LIVING UNITED

Central Ohio philanthropists Barbara and Al Siemer will receive the 2012 National Tocqueville Society Award presented by United Way Worldwide. This award is the highest honor the Tocqueville Society bestows and it recognizes unparalleled leadership in philanthropy. Previous honorees include former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, Leslie Wexner, Bob Hope, and the Gates family. Tocqueville Society members are United Ways most generous donors with annual gifts of $10,000 or greater. The Siemers are being recognized for the effective work they have pioneered in helping families in financial crisis stay in their homes and keep their children in their schools. Unplanned student mobility has a direct negative impact on learning and development. Homeless children are twice as likely to repeat a grade compared to children with stable housing. The Siemers have been involved in this work since 2003. In 2011, they partnered with United Way of Central Ohio to launch the Siemer Institute for Family Stability which funds family stability programs at United Way organizations across the country. The Institute is one of the leading examples in the nation of collective impact which creates broad social change by uniting people and organizations to work toward common goals, while learning from each other through open and active communications. One of the keys to the success of the Institute is the fact that each community can tailor their programs to meet local needs and select partners that are most capable of delivering results. Barbara and Al Siemers accomplishments go far beyond their philanthropic leadership, said Stacey Stewart, U.S. President, United Way Worldwide. The Siemer Institute for Family Stability is a model for the future of the United Way network. The only way we can effectively address issues facing communities around the world is by bringing them together to learn from each other and work toward a common purpose. The Institute demonstrates just how the power of our U.S. network can be harnessed to advance the common good.

2013, ISSUE II

Barbara And al Siemer Honored with United Way National Tocqueville Society Award
Prestigious award recognizes the work of the Siemer Institute for Family Stability as a model for the United Way network
Barbara and Al are world class philanthropists and social innovators, and receiving the prestigious National Tocqueville Award is a welldeserved recognition of the importance of their work, said Janet E. Jackson, President and CEO, United Way of Central Ohio.

The Siemer Institute for Family Stability has been remarkably successful and has grown from programs in 10 cities at its launch to 22 cities today.
By the end of 2013, the total number of participating cities is projected to be 40. By the end of 2014, the total is projected to be 50 communities. Since June 2011, more than 7,000 families with more than 16,000 children have been helped.

Baltimore Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Dayton Des Moines Fort Myers Indianapolis Jacksonville Kalamazoo Little Rock

Current Programs Madison Memphis Miami Milwaukee Orlando Pittsburgh Sarasota St. Louis Tampa Toledo Twin Cities

Albuquerque Atlanta Birmingham Buffalo Dallas Denver Detroit Houston Kansas City

By End of 2013 Louisville Nashville Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia Phoenix San Francisco Seattle Tacoma

Presidents Update
On June 21, 2011 the Siemer Institute for Family Stability was launched at a news conference at The Columbus Foundation. The Institute is part of United Way of Central Ohio and represents the first time any local United Way organization has led an initiative on a national level. At the time of the launch, Barbara and Al Siemer said, We know that keeping families stable and in their homes has a large positive effect on helping their kids succeed in school. The family stability initiatives we have invested in are effective ways of addressing this crucial issue, and we are confident that the Institute can use the expertise and relationships of the United Way system to truly make this a national model. Less than two years later, under the leadership of National Director, Rob Podlogar, the Institute has become a national model for the future of the United Way network. It has grown faster than original projections because of the strength of its approach and met with an enthusiastic response from United Way organizations across the country that have joined the Institute. All of this is because of the inspiring vision and remarkable generosity of Barbara and Al Siemer. And on behalf of the entire United Way of Central Ohio family, I want to congratulate them on receiving the 2012 National Tocqueville Society Award. Sincerely,

Janet E. Jackson President and CEO United Way of Central Ohio

United Way Welcomes New Board Members and Honors Retiring Members
The United Way of Central Ohio Board of Trustees honors the service of retiring board members Tom Griesdorn, Tim Miller, Greg Overmyer, Claus von Zychlin, and Anthony White and welcomes new board members Dr. Karin Wurapa, and Janet Smith Meeks. passionate advocate for wellness mind, body and soul. Her formal training in Family Medicine and Public Health were fueled by her rich cultural background and life overseas during her formative years. She completed her medical education at Case Western Reserve University and her public health education at The Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health. Dual residency programs at Albany Medical Center and the State University of New York, Albany, helped refine her perspective that healthy families are necessary pillars to build healthy communities and citizens. She has cared for patients and supported staff at the Perinatal Health Center, Columbus Health Department. Karin then turned her focus to supporting families and schools by working as a trustee and parent volunteer. Karin periodically provides consultation on projects aimed at improving efficiency and quality in patient care, improving nutrition for all or helping parents and communities to focus on the family. She is a wife and mother of three children, and recently has been nurturing the creative energy of her daughters by editing and publishing their childrens book, Mimi the Mermaid and the Pearl Necklace. She and her family have called Columbus home for the past 12 years.

