGC's Impact 2020 strategic direction. It determines broad policies under which the organization plans for community impact and develops and allocates financial, volunteer and staff resources.

Cummins, Inc., received the Corporate Circle of Excellence Award, recognizing an organization that works to advance the common good in our community. Pictured (from left): Michelle Tyson, Jason Ray, David Spinner, Angela Pietrowsky, Tushar Kandwal, Tina Adams, Christina Crank, Rena Gibbs, Omer Gunes. The awards were presented at a United Way of Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky reception May 30.

Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, received the Gary R. Bricking Community Leadership Award, which represents the values and characteristics personified by its namesake: the vision, leadership, cooperation, integrity, commitment and purpose to consistently work to improve the quality of life in Northern Kentucky.

executivecommitteemembers:

Jamesc.ellerhorstChair

officemanagingPatner,deloitte

KarenBankston,Ph.d.at-Large

assOCiate dean Of

CLiniCaL praCtiCe

Universityofcincinnati

christopherc.fromanat-Large

president and CeO

Pomeroy

LavaughnHenry,Ph.d.at-Large

viCe president &

seniOr regiOnaL

manager in Charge

federalReserveBankofcleveland-cincinnatiBranch

JulieB.HighleyChair, eastern area

viCe president

HoranAssociates

Garyt.Huffmanat-Large

president and CeO

ohionationalfinancialServices

GregoryB.Kennyat-Large

president and CeO

Generalcable

michaelJ.LaatschviCe Chair, bOard –

marketing

viCe president,

pubLiC reLatiOns

& COrpOrate

COmmuniCatiOns

Western&SouthernfinancialGroup

tillieHidalgoLimaseCretary

president/CeO

BestUponRequest

Patrickmccausland,esq.Chair, middLetOwn

area

Singer&mccauslandco.,LPA

victorA.needhamiii(van)Chair, nOrthern

kentuCky

direCtOr, kentuCky

gOvernment. &

reguLatOry. affairs

dukeenergyohio&Kentucky

PennyPensakviCe Chair, bOard -

COmmunity impaCt

president

UcHealthfoundation

JuliaW.PostonviCe Chair, bOard

- aCCOuntabiLity &

serviCes

OffiCe managing

partner

ernst&YoungLLP

JanetReid,Ph.d.CO-Chair, regiOnaL

pubLiC pOLiCy

COunCiL

CeO

thetrustedAdvisorteam

Robertc.Reifsnyderpresident

UnitedWayofGreatercincinnati

BrentSeelmeyerChair, Leadership

COunCiL Of human

serviCe exeCutives

president

Boys&GirlsclubsofGreatercincinnati

valarieL.Sheppardimmediate past Chair,

bOard

seniOr viCe president

and COmptrOLLer

P&G

douglase.SizemoreChair, COmmunity

serviCes

exeCutive seCretary/

treasurer

cincinnatiAfL-cioLaborcouncil

Rob Reifsnyder, United Way president; Valarie L. Sheppard, immediate past chair, at 2013 Leaders & Legends Luncheon.

4

and family life puts him "at the right place at the right time" to take on this role.

"I see my term as being focused on execution of the 2010 strategic plan, Impact 2020," he said. "The Bold Goals for Our Region represent seminal issues we have to address. I go back to my roots in Allocations when, historically, we were raising funds and allocating dollars to address issues at the back end. So, we have to ask ourselves, 'how is it possible to be successful if we can't get people graduated from high school?'

"Our focus switched to dealing more with helping families nurture their children so they can be prepared for kindergarten, be successful in school, graduate from high school at a minimum, and, aspirationally, obtain at least an associate degree. Then we will begin to see success in families achieving sustainable income and staying healthy. This lines up with the Bold Goals.

"We are still in the early days and need to continue to be focused on resources. How do we fund what we know are successful programs?" That, he said, is where we look to partnering, transparency, diversity, and teamwork.

HoWWiLLHeKnoWWeHAveBeenSUcceSSfUL?

"I will know if we have been successful when we see progress in achieving the Bold Goals," he said. "Are we growing funding? Are we effective? We need to continue partnering to enhance our ability to leverage dollars."

