Our United Way of Knox County Annual Meeting took place Thursday, March 4, 2021 at noon.

To honor safety guidelines, our meeting was in an online format. Audience members participating by Zoom heard from United Way Board President Todd Hawkins, Community Investment Committee Chair Lisa Lloyd, Program Director Elizabeth Doolittle and Executive Director Kelly Brenneman.

Highlights from the program included a review of programs in 2020 and special COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery fund programs. Descriptions of these programs and their community impact are included in the 2020 Annual Report.

Executive Director, Kelly Brenneman, reviewed special campaign events hosted throughout the year, recognized sponsors, and announced the Top 10 Workplace Campaigns of 2020. Lisa Lloyd described the United Way investment process and recognized the community members who serve as volunteers throughout it. Todd Hawkins described the organization's challenges and accomplishments in 2020. He also recognized individuals leaving the United Way Board of Directors and welcomed new members.

United Way invited Knox County Career Navigator Sean McCutcheon to present as a guest speaker at the meeting as well. The Knox County Career Navigator program was new to our community in 2020. This is a community collaboration resulting from a partnership including the Area Development Foundation of Knox County, the Knox County Foundation, United Way of Knox County, Knox Education Service Center, and local schools.

Review the 2020 Annual Report online.

United Way of Knox County invests donor dollars in programs and services of partner agencies that serve area residents. These partners provide mentors for youth, homelessness prevention services, health and wellness support, and more. The 2020 United Way Campaign funds supporting the programs come from employee workplace campaigns, corporate giving, and gifts from generous individuals.

In September of 2020 we invited Community Organizations to apply for 2021 Community Investment funding. In addition to a written proposal, applicants provided an oral presentation to a virtual audience. Community volunteers serving on United Way’s Community Impact Panel reviewed applications in the United Way investment area corresponding to their specialty and experience: Health, Education, or Financial Stability. These volunteers evaluated program applications and presentations in their subject area. A small group of volunteers composing the Community Investment Committee reviewed all of the applications, evaluations, supplemental program information. They used this data to make funding recommendations which were reviewed by United Way of Knox County’s Board of Directors. The funding process includes many community stakeholders to maintain objectivity and reflect community priorities. United Way of Knox County relies on the community to guide funding partnership decisions.

Together these agencies are improving the lives of area residents thanks to the generous support of community investors.

Local volunteerism is the power behind long-lasting change. United Way of Knox County has long prioritized volunteerism. Introduction of a new, dynamic online platform will amplify volunteer engagement and impact in Knox County. Nonprofits and other agencies in the area have already started posting their volunteer opportunities, special events, and engagement activities online in hopes of increasing the variety of ways for individuals to get involved. This web-based system, Volunteer Knox is administrated by United Way and available at www.volunteerknox.com.

With increased visibility and easy ways to sign-up, United Way of Knox County's new platform will do more than just create matches among the service community and private citizens; it will also help to build lasting relationships. Strong relationships between committed volunteers and organizations will ensure that Knox County's service sector will be active for years to come. By easily connecting to committed volunteers, organizations become more resilient. Users can go to www.VolunteerKnox.com to review volunteer opportunities and respond to these needs.

 “We are excited to finally be able to offer this service to Knox County. Our communities have wanted this for years and thankfully, technology has now made it affordable,” commented Kelly Brenneman, United Way Executive Director.

United Way’s introduction of Volunteer Knox aligns with State-wide efforts. ServeOhio, the Ohio Commission on Service and Volunteerism, is the administrator of Ohio’s “Get Connected” volunteer engagement resource. They have awarded grant funding to United Way of Knox County Ohio, Inc to support the project. Galaxy Digital, which hosts the new site, is a software company that supports volunteer centers and organizations across the country including Get Connected and Volunteer Knox.

Organizations and volunteers will utilize the tool for free under one United Way of Knox County Ohio, Inc. agreement. Contact United Way of Knox County Ohio, Inc. Program Director for more information!