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photo courtesy of Cornerstone Recovery Center
Regional Officials Declare March
Opioid Awareness Month
Government officials from Kingsport, Bristol, Johnson City, Sullivan County Commission and other regional municipalities declared March Opioid Awareness Month. Susan LaGuardia, Wally Boyd and others lobbied our elected officials to make this declaration to bring our communities together in the fight against opioid misuse and abuse.
On the first Sunday of the month, clergy from around the Tri-Cities challenged their congregations to come together in the spirit of the Good Samaritan to help our neighbors as they face challenges from the opioid epidemic.
Regional partnerships continued with Tyler's Light presentations to Sullivan County middle and high schools the week of March 5
th
and a special community forum was held the evening of March 7
th
that gathered experts to discuss the impacts of the local opioid epidemic on students, families, and educators.
In conjunction with the school presentations during the week of March 5
th
, United Way of Greater Kingsport and media partner Cumberland Marketing premiered the
Know the Truth video that answers questions the public has about the opioid crisis.
See the video here.
If you are interested in joining us and others in raising awareness about the dangers of drug misuse and abuse, please contact Becca Sutphen at
[email protected].
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Radio Broadcasts
FACT: Tennessee has the second highest rate of pain killer prescriptions in the country.
FACT: There were more drug overdose deaths than car fatalities in 2016.
FACT: In 2016, 1600 Tennesseans died from drug overdoses: that's 31 deaths per week or 4 overdose deaths per day.
Along with many fellow Americans, and people from around the globe, I feel like I've spent the past week with Reverend Billy Graham. Hearing his life retold on radio and TV, has brought him to life. I feel fortunate to have visited the wonderful Billy Graham library in Charlotte, NC last year and to have also attended a retreat at "The Cove" near Asheville. But mostly this week I've heard his voice. His voice has been broadcast around the world and most of his sermons were recorded. I found a satellite radio station broadcasting his best speeches. Rev. Graham often spoke about the troubles in this world and his concerns for our problems. As I listened this week, his words seemed so relevant for today and then I realized I was listening to a sermon from 1957 at a rally from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Today, one of the most troubling issues that face our community is drug abuse. March is Opioid Awareness Month in the Kingsport, and as we focus on the grave impact of these drugs, I realize that the troubles in this world seem to continue to mount. But I have a different dream for our future. In this dream, when someone listens to a radio broadcast 60 years from now the story of opioids and the impact on many families in our region will be a story that ended long ago. This will be the story of brave people and organizations fighting this roaring lion of drug abuse that devours our friends' and neighbors' children - and sometimes even with our own homes and friends. The story will be of a shared victory over a vicious foe.
Please join us in learning about this issue and become part of changing our story - of changing history. Watch this short video
Know the Facts
and join us and others in raising awareness and education on the dangers of opioid addiction. United We Fight, United We Win!
Live United,
Danelle Glasscock
Executive Director
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Welcome 2018 Board of Directors
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Front Row L-R: Jenny Dugger, Bill Fortenberry, Jeff Hooker, Emily Merritt, Danelle Glasscock, Andy Wampler, Dana Glenn, Susan LaGuardia, Kevin Smith, Becca Sutphen, Tina Pasquale;
Second Row L-R
: Brian Miller, Laurie Paulonis, Tracy Miller, Michelle Stewart, Mandi Cambre, Edd Baldock, Susan Lodal, Joe Fleming;
Third Row L-R
: Cecile Wimberley, Eryn O'Brien, Angie Stanley, Michelle Bacon, Eric Deaton, Michelle Clark, Lori Miller, Keith Parker;
Back Row L-R
: Bill MacPherson, Alan Freeman, Jeremiah Clark, Chris McCartt;
Not pictured
: Allen Booth, Cathy Combs, Marvin Cameron, John Perdue, Jane Henry, Brad Lifford, Scott Davis, Andy Hatfield
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It's Easier Than Ever to
Volunteer Kingsport!
VolunteerKingsport.org is a convenient and comprehensive portal that connects people with quality volunteer opportunities using their computers, or with mobile phones and tablets.
Visitors to the website can filter results with search criteria such as "distance," "family-friendly," and "outdoors." Visitors can view a monthly calendar of events or search for a favorite organization. The site allows visitors to "fan" nonprofits so they are updated on the latest volunteer opportunities with that agency. Other benefits to the site include the ability to create a "volunteer resume" and arrange group volunteer outings with family, friends, or coworkers.
Volunteers are an important part of how United Way impacts needs in our community. VolunteerKingsport.org represents a major collaborative endeavor with Eastman Credit Union who sponsored the platform with the ultimate goal of strengthening the community through knowledge, cooperation, service and support by showcasing vol
unteer opportunities for local nonprofits through a searchable database.
"United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. We win by improving over 1400 lives every single day. We cannot do this work without the power of the community coming together to support the work of nonprofit organizations," said Becca Sutphen, UWGK Community Impact Director. "In launching these volunteer platforms, we hope to give every person in our community and across the region an easy opportunity to access and experience the great work being done to serve our community every day. Volunteer Kingsport allows anyone to easily find a volunteer opportunity, sign up, and experience the tremendous impact of giving back."
