Happy New Year from United Way! It's with a spirit of fresh enthusiasm and excitement that we begin a new year in such an awesome and generous community as Kingsport, Tennessee.  As our community continues to build its efforts with the leadership of our mayor for ONEKingsport, as Healthy Kingsport becomes a household name, as our downtown continues to grow, and as we look forward in anticipation to next year's 100th year celebration, it's a great time to be in Kingsport.

Excitement exists as well from the United Way.   Completing the most successful fundraising season ever is quite an accomplishment! This can only happen because of committed citizens of this community who continue to Give, Advocate and Volunteer. We completed the campaign season with a total of $4.3 M raised and in cash and pledges neared round off at the $4 Million number!  Thank you community!

As we get out a clean notebook for a new year and look ahead, there are many initiatives on our horizon to drive and inspire community change.    United Way's focus is on making long term impact and addressing root cause issues. For 2016 we will continue our focus on our 30 member agencies and their programs as well as focusing on our initiatives. United WE READ continues to be at the forefront of root cause change. This unique program is focused on increasing 3rd grade reading scores while building a literacy rich community. Our mobile dental unit, Appalachian Miles for Smiles, is set to kick off early this year after a year of building the unit in 2015. Our LifeBRIDGE initiative has helped 42 people to gain life skills and to gain employment or increase their wages. Our Senior Connect website is being upgraded and will relaunch fresh and under the management of 2-1-1 Contact Concern. And, finally, our United Way has led the way in the establishment of a community focus on obtaining our work-ready community status, which should enable our county to attract more businesses and, therefore, create more jobs.

So as you can see, there is a lot of excitement.  If you are looking for a great place to get involved this year consider:

1) Volunteering for a Citizen's Review panel to assess the programs and funding for United Way programs in the coming year.    Training begins on February 8, and panels will work for one day in late February or early March.

2) Volunteer for a United Way committee, initiative or Vision Council.

3) Read with a kid during lunch at a local elementary school through our United WE READ initiative.

3) Volunteer for hands on work with an agency such as Meals on Wheels or tutoring with the Boys and Girls Club or Girls Incorporated after school.

Looking forward to an even better community tomorrow.  Thank you and have a great year!

Live United,

 

Danelle Glasscock

Executive Director