Karin Wurapa, MD, MPH is a

Chief Operating Officer of Mount Carmel St. Anns Hospital (MCSA). In her role, she leads Project GRACE, a $120M expansion to transform Westervilles sole community hospital into a regional medical center offering open heart surgery. MCSA annually welcomes approximately 18,000 inpatients, 72,000 emergency patients and 5,000 new babies. MCSA has a dedicated Womens Health Center, one of the areas largest community-based cancer programs including Central Ohios only Cyberknife, a regional orthopedic center of excellence, a cardiovascular center and a growing list of complex surgical specialties. Janet earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi where she completed her undergraduate degree in Banking and Finance. She began her health care career in 1983 at North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC) in Tupelo, Mississippi. Janet has held successful executive roles at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee and Shands Healthcare based in Gainesville, Florida. She joined Mount Carmel Health System in 2004 as Senior Vice President for Corporate Development. She assumed her current role at MCSA in 2006. Janet is married with two adult daughters. She and her husband make their home in Westerville.

Janet Smith Meeks is President and

LIVING UNITED

Anne and Jack Partridge to Lead 2013 United Way of Central Ohio Campaign
United Way of Central Ohio announces that Anne and Jack Partridge will serve as co-chairs for the 2013 campaign. Jack Partridge is president of Columbia Gas of Ohio and chief regulatory officer of the NiSource Gas Distribution Companies. NiSource, one of the nations largest regulated energy companies, is the parent of Columbia Gas of Ohio. Anne and Jack are two of the most knowledgeable and engaged leaders in our community and we are excited to welcome them as campaign co-chairs, said Janet E. Jackson, President and CEO, United Way of Central Ohio. Their leadership will be crucial as we work to ensure that everyone, especially the many people who now live in poverty in central Ohio, have the opportunities and resources they need to reach their potential. We are honored to chair this years campaign and cant wait to begin our work, said Anne Partridge. We look forward to educating more people about the important work of United Way in addressing poverty in our communities, and providing pathways out of poverty to those in need. Were confident that central Ohio will continue its longstanding tradition as one of the most generous communities in the country. Its gratifying to see how people come together to give, advocate and volunteer through United Way, said Jack Partridge. This year we will continue that great tradition of improving lives by mobilizing central Ohioans, their compassion and caring, in the fight against poverty. Columbia is a long-time partner of United Way and United Way of Central Ohio. In 2012, the company and its employees increased their United Way giving in central Ohio by 38 percent. Columbia and NiSource are active corporate citizens in the communities they serve. Over the past 10 years, the companies and their employees have contributed more than $40 million and thousands of volunteer hours supporting hundreds of charitable organizations throughout their service territories.

Dawn Tyler Lee Honored by YWCA as Woman of Achievement

All 2013 Women of Achievement Are Valued Members of the United Way Family
United Way of Central Ohio Senior Vice President of Community Impact Dawn Tyler Lee is being honored for her accomplishments and community leadership with the prestigious Women of Achievement award presented by United Way member agency YWCA Columbus. Dawns interest in community service began when she was a young child in the mid-1970s witnessing her father lead neighbors in the Franklin Park community in an effort to make the area safer for residents and visitors. My dad tells the story about pulling me in my red wagon while he passed out flyers for community meetings. My mom is another living example of serving others and instilled that value in my brother and me. Community activism is in my blood, she said. She lives by the scripture, To whom much is given, much is required, (Luke 12:48) and is inspired to pay her blessings forward. Dawns community service includes serving as a role model for many of the young women who have participated in the YWCAs Chase Gen Y Leadership Project. Created specifically for women in their 20s at the beginning of their careers, Dawn shaped this unique leadership development program and facilitated its first two classes which graduated 37 women. As Senior Vice President for Community Impact, Dawn oversees United Ways work in the areas of education, income, health and home. She also leads work in accountability, diversity and inclusion, public policy and volunteerism and community engagement. United Way congratulates all of the 2013 Women of Achievement: Cindy Hilsheimer, Principal and Founder, BeecherHill; Dawn Tyler Lee; Linda Shetina Logan, Executive Director, Greater Columbus Sports Commission; Michelle Mills, President/CEO, St. Stephens Community House; and Carole Watkins, Chief Human Resources Officer, Cardinal Health.

