With the 2011-2012 campaign year getting into full swing, the campaign staff is getting word of early campaign successes and is confident there will be many more to come over the next few months!

With BB&T officially wrapping up their campaign a full 10% over their participation rate goal, other companies such as AEP, Huntington Banks and Kroger are currently running their campaigns. Anticipated to start soon are the Charleston Sanitary Board office, City National Bank, Dow Chemical and Highland Hospital, just to name a few.

"We are excited about the great success BB&T achieved this campaign year and have a strong sense that this will carry over into other workplace campaigns as we move forward," stated Janice Amspoker, Campaign Director for United Way of Central West Virginia. "Capitol Club leaders are beginning to send in their pledges and many are choosing to step up their contribution by giving more and moving up to the next leadership level. Also, organizations are enthusiastically gearing up to run campaigns and offer their employees this awesome charitable giving opportunity." Amspoker continued.

With a goal of $2.4 million, there is much to do in the weeks and months ahead. Plans to reach this goal include adding new companies and contributors to the campaign effort with the Resource and Development Committee spearheading this effort. "There are many companies out there both big and small that currently don't hold United Way Campaigns in their offices here in Central West Virginia, and we are hoping to change that with an a concerted effort to reach out to them and bring them on board" concluded Ms. Amspoker.

While United Way's Day of Caring event touches the lives of corporate volunteers and the recipients of the volunteer's efforts, this year's event may well have had the biggest impact on the smallest of volunteers.

For Johnna T., September 14th wasn't just "Day of Caring," it was also her 8th birthday. Well before Day of Caring, her mom Sara told Johnna that she and her co-workers from Brickstreet would be volunteering at Mountain Mission. Having had perfect attendance last school year, Sara and her husband decided to let Johnna have the day off and volunteer since she had expressed interest. Little did they know how important that parenting decision would be in Johnna's life.

To hear Sara tell it - her daughter had a great and productive time at Mountain Mission sorting and hanging up clothes. Following the event, Johnna told her mom it was the best birthday she ever had. Asked if she would be interested in volunteering again she quickly responded "Of course, mom. This has been awesome!"

Betty Schoenbaum and Johnna at the Day of Caring kick-off rally on September 14, 2011.

In keeping with the spirit of giving instead of getting on her birthday, Johnna followed up her Day of Caring effort with a plea to those coming to her birthday bowling party. She asked those invited to bring donations for the animal shelter in place of gifts. Her friends enthusiastically followed her selfless request by filling up her mom's car trunk with needed items.

While Day of Caring happens just one day a year, it is obvious through Johnna's story that the real impact of the event lasts far longer. It is easy to focus on the recipients of volunteerism as benefactors, but we are all reminded this year through the eyes and words of a young person that uniting for a common cause is good and uplifting for all the parties involved.

May Johnna's enthusiastic, positive and giving attitude inspire us all to do better each and every day when it comes to helping others in need here in Central West Virginia. For when we do - we put into action this year's campaign theme and truly become "Neighbors Helping Neighbors!"

Joe Thornton announces the State Employee Campaign kick-off during a press conference at the State Capitol on September 15.

On September 15th, at a press conference held in the West Virginia State Capitol Rotunda, Secretary of Military Affairs and Public Safety Joseph Thornton, announced the kick-off of the newly revamped West Virginia State Employees Combined Campaign (WVSECC.) The campaign, which gives all state employees across West Virginia the opportunity to give to charity through their local United Way, runs through November 15th. State employees who have questions about the campaign can call our office at 304-340-3500.

The importance of volunteers to our community cannot be overestimated. It is for that reason the United Way of Central WV Volunteer of the Year Award was created to recognize those individuals whose outstanding dedication of service and leadership has made a significant difference in our organization.

At United Way's Annual Meeting on September 27, 2011, Brenda Grant was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award. Brenda has displayed outstanding commitment and dedication as United Way Community Service’s Chair and United Way Board Member. Brenda currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer for Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC). "We are pleased to have this opportunity to recognize Brenda's selfless dedication to helping the community through her United Way activities", said John Ballengee, United Way president. "Brenda is a deserving recipient of this year's Volunteer of the Year Award."