Histipstoensuretheorganizationissuccessful:• Partner with other organizations that can help achieve the

Bold Goals, continuing to reach out and work with others on best practices we will use to address critical issues. "This is something United Way does very well," he said.

• Be transparent and fact-based about how we deal with pressing issues in the community.

• Seek diversity of opinions. "Make sure everyone is brought into the discussion process, even when you don't think there'sanyoneelsetoconsultwith.Youabsolutelygetbetter answers when you get input from multiple sources."

• Teamwork. "The work of this staff is why this United Way outperforms others against which we benchmark ourselves

and why we see measurable outcomes in the community. This is your reputation among all the volunteers here. It is important for you to understand and appreciate that," he told the staff.

WHAtBRoUGHtHimtotHiSRoLe?EllerhorsthasprovidedleadershiptoUnitedWaysince1986.

"Early in my career, I wanted some meaningful involvement with an organization supporting the community, and the most prominent organization supporting our community is United Way," he said.

"I always had great respect for its mission and wanted to find a way to get started. I began by serving on an Allocations CommitteeforYouthServices,thenbecameinvolvedontheBoard and in fundraising." He joined the UWGC Board in 2002, and, in 2006, was elected to the Executive Committee. He served from 2006 to 2009 as Board treasurer and as chair of the Accountability & Services Cabinet. He has also served on the Campaign Cabinet several times to help generate increased support from other professional firms in the region.

In 2005, he and his wife, Sara, co-chaired the United Way annualcampaign,raising$61.8million."Itwasanawesomeexperience, an adrenaline experience for us," he said.

A recent leadership endeavor was co-chairing a capital campaign to renovate and expand UWGC's aging building, resulting in the addition of the Fifth Third Convening Center at United Way and the transformation of the location into the United Way Human Services Center. "This was in a difficult economic time, but it was obvious that we had to address the functionality of the building," he said. "Then we had some things go our way in terms of access to capital, and the result is this great workspace and an efficient space for what we are doing in the community now and will serve us well into the future."

GiVE adVocatE VoluntEER

leaderS, legeNdS hoNored at aNNual luNcheoNUnitedWayhonoredthosecommunitymemberswhoLIVE

UNITED and show strong support for the Bold Goals for Our Region at its 12th annual Leaders & Legends Luncheon April 30 at Duke Energy Center. The event spotlighted “legends” – United Way’s past leaders, current leaders and community volunteers who are creating real, lasting change.

The New Century Awards salute individuals whose caring and compassion improve people’s lives and foster the spirit of voluntarism. These individuals bring with them the passion, expertise and resources needed to help achieve United Way’s goal of achieving measurable results in the areas of Education, Income and Health for a stronger community.

Community Service Award recipients (seated, from left): Pat Zerbe, Developing Resources; Teresa Sucietto, Developing Resources; Wendy Vonderhaar, Communicating our Message; Kim Fender, Improving our Community; Kay Brown, Improving our Accountability and Effectiveness. (Standing, from left:) Michael Gatio, Developing Resources; Delores Hargrove-Young, Strengthening our Region; David Deitsch, Developing Resources; Vicki Rogers, Strengthening our Regions; Mike Zitt, Communicating our Message.

Leadership Award recipients (seated, from left): Dr. Inayat Malik, Joseph A. Hall Award for Promoting Diversity; Barbara Henshaw, Impact Leadership Award; Jessica Taylor Seibold, Youth Leadership Award. (Standing, from left:) Carl Satterwhite, Neil H. McElroy Award for United Way Resource Development Leadership; Michael Laatsch, Ruth W. and Robert I. Westheimer Award for Continuous Leadership; Fr. Michael Graham, Geier Family Award for United Way Leadership

KIcKoffauguSt 28Noon , Founta in Square

Chair...continued from page 1

5

local leaderS SerVINg oN 2013 uNIted Way of greater cINcINNatI campaIgN cabINet

Area business and community leaders are volunteering their time and talents as members of United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s 2013 Campaign Cabinet.

The Cabinet provides leadership and guidance to the annual campaign. Members develop strategies, recruit other volunteers and make calls on individuals and CEOs of other companies and organizations.

