JESSICA HANNAN
Brings Great Music to First
Fun, Fabulous Friday - June 14!

Fun Fabulous Friday
Schedule Announced
Friday, June 14 kicks off the sixth summer series of Fun, Fabulous Fridays. With a wonderful variety of entertainment for all ages and a great lineup of food sponsors you won't want to miss there special Fridays throughout the summer. A special FFF will be held in Loudonville on July 19. Click here for a complete schedule of events sponsors and entertainment.

Composite Calendar for Meals and Food Distribution Now Available for June
Thanks to 30 plus church food pantries and sponsors of mobile food pantries United Way has complied all of the daily site information for these organizational into one monthly calendar. This is the first time that comprehensive location/time schedule has ever been made available in Ashland County. Hunger in Ashland County continues to be a concern and United Way has taken the initiative to work with our community partners to evaluate the seriousness of hunger in our county. Click here for the June calendar.

FLAGG Community Garden
Applications Now Available
The FLAGG County Gardens enters year four in providing free garden plots and all the tools, seeds and plants for any individual or family that is 200% eligible by federal guidelines. Here is an opportunity to watch a garden produce fresh vegetables and to enjoy putting the harvest on yoru dinner table. Thanks to our great friends at Town & Country Co-op the 25x25 plots and garden starter kits are provided at the no charge for eligible families. 40 plots are available in Ashland and approximately 18 in Loudonville.
This year any non-profit, service club or church group can sign up for a garden plot and receive free plants and seeds if they are willing to donate the harvest to a food barnk or mobile food pantry. Additional garden plots will also be available for individuals not meeting 200% guidlines for $25.00 donation per plot. For further FLAGG information contact Amy Workman, FLAGG Coordinator, at the United Way Office at 419-281-5551 or by email at aworkman@uwashlandoh.org
Click here for Registration information.

 

2012 Annual Report
Now Available
The full color 32 page 2012 Annual Report is now available. If you would like a copy please stop by the United Way Office at 132 West Main Street or call the office 419-281-5551 to arrange for a copy to be mailed to you. Enjoy reading about the record setting campaign and the many Community Impact Initiatives happening to make Ashland County better... much better!

"Ring In Spring"
Basket Winners Announced!
A very special thanks to our basket sponsors and all of the volunteer "sales team" members signed up by Volunteer Volunteer" coordinator Marilynn Ferguson that provided the opportunity for another successful fundraiser for Untied Way. Kellie Kerr and Karen Alsop, basket event coordinators, really thank the hundreds of people that purchased tickets that raised $6,800 to improve lives in Ashland County. Click here to see the lucky winners and baskets sponsors.

RECORD CROWD ATTENDS ANNUAL MEETING
Over 350 friends of United Way attended the 56th Annual meeting on Tuesday, February 26, at the Ashland University Convocation Center. President Rob Wash recognized outgoing board members Jan Archer and Chris Vanderzyden and announced new board members Michelle Vanderzyden, Hal Sheaffer and Tonya Gregg. Jan Archer and Chris Vanderzyden were tapped as the recipents of the prestigious J. Robert Tipton Volunteer of the Year Award winners. Click here for the photo gallery of the Annual Meeting.

2013 CAMPAIGN
EXCEEDS GOAL FOR
SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
At the TEAM HOPE "Scoreboard Report" on Friday, December 28 the Division 2 National Champions Lady Eagles Basketball team members revealed the results of the 2013 campaign with a total giving of $1,031,241.11. This is the sixth consecutive campaign that Ashland County residents, companies/businesses and organizations have opened their caring hearts to help others in need by exceeding the annual campaign goal. Thank you to all our donors that joined "TEAM HOPE" .....Helping Other People Every day!

"CRUNCH OUT OBESITY"
Year Two Begins
week of March 11

FUN FABULOUS FRIDAYS
dates announced

June 14, 28, July 12,26
and August 9
(In Loudonville on July 19)

"Crunch Out" Enters Year Two

After a very successful first year touching the lives of 1,600 4th, 5th and 6th graders in Ashland County with a "Crunch Out Obesity" nutritional and exercise kit we are "on the ball" with season II. In March all 4th graders received the "Crunch Out Kit" and the 5th and 6th graders received new materials on nutrition and exercise and were encouraged to continue using their exercise ball they received last year. The students have participated in a six weeks exercise/nutritional program at their schools working closely with their physical education teachers. Any student that completes their journal and writes an essay on "How I am Living Healthy" will be eligible for classroom prizes. All classroom winners will be entered into the county-wide incentive awards that will be distributed at the "Crunch Out" reception at the Ashland Y on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:00pm. The "Crunch Out" program to fight obesity is receiving state and national interest for the uniqueness in community partnering with the local school district, Ball, Bounce and Sport (MFG of exercise balls) and the Exercise Science and Physical Education Department and the Dietetics Department at Ashland University.

 

Family Important Papers File Now Available

Through the encouragement of the Family and Children First Council and the Head Start teaching staff United Way has developed a 9"x12" clear file for families to keep all of their important documents (birth certificates, shot records, car titles, child's fingerprint record and so much more) in one place. The parent can also record all of the emergency contact information on their family. Over 800 files have been distrbuted throughout Ashland County in only three months. Every mom with a new born receives this files along with the Talk, Read and Play newborn kit. Stop by the United Way office at 132 West Main Street to receive your Family Fundamental File.

Dolly Parton Birthday Party
Great Success!
Over 150 children that received "Dolly Books" attended the 1st Birthday Party of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library being in Ashland County. This popular event was held at the Salvation Army Kroc Center on Saturday, March 16. Over 850 children (ages 0-5) are now receiving "Dolly Books" throughout Ashland County. Funding for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is made possible by 13 caring United Way partners. Click here to view some of the great pictures of the birthday party and to salute our special sponsors.

Over 1,300 Calls for 2-1-1
in First Year!
2-1-1 is a free and confidential information and referral service connecting people to health and human services in Ashland County. United Way brought 2-1-1 to Ashland County in February, 2012 and over 1,300 calls have been recorded for individuals or family assistance. Click here to see the annual report information.

Tom Lavinder Tapped as 2014 "Campaign of Dreams" Volunteer Chair
United Way is pleased to announce that Tom Lavinder will serve as the 2014 "Campaign of Dreams" Volunteer Chair. Well known throughout Ashland County, Tom will provide great leadership for his team and approximately 75 campaign volunteers. The campaign kick-off breakfast is set for Wednesday, September 18 at 7:30am at the Ashland University Convocation Center.

DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY NOW IN ASHLAND COUNTY!

As part of United Way’s initiative on Early Childhood Learning another important ingredient has been added to help prepare Ashland County newborns to age 5 prepare for kindergarten through stressing the importance of reading as a family. Parents can enroll ant Ashland County child under the age of five in the program. Then, each month until their fifth birthday, that child will receive a free, new hard-cover, age-appropriate children’s book mailed directly to their home. There is no cost to the family. Sponsorship opportunities are available to financially support this important program. Please contact Executive Director Ev DeVaul edevaul@uwashlandoh.org for sponsorship details. Click here for application to sign your child up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Click here to see a short video on how the “Crunch Out Obesity” Initiative has been so successful in Ashland County.