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United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties
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Did you know the United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties is celebrating 100 years in our community?
In 1918, we got our start as the Springfield-Clark War Service. The organization began, like many community funds did, as an effort to help outweigh the cost of World War I and to help community-based social and welfare programs in assisting those in need. In the first year, the organization collected $740,997 (which would equate to over $12 Million today) to be dispersed between 34 organizations, including the American Red Cross, YMCA, and Salvation Army - which we still fund today.
After the war, the organization transformed. Some of the community members, including Harry S. Kissel and Robert C. Bancroft - who had assisted in the campaign for the war fund, wanted to continue their efforts in helping their community. This organization then became known as the Springfield Federation for Community Service and over time would be known as the Community Chest of Clark County, United Appeals Fund and then in 1973 would officially be titled a United Way. In 1985 the United Way of Clark County expanded to include Champaign County and Madison County in 2005.
Today the United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties aids 59 local programs between the three counties, including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and the 2-1-1 call center, which we provide in all three counties. Since 1918, we have raised nearly $100 million for the local communities we serve.
We are celebrating 100 years of changing lives and impacting our communities at the Centennial Celebration on April 4.
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Madison County Power of the Purse
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school (age 5), no matter their family's income.
The program was launched in Sevier County, TN in 1995. Since then the program has expanded all across the United States, Canada, Great Britain and even across the world in Australia. The Imagination Library is a partnership between the Dolly Parton Foundation, United Way, local educators, libraries and other sponsors/funders.
Did you know that children develop much of their capacity to learn in the first three years of life? Immersing a child in a print-rich home can be a stronger predictor of literacy and academic achievement than family income. However, in order to read with a child, books must be in the home. An alarming statistic reports that in low-income neighborhoods, there is only one age appropriate book for every 300 households.
It takes $25 to fund a child for an entire year, but this program is completely free to all children who are registered. This is made possible by the contributions of generous donors and fundraisers held in each individual county. United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties hold an annual fundraiser in EACH county - Power of the Purse. This is a fun, all women's event where women come together to raise money in support of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The Clark County Power of the Purse was held this past February and raised $25,800!
The first annual Madison County Power of the Purse event is Thursday, May 9. Tickets for the event can be purchased
HERE
. The Champaign County Power of the Purse will be held in October 2019.
To register a child between the ages of newborn and five, fill out the
REGISTRATION FORM and
mail it to:
United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties
P.O. B
ox 59 Springfield, Ohio 45501.
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Join Your County's Service Day!
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Every year United Way partners with community members, organizations and nonprofits to serve our communities.
The second annual Champaign United Service Day will be hosted on Wednesday, April 24. United Service Day is a partnership between the United Way, local Champaign County school districts, Champaign Board of Developmental Disabilities, Champaign Family YMCA and Mercy Health - Urbana Hospital.
Friday, April 26 is the first annual Madison County Service Day with 8 different community service projects. Madison County is hosting a Volunteer's Celebration with pizza and drinks following Service Day at 2 PM at Cowling Park.
Friday, May 3 will be the third annual Clark County Service Day is a partnership between United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties, Catholic Central Schools, Clark State Community College, Community Health Foundation, Emmanuel Christian, Mercy Health, The Chamber of Greater Springfield and The Nehemiah Foundation. Last year, over 1,200 volunteers donated over 7,000 service hours to benefit 50 nonprofit organizations in Clark County. A Volunteer's Celebration will follow at 4 PM at the National Road Commons. There will be food trucks, music and fun.
We invite you and your organization to roll up your sleeves and help make this year even better! To sign up visit our Volunteer's United Website Here. Sign up, choose the service day you would like to participate in and click on which project you would like to sign up for.
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United Way's Centennial Raffle
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Click
HERE to purchase tickets.
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Clark County Power of the Purse
This year the Clark County Power of the Purse event, held on February 22, raised a record high of $25,800! This will provide a year's worth of books to over 1,000 children in Clark County!
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BE AN ADVOCATE
Forward this eNewsletter
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FIND HOPE. CONNECT TO HELP.
Dial 2-1-1.
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Knowing where to go is the first step to getting the help you or someone you know needs. Every hour of every day, someone in our community is searching for help or services - housing, food, financial assistance, relief from abuse, family issues, depression, childcare, suicide prevention, etc. Navigating the maze of city, state and non-profit agencies can be overwhelming and confusing. Since 2007,
2-1-1 has been the community's central point of entry into the health and human services system. Dialing 2-1-1 is an easy way for people who need help to get connected with community service providers.
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