Under the leadership of co-chairs Michael and Sally Connelly, Cabinet members are:

SuzanneAndersonernst & yOung

volunteerconnectionchair

erinAndreCOnvergys

COrpOratiOn

BusinessGroupco-chair

evanAnthonythe krOger CO.

RetailGroupchair

cliffordBaileyteChsOft systems,

inC.

BusinessServicesdivisionchair

michaelBezneyCathOLiC heaLth

partners

Lawfirmsdivisionchair

eileenBudop&g

WinGschair

Berniecalongeunited way Of

greater CinCinnati

new business

deveLOpment

vOLunteer

HispanicLeadershipSocietyco-chair/newBusinessdevelopmentcommitteemember

Jillianconnellyenterprise

hOLdings

Servicecompaniesdivisionchair

traviscrumCathOLiC heaLth

partners

financialGroupmember

SallyduffysC ministry

fOundatiOn

foundations&trustsco-chair

davidfaulkmaCy's, inC.

Loanedexecutiveschair

michaelfilomenaenterprise

hOLdings

BusinessGroupco-chair

JonfishpawCathOLiC heaLth

partners

Governmentdivisionchair

crystalGibsonCiti

northernKentuckychair

davidGoochpark natiOnaL bank

easternAreachair

JeffreyGrahammerCy heaLth – east

market

easternAreacommitteemember

taylorGreenwaldCOnvergys

COrpOratiOn

Accountingfirmsdivisionchair

KathyHainesdeLOitte

Women'sLeadershipcouncilco-chair

tillieHidalgo-Limabest upOn reQuest

HispanicLeadershipSocietyco-chair

terryHoranhOran

tocquevillechair

LeeAnnLiskauC heaLth

HealthcareGroupchair

RobertLuebbefifth third bank

Realestatedivisionchair

JillmcGruderifs finanCiaL

serviCes

Women'sLeadershipcouncilco-chair

cathymyersus bank

PlannedGivingchair

candacenovakCathOLiC heaLth

partners

Assistanttochair

KirkPerryp&g

manufacturingGroupchair

dwaynePhillipsCwa LOCaL

4400-CinCinnati beLL

Unionschair

danielJ.PicardpiCard Law firm

middletownAreaco-chair

RobRiesfifth third bank

financialGroupco-chair

carlSatterwhiteriver City furniture

theHerbertR.BrownSocietychair

LisaSchabellfifth third bank

emergingLeadersco-chair

tomSchillerfifth third bank

financialGroupco-chair

JimSchwabthe heaLth

fOundatiOn

foundations&trustsco-chair

GregSmithCathOLiC heaLth

partners

campaigncommunicationschair

BeckySykesCathOLiC heaLth

partners

Retailcommitteemember/newBusinessdevelopmentchair

tammie.thompsonpiCard Law firm

middletownAreaco-chair

PhilipthomsCinCinnati

ChiLdren's hOspitaL

mediCaL Center

emergingLeadersco-chair

tomUrbanCathOLiC heaLth

partners

middletownAreacommitteemember

JimWainscottak steeL

vicechair/2014UnitedWaycampaignchair

KristenWeversmerCy heaLth

marketingcommitteemember

The campaign is a fundraising partnership of United Way and the American Red Cross.

GiVE adVocatE VoluntEER

Local Companies Invest in the Community through United Way

Presenting a $5,000 check to Rob Reifsnyder, United Way president (second from right), is Bill Childress, senior vice president, Genpact. Also pictured: Laurent Rouaud, chief marketing officer, GE Aviation, and a United Way volunteer (left), and Sudharika Gogna, global relationship manager for aviation, Genpact (right). "Genpact fully supports United Way and its mission to improve the many communities it serves,” said Childress. “Genpact is honored to provide this donation to United Way of Greater Cincinnati because we know that it will help strengthen the Cincinnati metro area.”