LIVEUNITEDCENTRALOHIO.ORG 3

54th Annual George Meany Event

Honors Local Leaders
Largest Labor Recognition in the Country
On March 21, the 54th George Meany Awards Banquet recognized local community and labor leaders who have given outstanding volunteer service to central Ohio. This event, hosted by Central Ohio Labor Council AFL-CIO and the United Way Community Services Department, is the largest labor recognition of its kind in the country, and illustrates United Way of Central Ohios strong and longstanding partnership with labor organizations. 335 people attended the event where Franklin County Treasurer Ed Leonard was honored with the AFL-CIO Community Service Award presented by the Central Ohio Labor Council AFL-CIO and the United Way of Central Ohio Community Services Department. The George Meany Award went to Randy Kocheran, President, Bakers Local 57. Ed Leonard is a dedicated and innovative leader who has greatly strengthened our entire community through the policies and programs he has championed as Franklin County Treasurer, said Walt Workman, Executive Director, Central Ohio Labor Council AFL-CIO. He added, Randy Kocheran truly embodies what it means to be a successful community and labor leader. He leads by example and always makes decisions based on what is best not only for his members but for the great community we all call home. Jennifer Elliott was also honored with the Central Ohio AFL-CIO Scout Award and the Hamilton Rangers Community Helpers received the Youth Services Award.

2013 George Meany Award: Randy Kocheran, President, Bakers Local 57

Randy Kocheran started his baking career at the Kroger Bakery in January, 1983. Randys involvement with his union started as Union Steward in 1995. He held a number of leadership positions and was elected President in 2005 and holds that position today. Under Randys leadership, Bakers Local 57 plays a major role in supplying much-needed food products for the One New Toy program - an effort lead by Central Ohio AFL-CIO Labor Council and St. Stephens Community House to provide holiday assistance for over 5,000 families. Randy has also helped establish the Labor Workers Memorial Park, a park dedicated to workers killed on the job. The park is the only one of its kind in the country. Randy Kocheran

2013 Community Service Award: Ed Leonard, Franklin County Treasurer

Before becoming treasurer, Ed served as Assistant Columbus City Prosecutor, Deputy Director of the Franklin County Board of Elections, Compliance Officer for Franklin County Clerk of Courts John OGrady, and Special Counselor to County Treasurer Richard Cordray. After becoming treasurer in 2007, he transformed the office to aggressively protect the interests of taxpayers through innovative techniques while safely maximizing the investment returns on county funds. Ed serves on the board of St. Stephens Community House, the Harmony Project and the Central Ohio regional Board of Childrens Hunger Alliance.

2013 Central Ohio AFL-CIO Scout Award: Jennifer Elliott, Registered Nurse, James Cancer Hospital

Ed Leonard

Jennifer Elliott is a registered nurse in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of the James Cancer Hospital at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and has been a member of Ohio Nurses Association since 2000. Jennifer has been a Girl Scout volunteer since 2007. Jennifer has served on the Home and School Board at St. Brigid of Kildare for three years, and is a member of the Muirfield Village Civic Association.

2013 Youth Services Award: Hamilton Rangers Community Helpers

The Hamilton Rangers Community Helpers is a team of 5th and 6th grade student volunteers at Hamilton Intermediate School who give their time to assist and promote community service projects for the school each month. Their service projects include collecting and donating: 1,500 pairs of socks to shelters; wish list items and over 100,000 pop tabs (and counting) for the Ronald McDonald House at Nationwide Childrens Hospital; 2,200 books for the Reach Out and Read program and 800 coats, hats and mittens for Coats for Columbus. The members of the group are: Samantha Benson, Gavin Bradford, Gavin Dzodan, Derek Larimer, Braden Lindsey, Kailey Longbrake, Sumer McWilliams, Troy Richards, Danielle Sater, Abigail Space, and Kiyah Welch. Jennifer Elliot

LIVING UNITED

LEADERSHIP

PRIDE
COUNCIL

COMMUNITY

GIVING

BUILDER

United Way of Central Ohios Leadership Giving groups offer the opportunity for donors to learn more about how their contributions are helping improve lives in central Ohio, develop meaningful service projects and network with fellow donors.