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Domtar Presents $15,000 Grant to United WE READ
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*from Domtar Newsletter, February/March 2018
Employee volunteers from Domtar's Kingsport, TN paper mill presented a $15,000 grant to the United WE READ program on February 2. The event took place at Jackson Elementary School, where United WE READ and Domtar employees talked about the importance of reading with Jackson students, as part of its partnership with
United Way of Greater Kingsport
.
Following the check presentation and assembly, employee volunteers from Domtar read to all the first graders at Jackson Elementary School. Domtar's funding will primarily support the "Read to Lead" Summer Program. Launched last year as a pilot of
United WE READ
, the Read to Lead program seeks out students with the greatest academic needs and provides instruction from local teachers during the summer, who use real-world topics and experiences to better engage students and drive improvement. Of those students who regularly participated in last year's Read to Lead program, 100% maintained or improved reading levels during the program, achieving United WE READ's goal to combat "the summer slide" and prepare students for future academic success.
United WE READ
plans to expand this successful program in 2018 to reach up to 60 local students with the greatest academic needs.
"Domtar and the United Way of Greater Kingsport have a long history of working together and the United WE READ Initiative is a cause that is close to our hearts and core to our business," said Domtar Vice President and Mill Manager, Bill MacPherson. "Domtar is committed to promoting literacy, one of our core corporate giving pillars, by supporting causes that help children become more proficient readers in the communities in which we live and operate, like
Kingsport."
United WE READ and Domtar plan to continue their partnership throughout this year by launching a series of events and projects that will connect Domtar employees to volunteer opportunities with United WE READ, promote United WE READ's message to "Read 20 Minutes Every Day" to employees and the community, and provide access to books for community members in the Greater Kingsport area.
To get more information on United WE READ, please contact Emily Merritt at 423-378-3409 x12 or [email protected].
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Thursday, April 26, 2018
Location: Toy F. Reid Employee Center
Time: TBD
Be on the lookout for times and participating agencies
Holy Friendship Summit
May 18-19, 2018
Location: Celebration Church, 429 Shipley Ferry Road, Blountville, TN 37617
Time: May 18th 9am-5:30p
May 19th 9am-3pm
June 18-22
Be on the lookout for times and participating agencies
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Know the Facts Video
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Check out our latest video titled
Know the Facts about the opioid crisis in our region.
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United Way of Greater Kingsport Reaches Goal for 2017 Campaign
The numbers are in! You helped us hit our goal of
$3.6 million!
We received $3,391,850.48 in cash and pledges with an additional $213,520 in-kind contributions.
A gift to United Way of Greater Kingsport is a gift in support of improving 1400 lives every single day.
UWGK supports 31
member agencies and their 44 corresponding programs, four major community impact initiatives, numerous partnership grants, and other United Ways and community chests in our region.
Thank you for your contributions and hard work to help us reach our goal!
United We Fight,
United We Win!
For questions about how you can GIVE ADVOCATE VOLUNTEER on behalf of the United Way, please contact our office at 423-378-3409.
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Welcome New UWGK Staff Members
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Bernard Bryant is the Director of Finance and Administration with UWGK starting in March 2018 and oversees the financial side of operations and campaign resources.
Bernard is a CPA and holds a B.S. degree in accounting. His work experience includes banking and wholesale consumer goods distribution. He coordinates a monthly devotional program at an assisted living facility and serves as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at his church. A Bristol native, he resides in Gray with his wife, Kathy. They have married twin daughters and two grandchildren. Bernard can be reached at
[email protected] and extension 15.
Christi Sexton is the Front Office Coordinator with a lot of experience in both the corporate and volunteer world. She most recently had worked at Brock in an executive administrative professional position. She also had many years in sales and managing stores for a regional cell phone provider.
Christi has also served as a volunteer in fundraising events both with Junior Achievement and the Boy Scouts. Christi lives in Bristol with her husband, two children and a dog and a cat. Welcome Christi! She can be reached at [email protected] and extension 10.
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The 2017
Annual Report is IN!!
Check out the highlights and successes of 2017 with initiatives like United WE READ, Life BRIDGE, Appalachian Miles for Smiles mobile dental unit and the UWGK Drug Abuse Task Force. It was an active year across the board and you can see it all
here.
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Happy Retirement
Joe Fleming!
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After 13 years of dedicated service, Joe Fleming retired this month.
Joe was honored at the February board meeting with a proclamation from the City of Kingsport recognizing his commitment to United Way's core values of Caring, Collaboration, Excellence, Integrity and Service.
In his time with United Way of Greater Kingsport, Joe managed $50,804,035.69 in campaign donations so UWGK could deliver its mission of improving lives, inspiring hope, and creating opportunities for a better life for all.
Congratulations Joe! Thank you for your service and hard work.
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United Way of Greater Kingsport is Recognized Nationally for Resource Development Best Practices
In a national conference call on January 19th
, United Way of Greater Kingsport was highlighted with two other sites in the US as having best practices in revenue performance for United Ways serving populations of 50K-99.9K.
"It's an honor to be recognized nationally as a role model for other United Ways. It reinforces that we have an effective infrastructure in place," said Lori Miller, Resource Development Coordinator.
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Join the fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community!
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