John Ballengee, United Way President, with Brenda Grant and Sharon Hall

Sharon Hall was also recognized for her service as Chairperson of the Board. Sharon has been president of Charleston Area Medical Center Health Education & Research Institute, Inc. since its incorporation in December 1996. She has been a United Way Board member since 2006.

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.


TIMOTHY M. MILLER

BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2009
VOLUNTEER 2011-2012 CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN
CHAIR - RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER


Tim Miller is a member of the Charleston based law firm of Robinson & McElwee PLLC and is also chair of the firm's litigation department. Tim is generally involved in civil litigation and regulatory matters involving the oil and gas industry and natural resources and business law.

Tim was born in Morgantown, WV and obtained a B.S. degree in Business Management from WVU in 1977. He received his J.D. degree from WVU College of Law in 1980 and immediately began working with the firm of Love, Wise, Robinson & Woodroe in Charleston. He moved to Robinson & McElwee in 1983.

Tim has been married to his wife, Anne, for 34 years and they have four grown children.

UWN: What does LIVE UNITED mean to you?
TM: "It means coming together with many volunteers to see that we take care of those in need in a coordinated, focused way. It gives us the chance to leverage our efforts and dollars to reach many different, deserving and well run local agencies and programs."

UWN: Why do you volunteer with United Way?
TM: "I started purely as a donor. There were a few agencies I was interested in supporting but it was difficult and time consuming to understand and respond to each individually. United Way made it easy to give dollars and see that my support was spread among many different agencies and programs. I was then asked to participate on the citizen's review committee and was stunned by the many different needs right here in our community. I was even more impressed by the many good people and programs that were devoted to helping. I realized that giving some dollars wasn't good enough, so I decided to get more involved to see how I could help."

UWN: Was charity a part of your upbringing?
TM: "My father was an orthopedic surgeon and used to tell us about volunteering and working at the Crippled Children's Clinic in Morgantown in the '50's and 60's. My parents also took great joy in being quietly philanthropic. I also was struck by a phrase embedded in a stained glass window at my college fraternity house which said, "A joy shared is doubled; a sorrow shared is halved." I like to think our kids were raised with the kind of values that will make that phrase stick in their minds."

UWN: Why are you so committed to making sure United Way makes a positive community impact?
TM: "It only takes a visit to a local food pantry, domestic violence shelter, a family counseling center, a free health clinic, or one of many other United Way sponsored agencies and programs to realize there are many different organizations that need our help. It makes sense to have a local organization act as a conduit and monitor to see that local dollars are raised, distributed, and used efficiently and effectively."

Volunteers lend a hand during 9-11 Day of Service

To commemorate the 10th Anniversary of September 11th, RSVP volunteers in all four of our counties participated in the 9-11 Day of Service by assembling snack baskets for firefighters and police officers in their communities. The volunteers donated snack items such as nuts, candy, granola bars, crackers, and baked goods. They included "Thank You" cards before delivering the baskets to local first responders. In the Charleston area, RSVP partnered with Canaan United Methodist Church and Volunteer West Virginia to assemble and deliver baskets to 14 fire stations and 5 Police and Sheriff Departments. Thirty volunteers participated in the event coordinated by Terry Stone, RSVP Coordinator.

Vicki Pleasant, DAYMARK Executive Director

DAYMARK, a United Way Partner Agency, has named Vicki Pleasant its new Executive Director. Ms. Pleasant holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from West Virginia State University and a Master's Degree in Counseling from Marshall University.

Ms. Pleasant was the Director of the Patchwork program for 11 years before becoming the Director of Patchwork and New Connections, and finally, the Director of Programs at DAYMARK. She has been with DAYMARK for 18 years. She has filled in as Interim Executive Director since Dennis Pease retired on July 1, and was named Executive Director on September 1, 2011. Her previous work experience includes FACT Director for Community Council of Kanawha Valley, Regional Coordinator for Try-Again Homes, Marketing Representative for International Business Machines and Director of Public Education for the American Cancer Society in Florida and West Virginia.