E3 Program Featured at National WLC Summit

On March 6 through 8, United Way Worldwide hosted a Womens Leadership Council Summit in Charleston, South Carolina. More than 40 WLCs from around the country attended to share best Wendy Peters and Jennifer Combs practices and represent this powerful national philanthropic movement which has now surpassed $1 billion in total giving since its inception. Janet Jackson presented a learning lab entitled Elevate, Empower, Educate: The Development of a New Volunteer Led Initiative. Joining her to tell their personal stories about the E3 program were WLC member and mentor Wendy Peters and her mentee and E3 participant Jennifer Combs. Going to Charleston to represent our E3 program to the women who attended the Summit conference was for me a very powerful

and uplifting experience! said Jennifer Combs. It was absolutely empowering for me to be around so many women gathering in one place to discuss what we, as groups and as individuals, can do to support and foster environments in which women and their families can reach their full potential. It makes me that much more determined to get my degrees to do my part! Getting through school and obtaining a great job will enable me to become a member of the WLC myself, and give back to others what has been so graciously given to me! In my humble opinion, the WLC Rocks! It was an honor to be associated with and represent our central Ohio WLC, said Wendy Peters. There was so much interest in our well-defined program to educate, empower and elevate women in our community. It was interesting to find that we are rather unique in our approach to using our incremental contributions to solely fund our program. It was also very inspiring to hear all the great work also going on around the world by other WLC groups. Women working together truly makes a difference to other women!

WLC Speed Mentoring

Event Taps the Wisdom of Master Mentors
On March 14, more than 130 WLC members, E3 participants, and guests gathered at State Auto Insurance for an evening of learning about the art of mentoring from some of the most accomplished women leaders in central Ohio. The master mentors answered questions about their approaches to mentoring and how their experiences have shaped their successful careers. The mentor / mentee pair Priscilla Strickland and Jessica Gwathney shared the story of their life-changing relationship. The event inspired eight women to become new members of WLC. To learn more about the WLC please contact Betsy McCabe at 614.227.2734 or betsy.mccabe@uwcentralohio.org. Jessica Gwathney and Priscilla Strickland Patti Cotter, Errica Rivera and Catherine Ellwood

Leslie Melton and Doreen DeLaney Crawley

Bethany McCrea and Trae Booker

WLC Master Mentors (Back row, from left) Doreen DeLaney Crawley, Tracy Townsend, Elaine Roberts, Jane Grote Abell, Michelle Heritage, Yvette McGee Brown, Tanisha Robinson, Lisa Hinkelman, Deanna Stewart, Jasmine Green, (front row, from left) Hannah Powell Tuney, Barbara Fergus, Janet Jackson, Kathy Starkoff and Diane Warren.

LIVEUNITEDCENTRALOHIO.ORG 5

Columbus Kids is a groundbreaking program designed to increase the early detection of developmental delays and potential learning obstacles in pre-schoolers through learning checkups. It is the first-of-its-kind in the nation.

Columbus Kids Passes 8,000 Enrollment Milestone

As of March 8, there are now have 8,302 children enrolled in Columbus Kids! In addition, a new milestone was achieved with 11,715 learning checkups completed since the initiative began. This is the year for Columbus Kids to reach the goal of working in every Columbus City Schools attendance zone. In January, the initiative opened on Columbus Eastside. The initial response from parents and partners has been the best yet for a new zone. It is clear that Columbus Kids has established an excellent reputation across the community and this is helping it to quickly gain credibility in the new zone. Across the city we now have a total of 225 partner organizations. In South Linden, Columbus Kids recently forged a relationship with two new early learning centers that serve significant Somali populations. It is interesting to note that the translator who is helping the team began as a very enthusiastic parent of a child who is enrolled in the initiative. On the Westside, our work has received a boost with the addition of the YMCA to host two contract Outreach Coordinators.