United Way of Greater Cincinnati received a $50,000 grant from the Northwestern Mutual Foundation on behalf of Northwestern Mutual's Kelley Financial Group, a Northwestern Mutual office in Cincinnati. The grant was in connection with the company's Central Region's 2013 Community Impact Award to the Kelley Group for more than 240 volunteer hours over the past year in projects for the Freestore Foodbank, a United Way agency partner. Shawn Kelley, Kelley Group managing partner (left), presented the grant to Rob Reifsnyder, United Way president.

Charles Holland, Cincinnati Technology site manager, LyondellBasell (left), presents a check to Chris Martin, vice president, Development, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, to commemorate the company's 2012-2013 United Way campaign. LyondellBasell employees at the Cincinnati Technology Center in Sycamore Township raised the $68,000, including $34,000 in employee contributions with the balance matched by the company. "United Way has become a cornerstone tradition of LyondellBasell’s continued commitment of giving back to the community," said Holland.6

GiVE adVocatE VoluntEER

HUnGeRStAt#875:oneinSixAmeRicAnSdon'tKnoWWHeRetHeiRnextmeALWiLLcomefRom.

Area residents helped 'Stamp Out Hunger' May 11 as letter carriers in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky collected 144,296 pounds of non-perishable food for area families and individuals.

Contributing to this National Association of Letter Carriers 21st annual “Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive” was easy. Residents simply left non-perishable food donations near their mailbox before their letter carrier arrived. The carriers picked up the food as they made their deliveries and transported it to United Way agency partners.

This is the largest one-day food drive in Greater Cincinnati. Local volunteers from the Postal Service, Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council and United Way of Greater Cincinnati helped stock the food in pantries for the summer months, a time when donations are typically low.

The Cincinnati AFL-CIO and UWGC partner to provide services to members of organized labor, their families and their communities.

StampINg out huNgerthrough letter carrIer effortS roSS meyer

NeW uNIted Way Vp, commuNIty Impact

United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC) has named Ross P. Meyer as its new vice president of community impact. Meyer has served as executive director of Partners for a Competitive Workforce (PCW), formerly the Greater Cincinnati Workforce Network, since its inception five years ago. He joined the UWGC team in January 2011 when United Way assumed management of PCW, a tri-state partnership focused on meeting employer demand by growing the skills of the local workforce. Its partners include more than 150 businesses, workforce investment boards, chambers of commerce, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, service providers, and philanthropic funders.

“We are very fortunate to have someone as strong as Ross emerge from the field of candidates," said Rob Reifsnyder, United Way president. "He brings with him more than 10 years of increasingly responsible experience in the nonprofit, political and academic fields. His work in economic development for the cities of Miami and New YorkCity,coupledwithhisinvolvementinpoliticaloutreachand civic engagement work for the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and Miami University, uniquely prepare him for this role.”

John S. Prout, chair, PCW and chair & CEO, TriHealth, Inc., said, “Ross has provided incredible leadership to Partners for a Competitive Workforce and, through his work, has brought us national attention. The good news is that, as UW’s vice president of community impact, he will continue to play a supervisory role with Partners.”

Meyer has served on the Agenda 360 Qualified Workforce Team, United Way Financial Stability Coordinating Council, United Way 211 Advisory Council, City of Cincinnati Human Services Advisory Commission, and Urban League of Greater Cincinnati Workforce Advisory Committee. He is co-chair of the Ohio Workforce Coalition and a member of the Leadership council of the National Skills Coalition.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to help our community achieve bold goals against big challenges in education, income and health,” said Meyer. “Our community is on an upward trajectory, and I look forward to helping United Way do our part to accelerate our community’s progress.”

Effective June 10, the appointment followed an extensive national search involving close to 100 applicants and several rounds of interviews.

uNIted Way, partNerS geNerate$21.3 mIllIoN IN tax refuNdS for local famIlIeS

More than $21million in tax refunds were returned to local families, thanks to volunteers from United Way of Greater Cincinnati and its partners. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and free taxpreparationservices,sponsoredbyUnitedWay,IRSVolunteerTaxIncomeAssistance(VITA),AARP,andOhioBenefitBank,helped18,207low-tomoderate-incomeworkingfamiliesatmorethan128volunteer-operatedsitesthroughoutthetri-stateregion.

