2008 United Way Community Needs Assessment Results Announced

HENDERSONVILLE, TN, June 2, 2008– Alcohol and drug abuse, lack of affordable medical care, and teen pregnancy topped the list of the most critical issues facing Sumner County in the United Way of Sumner County’s 2008 community needs assessment.

UWSC conducted the survey to help determine how campaign funds would be distributed among non-profit health and human services agencies applying for United Way grants. The on-line version of the survey was coordinated by isurfSumner.com and Volunteer State Community College collected and tabulated the paper copies. Forward Sumner provided a $500 grant to cover the cost of actual survey and UWSC Board member, Judy Jones, coordinated the entire year-long process. “Nearly 1,000 people from all across Sumner County answered this year’s survey, a much greater response than we’ve had in the past,” according to Dana M. Given, President and CEO. “We collected demographic information with the surveys and our respondents reflect a good cross-section of our county, too.”

“One of several things we did differently this year,” explained Given, “is we didn’t ask how youth issues compare with senior citizens issues or how emergency services compare to family issues. We asked about root causes of problems for people in our county. Eighty-three percent of the people who answered the survey said alcohol and/or drug abuse was a moderate or major issue. Comments indicated alcohol and drugs to be a problem among youth, but also a problem that has serious family, financial and health impacts.”

Given added, “The lack of affordable medical care was rated as a major issue by 49% and a moderate issue by 29%. Teen pregnancy ranked a close third in issues facing Sumner Countians.”

The next most critical issues were family violence/abuse of children or adults and lack of affordable day care for children.

“Ranking closely behind were crime, mental illness or emotional issues, poverty and inadequate public transportation,” said Given.

“It’s very important that United Way and its volunteers who allocate donors’ money understand the most critical issues in our county, so we can direct the most money where there’s the greatest need,” explained Given.

“When we analyzed the survey responses, it’s clear that all our partner agencies are addressing real and important needs in our community. However, some issues are more prevalent and impactful than others,” she added. “We had $65,000 more funds to distribute this year and we allocated more dollars to youth and families, in order to address root causes.”

The United Way volunteers completed agency hearings and submitted funding recommendations to UWSC’s Board of Directors in May.

“Our goal is to help community partners create lasting changes in conditions that improve people’s lives,” Given said. “We are not just about raising funds for partner agencies; we want to make a true impact on the community. This means having a true community vision and not just a United Way vision. It means a lot more measurement around what needs to be done and measuring the actual outcome of programs we help fund.”

For a complete copy of the 2008 United Way of Sumner County Community Survey Results, please access their website at www.unitedwaysumner.org.

United Way of Sumner County is a local organization run by volunteers from throughout Sumner County. Its mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.

United Way Announces Final 2007 Campaign Results

HENDERSONVILLE, TN, May 28, 2008– The United Way of Sumner County is pleased to announce the results of its 2007 Campaign. Thanks to its Pacesetter corporate campaigns, general corporate campaigns, several special events and the contributions of individuals, the United Way of Sumner County raised $707,967.08.

This is the second highest amount ever raised in county in the 30-year history of the organization and represents a 13.77% increase over the amount raised in the 2006 Campaign.

According to Dana Given, President and CEO, “We were pleased with the results of the 2007 “Giving Matters” Campaign and I believe that Amy Hawkins, serving as our Campaign Spokesperson, made a significant difference. Sumner Countians responded to Amy’s plea for their donations to the United Way. She is our Sumner County hero and it was our privilege to have her serve in this capacity this past year.”

“We tried a few different things this year, wrote a few more grants, asked more people and found some additional businesses that were willing to get creative in their attempt to raise funds for our 2007 campaign. While we did not reach our million dollar goal, which was based on the funding requests of our partner agencies, we are incredibly thankful to the 4,260 Sumner County residents who gave to the United Way, as individuals or through their workplaces campaigns. With our United Way moving to Outcomes Based funding this past year, this is yet one more way that our donors can be assured that their donations are truly making a long-term impact in our community.”

Given stated further, “We are working right now on building our infrastructure with both staff and volunteers from all over the county; finding people who share the vision of United Way in order to be even more effective this coming year and we are working on a ‘Give Where You Live’ Awareness Campaign.”

With a successful 2007 Campaign completed, the United Way of Sumner County looks forward to its 2008 Campaign, which will kick off this summer with several Pacesetter corporate campaigns. The first Pacesetter campaign will take place in mid-June and all Pacesetter campaigns will complete their efforts by August 31.

“For more information about coordinating a workplace United Way campaign, businesses can contact our new Campaign Manager, Beth Ellis, at 826-2977. Those interested in volunteering or have creative ideas for increasing our results are asked to call me,” Given said.

United Way of Sumner County is a local organization run by volunteers from throughout Sumner County. Its mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. For more information, visit www.unitedwaysumner.org

United Way Hires New Campaign Manager

HENDERSONVILLE, TN, May 5, 2008– United Way of Sumner County has hired Beth M. Ellis to be its new Campaign Manager.

Ellis comes to the United Way with almost 20 years of experience in the private sector, working for Michelin North America, Inc. and Westinghouse Electric Corporation. She also has over 15 years of volunteer experience with a variety of organizations, including the Delta Gamma sorority in Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee, Hands on Greenville’s HOG Days (SC), and as a workplace campaign coordinator for the United Way of Greenville County (SC).

Since relocating to Sumner County in 2006 as a result of her husband’s career, Ellis has served as a chapter adviser for Delta Gamma’s collegian chapter at Vanderbilt University and as its delegate to the Nashville Area Alumnae Panhellenic. She is involved with her church, Rock of Ages Lutheran in Madison and serves as a volunteer alumna recruiter for the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining United Way, Ellis also served as a classroom volunteer at Gene W. Brown Elementary.

Ellis has one daughter, Kara, (6), who is completing kindergarten at Brown Elementary. Her husband, John, is Senior Online Marketing Manager for ResortQuest. Ellis holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

“I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to work with the United Way of Sumner County and become a more active and knowledgeable citizen of Sumner County” said Ellis. “I look forward to working with United Way volunteers and our corporate partners to increase donations and become even more effective in meeting the needs of those in the County.”