Birthday Parties: Important Reconnection and Growth Opportunities

A vital part of the work of Columbus Kids is to reconnect with preschoolers every 6 months to ensure they are making appropriate progress to be ready to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. What better way than a birthday party to bring parents and children back together with their Wellness Coordinator for a learning checkup and some fun learning opportunities? On February 28, a Columbus Kids birthday party was held at the Linden Metropolitan Library. Kids and parents who participated received an individualized learning checkup, book and gift card. Books, like Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, were provided for 4 year olds, while books like From Head to Toe by Eric Carl were particularly popular among the younger children. Why are these birthday parties so important? Results to-date show that delay in developing fine motor skills is the 2nd highest reason for follow up referrals. This is because too many kids dont have access to crayons, scissors and paperor their parents dont have the time or information on how to engage their kids in simple, yet fun, skillbuilding exercises. In fact, 42% of the children screened in Columbus Kids learning checkups live in households earning less than $5,000 annually. So a birthday party is a perfect way to show parents how to use fun activities like coloring and cutting to enhance their childrens at-home learning environment. Parents even walk away with additional low-cost/no-cost activities they can use with their kids at home.

Senator Charleta B. Tavares participated in the birthday party by reading from The Cat in the Hat.

---------------------------------------------------------------Online Extra: See an example of a fun, fine motor skill building ---------------------------------------------------------------exercise that was recently provided to CK parents. ---------------------------------------------------------------LIVING UNITED

Geoffrey Canada Inspires Community Leaders at Champion of Children Signature Event

Education Rock Star Talks about the Crucial Connection Between Good Neighborhoods and Quality Education
On February 13, many of our communitys top leaders gathered at the Southern Theatre to hear Geoffrey Canada address the importance of an integrated, holistic approach to educating our young people. At the 20th Anniversary celebration of Champion of Children, former WOSU host Fred Andrle conducted a live interview with Geoffrey Canada, founder of Harlem Childrens Zone and, according to Time Magazine, one of the 100 most influential people in America. Canada pulled no punches with his assessment of the direction our society needs to take, You look at middle class communities and you just do what they do there Do they have decent schools?... Yes. Do they have safe streets?... Yes. Do they have health care for their children?... Yes. Dental care?... Sure. Counseling?... Sure. No one thinks anything about it. Heres one of the problems we have in our communities. We somehow feel that

poor children can do as well if we cut some of those things out. So we keep wondering, why do we have to give em that? ...Cant we just sort of give em school? ...And isnt that enough? And the answer is, we would never do that for our own children. So part of the problem is, we know what poor children need: they need what our children need. Canada summed up the evenings discussion, I challenge communities to reorient their thinking about this...I think were thinking about this the wrong way. Its not that we

cant afford to do it; we cant afford NOT to do it. More in-depth information on the Harlem Childrens Zone and the connection between neighborhood revitalization and education will be included in the Champion of Children Franklin County Childrens Report which will be issued in May.

---------------------------------------------Online Extra: View a video of the Signature Event here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Students Raise Money for Sandy Hook Victims

Six middle school students at Columbus Arts and Technology Academy Rahma, Zahra, and Awa Ndao, Mescie and Gelila Kassa and Danielle Wollerman took it upon themselves to organize a fundraising effort for the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy in Connecticut. They sold candy and donated baked goods to their fellow students at lunch time and little by little were able to collect $400. These students transformed their concern into action, said United Ways Dawn Tyler Lee. It was inspiring to meet them and be able to thank them on behalf of United Way for their selfless work. The donation went to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund created by United Way of Western Connecticut in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank. Dawn Tyler Lee thanks Columbus Arts and Technology Academy students for their hard work and generosity.

LIVEUNITEDCENTRALOHIO.ORG 7

360 South Third Street Columbus, Ohio 43215-5485

thanks to all of our

Donors, advocates and volunteers. Together, we are improving lives and strengthening our community.

LIVING UNITED
The 2013 Columbus Volunteer Challenge

begins NOW!

COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER CHALLENGE

OUR CALL TO SERVICE

Make Your Volunteer Pledge Today at

columbusvolunteerchallenge.org

The Columbus Volunteer Challenge was the premier service event of the bicentennial year and mobilized an unprecedented 28,435 people to work on more than 500 projects! It was such a great success that it is back for 2013 with a new twist! This year, the Columbus Volunteer Challenge is motivating and mobilizing central Ohioans to serve throughout the year. We know there are thousands of dedicated volunteers in central Ohio and we want to recognize everyone who volunteers to help others. Its quick and easy to be counted. Just pledge the number of hours you will volunteer in 2013. You can also connect with service opportunities available through United Way and HandsOn Central Ohio. And youll be invited to join events across the community during the Columbus Volunteer Challenge 5 Days of Service from September 7 - 11 which includes United Ways 22nd Annual Community Care Day on Tuesday, September 10.