The weather may be getting cooler, but the 2011 United Way Campaign is really heating up!

To date, $594,694 has been raised with $382,048 of that contributed by members of the Capitol Club.

Many corporate internal employee campaigns are currently taking place including: Dow Chemical, Dupont, Jackson Kelly, Charleston Sanitary Board, Steptoe and Johnson, Dixon Hughes Goodman, Dinsmore and Shohl, Northeast Natural Energy, Servpro, AEP, WSAZ TV, WV American Water, Turnpike Chevrolet, WV Hospital Association, Independence Communications, Poca Valley Bank, Charleston Newspapers, and the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).

Left to right: Travas Bennett, Division of Protective Services, Commissioner Jim Rubenstein, Division of Corrections, Major General James Hoyer, Adjutant General , Director Norb Federspiel, Division of Justice and Community Service, Director Dale Humphreys, Division of Juvenile Services, Director Larry Parsons, Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, Janice Amspoker, United Way of Central West Virginia, Cabinet Secretary Joe Thornton, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Back Row: Director Thom Kirk, Fusion Center, Director Randy Mayhew, Division of Protective Services

In addition, the West Virginia State Employees Combined Campaign (WVSECC) continues to run statewide. To help raise awareness about the campaign, a special event fundraiser was recently held at the State Capitol. The event included live music by Farnsworth Drive, a food sale, booksale, United Way Partner Agency representatives, and the “Capitol Regional Jail” that held “inmates” till they were bailed out by co-workers. The special event raised $5,223 and was coordinated by the staff from the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety (DMAPS). "It's an honor to be the Chair of the State Employee Combined Campaign," said DMAPS Cabinet Secretary Joe Thornton. "The success of this year's United Way fall fundraising event at the Capitol is a testament to state employees and their willingness to help coordinate and be part of this special event. The United Way is all about neighbors helping neighbors and the state workforce continues to show their caring nature by volunteering their time to raise money for such a worthy cause” concluded Thornton.

The focus of this year’s campaign has been to increase the number of campaign presentations, as well as identify and implement new corporate internal employee campaigns. Campaign staff and many volunteers are working diligently on this approach to ensure their $2.4 million dollar goal is achieved. “We are doing many presentations around the area and speaking to many employees about the urgent needs of those in our community. We are very encouraged with the early results.” stated Janice Amspoker, Campaign Director for United Way of Central West Virginia. “If you want to make a personal pledge, or if you know of a local company that does not currently run a campaign with their employees, please call us at 304-340-3500 so we can keep this positive momentum going!” Amspoker added.

Bekah's son, Samuel

Imagine this scenario: it’s obvious something is wrong with your child, but you don’t know what it is. A thousand questions flood your mind, including where do I go to get help for my child? Then, you learn that there is one place in central West Virginia that has the expertise to help you figure out your child’s disorder - autism. For the first time in a long time, the weight of the unknown becomes bearable.

Bekah - A Parent’s Story
“As a mother of three sons with autism, Children’s Therapy Clinic (CTC) has become a second home. For my children and me to be surrounded by so much love, caring, and understanding has meant the world to us. To some the gains may be small, but to me and the staff at CTC these gains are the building blocks to a happier and more fulfilled life for my boys. Because of CTC our future is brighter and our days get just a little bit more normal-which to a parent of children with autism is a dream come true: a dream that may never have come true without the services provided by CTC.”

Just like this story, many families lives have turned around as a result of support and services received from the Children’s Therapy Clinic. Valicia Leary, Executive Director of the CTC, states that “If a child’s job is to grow, learn, and play, our job is to help a child be a child. We offer a team approach to focus on each child’s needs and abilities by including parents, caregivers, family members, and other professionals involved with the child. Our therapists help each child to reach his or her full potential and help create the little miracles of a child’s first step or word”.

Children’s Therapy Clinic offers comprehensive therapy services to children birth to 23 years of age. They provide physical, occupational, and speech therapies and an autism socialization program to improve functional abilities of children with a variety of special needs. These include developmental delays, neurological impairments such as cerebral palsy, musculoskeletal disorders such as spina bifida, and genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome.

The Children’s Therapy Clinic receives funding through United Way’s Community Impact Fund. Funding is used to help provide approximately 2,500 visits each year and serve 125 children with weekly therapy visits.

To learn more about the Children’s Therapy Clinic, contact Valicia Leary at 342-9515 or Valicia@childrenstherapyclinic.com.

United Way and central West Virginia are blessed to have a number of outstanding individuals who serve as United Way board members and community volunteers. The United Way Newsletter (UWN) will profile all of these individuals in this and future editions.


A.S.J. SOUTHWORTH, III (Andy)

BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2009
MEMBER, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
& MARKETING COMMITTEE
FORMER VOLUNTEER CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN


Andy Southworth retired in 2011 after spending 53 years at Cecil I. Walker Machinery Company. He served as Vice President for finance for 32 years and served as Senior Vice President for the company at the time of his retirement.

Andy graduated from Charleston High School in 1955 and received a BS degree in Accounting/Finance from the University of Charleston in 1971.

UWN: What does LIVE UNITED mean to you?
AS: "Giving becomes part of your everyday life...whether in time or money...whether it is family, neighbors or others. That's living united."

UWN: Why do you volunteer with United Way?
AS: "Volunteering is an excellent way of giving back and the United Way is an efficient way of accomplishing that objective. I have been involved with the United Way for a number of years either with our workplace campaign or directly with United Way. I have been on fund distribution committees and fund raising committees having served as volunteer campaign chairman for two years."

UWN: Was charity a part of your upbringing?
AS: "My parents were faithful givers to the church and other charities and taught me that it was the 'right thing to do'."

UWN: Why are you so committed to making sure United Way makes a positive community impact?
AS: "There will always be a need for the service the United Way provides. The community benefits from this service and is a much better place for all of us to work and live."