This year's returns represent a 5.5 percent increase over tax refund dollars received by participating taxpayers in 2012, as well as a 3.6 percent increase in participants. The average refundwas$1,170.Overall,therehasbeena273percentincrease in refunds since 2006.

EITC aligns with the Income Bold Goal for Our Region: ensuring individuals and families achieve financial stability. Strategies include increasing the number of EITC filers and the amount of refunds returned to taxpayers in our region.

For more information, visit www.makeworkpay.com.

ReGionALeARnedincometAxcRedit(eitc)coLLABoRAtive

$21.3M18,207

17,566

16,553

15,815

9,223

4,496

4,613

15,758$18.7M

$20.2M

$16.6M

$5.5M

$19.1M

$9.7M

$5.7M

n Tax Dollars Returnedn Returns Filed

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

7

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDCincinnati, OhioPermit No. 2008

united Way of greater cincinnati2400 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1478

VicePresident,Marketing:CarolN.AquinoEditor: Patti CruseContributors: Raye Allen, David Binder, Takiyah Cunningham, Dominique Fowler, Michelle Rummel, Tiffany Vitagliano,JackiedraWilsonLayout: Becky Mengel Freund Inquiries:513-762-7143or patti.cruse@uwgc.org

Visit united Way’s Web site at www.uwgc.org

GiVE adVocatE VoluntEER

leaVe a legacy Legacy Leaders have demonstrated their passionate commitment to advancing the common good – forever! Others have made gifts in honor or memory of friends and loved ones. On behalf of the lives that they have touched, we thank them.

Legacy Leaders Recognizes those persons who have made a planned gift in

their will, estate plan, current gift, or by some other means to the United Way Foundation or to The Greater Cincinnati Human Services Endowment Fund. (Endowment gifts are above and beyond annual giving.)

inmemoryof:RusselWeatherwax By Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Cohen

BobGilmore By Warren K. Hinsch, Jr., and

Suzanne B. Hinsch

maryvirginiaBohlen By Jill Johnson

L.RossLovememorialScholarshipfund:

Ken and Rosa BlackwellHelen and Calvin BufordLesley Dickenson Marsha Dickinson

neWmemoRiALSAndHonoRARiUmS

Memorialize a Loved One, Pay Tribute to Someone Special

Youcanmemorializealovedoneorpaytributetosomeone special in your life while contributing to the mission of United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC). Contributions in any amount may be made to commemorate a variety of occasions – a birthday, graduation, wedding, or anniversary. Or recognize someone for their community service, civic involvement or success in the marketplace.

The recipient will receive a letter from UWGC announcing your generous tax deductible gift. Gifts are also recognized in this newsletter.

Donate online at www.uwgc.org; click “Give/Give online now.” Or contact Mary Ann Remke, director, Planned Giving,at513-762-7112ormaryann.remke@uwgc.org. Visitwww.uwgc.org/plannedgiving for more information on planned giving.

Gerald DeBrunner, retired vice chair and office managing partner, Deloitte, served United Way of Greater Cincinnati ontheCampaignCabinetfrom1981to1987,includingleadershippositionsinthe Audit and Major Firms groups and in the Professional Division. He also chaired the Tocqueville Society and receivedthe1997TocquevilleAward.

"Gerry was noted for his great leadership in educational and community efforts," said Rob Reifsnyder, United Way president. He chaired the board of United Way agency partner Cincinnati Speech & Hearing and the Greater Cincinnati Center for Economic Education. He served on the boards of Cincinnati Council on World Affairs and Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and was president of the Downtown Council. He was also a long-time volunteer for Xavier University, Ursuline Academy, Purcell Marian, and Good Shepherd Parish.

IN memorIam

neWendoWedtocqUeviLLeGiftBill Montague and Kelly Wittich

The Tocqueville Riders, who get together four times a year, live out their motto to Be Bold. Be Healthy. Bring One. The number of participants has grown to about 30. Michael Connelly, 2013 United Way Campaign co-chair (in white shirt), hosted the Chairman’s Ride June 1. The event included riding a portion of the Loveland Bike Trail, stopping for lunch and hearing encouraging words delivered by Connelly, then riding back to the starting point.