United Way kicked off its corporate campaign year in grand fashion with a breakfast held at BB&T.

Over 50 people were in attendance to see the just-completed campaign video and print materials. Since then, United Way, along with BB&T "champions", have completed over a dozen staff presentations at all BB&T locations here in the area. United Parcel Service and Macy's have also run their internal campaigns which included presentations by United Way Staff.

Many other campaigns will begin this month including the West Virginia State Employees Combined Campaign (WVSECC). The state campaign will run from September 15 to November 15 with a more localized approach being taken this year. Cabinet Secretary Joe Thornton was appointed by acting Governor Earle Ray Tomlin to be the coordinator of the campaign for the second year in a row.

If you are a coordinator of an existing campaign and would like to schedule a presentation and/or get campaign materials for your co-workers, or if your company currently doesn't run a campaign but would like to do so, please call 304-340-3500 as soon as possible!

BB&T staff attended the United Way Campaign presentation on July 29

Despite the threat of bad weather, and a quick downpour as gates were scheduled to open, creative competing teams were on display at the 6th Annual United Way Sunday Scoop held in downtown Charleston.

This year's winner of the rotating Grand Champion Trophy, as well as the People’s Choice Award, was the Mountaineer Montessori School with their booth entitled "MONSTERssori School."

Runners up to both awards were Servpro and Brickstreet Insurance. Other corporate teams included CASCI, Dow Chemical, and WOWK TV 13. "The vote was so close, the competition so intense" stated Janice Amspoker, Campaign Director for the United Way of Central West Virginia. "We thought each team did great, we were thrilled being back in Charleston, and will soon begin looking forward to an even bigger and better event next year!" concluded Amspoker.

Sponsors of the event included: United Dairy, Kroger, Suddenlink, WQBE/Electric 102.7, the Charleston Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Chesapeake Energy, Commercial Insurance, Alpha Natural Resources, Bathfitters, Jackson Kelly, Genesis Healthcare, Herman & Cormany, Legal Investigative Services, and Morgantown Printing. In-Kind sponsors included: Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Shoney's, Spilman, Thomas and Battle, Walker Machinery, YRC and Long John Silvers.



Mountaineer Montessori School wins Grand Champion Trophy and People's Choice Award

The next United Way fundraiser, the Family Funzone, will take place on September 3rd from 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. with inflatables for all ages. The event will take place on Magic Island as part of part of WV GAMES. For more information on the event go to: http://www.thewvgames.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.


LISA TURLEY

BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2009
MEMBER, FUND ALLOCATION COMMITTEE
MEMBER, GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE


Lisa Turley is the owner/investigator of Legal Investigative Services and has spent more than 15 years assisting the legal community in a variety of civil matters. She works with several local and out-of-state firms involving industrial related litigations. Prior to starting her own business, Lisa spent five years with Columbia Natural Resources where she was first introduced to United Way.

Lisa received a BBA degree in Marketing from Marshall University and her MBA from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, now affiliated with Marshall.

UWN: What does LIVE UNITED mean to you?
BG: "Living in a community where we help each other. If we see someone in need, we quickly offer a way to help by giving of ourselves or pointing that person to an agency or program that can help meet their need. It is a responsibility that I take seriously."

UWN: Why do you volunteer with United Way?
BG: "I believe in the process. I believe in the importance of the organization. I continue to be involved because we are always tweaking the process and getting ourselves and the agencies more self-sufficient and spending shrinking dollars more wisely. There is prestige in being involved with United Way and I’m glad to be part of that."

UWN: Was charity a part of your upbringing?
BG: "Yes. My parents are charitable people. They have always offered their time in many areas. Whether it was a stranger, friend, neighbor, family, or church associate, they are always willing to help."

UWN: Why are you so committed to making sure United Way makes a positive community impact?
BG: "I encourage diversity. By considering how it would feel to be "that person" with "that need" brings a humble spirit to what United Way is all about. Tragedy or crisis does not make logical decisions. Being a grain of sand in this big community, if I can offer my support financially, by volunteering, and/or mentoring, and a life can be changed. One life at a time...that is how real change occurs and that is positive impact!"

In virtually every community, there are people who are in need of food. They are the working poor, the elderly, or families with children. As the economy continues to impact families in our communities, many more of our friends may be forced to choose between the daily necessities of life, such as paying rent/mortgage, having adequate healthcare, or buying food.

The Madison Baptist Church Food Pantry serves families in Madison and surrounding towns in Boone Country to help feed families whose income does not allow them to feed their families in a manner consistent to good health. In 2010, the pantry provided food to over 65 families each month. Most of those in need are trying to manage their expenses on the same income they have received for the past few years, while seeing a dramatic increase in most of their bills – medical, utility, gasoline, food, etc. The Madison Baptist Church Food Pantry realizes they cannot provide families with all of the food items they need each month, but they can lessen people’s burdens in some small way. In each bag of food given, the pantry also provides a listing of other United Way partner agencies, so that individuals may have a comprehensive list of other available community resources and services.

Several churches in Madison donate food items to the pantry as they are able. The local Mail Carriers Union, Boy Scout Troop 289, and Madison Middle School have food drives during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays to help stock the pantry. Funding from United Way's Community Impact Fund is used to buy additional food items to keep the pantry stocked. Patti Price, a volunteer with the food pantry states, "We are deeply thankful for the donations United Way has provided us in the past and will be thankful for any donations they will provide in the coming years, as the number of families asking for our assistance has increased dramatically". Recently, a gentleman who had been laid off from his job, requested food from the pantry for three months. After he was called back to work, he contacted the food pantry to thank them for helping him and his family out in their time of need. Neighbors helping neighbors is what it is all about.



Mr. Price, a long-time volunteer of the Madison Baptist Church Food Pantry.

The After School Program at West Side Elementary is coordinated by Charleston Community & Family Development Corporation (CCFDC) and serves students Monday through Friday from 2:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Currently there are 35 students enrolled in Kindergarten through the 5th grade. The After School Program seeks to meet the needs of each student by providing them with a meal, homework help, and various enrichment opportunities.

Volunteers who work with these students after school help them reach their potential by serving as positive role models and assisting with the learning process. Volunteers may tutor students during homework help or assist group leaders in enrichment programs such as The First Tee PGA course, Computer class, or Scouts.

CCFDC provides all volunteers with an orientation and seeks to place individuals in their area of interest. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the life and education of the young people served through CCFDC's After School Program at West Side Elementary! Contact Loren Friend or Shelia Young at (304) 720-6480 with any questions or to sign-up to become a volunteer.

Do you have a little extra time this week? Looking for something to do this weekend? Spend it by making a difference in a student's life! There are three easy ways to do this:

• Complete the steps to become a WV eMentor! We want to serve every West Virginia high school student, but we can't do it without your help. In less than an hour, you can be placed into the matching pool and be making a difference in less than 15 minutes a week. Log on to www.wvementoring.org today!


• If you're already a WV eMentor, please consider mentoring one more student. You are welcome to mentor as many students as you wish! To do this, log on to www.wvementoring.org, select 'Menu' and 'Profile' to change the number of mentees you would like to serve.


• Spread the word to your family, friends, co-workers, and businesses about WV eMentoring! Anyone who has received any type of post-secondary education, including on-the-job training, apprenticeship, professional school, vocational school, military training, two-year, four-year or graduate degree program can be a WV eMentor!

Thank you for taking a few moments from your week to make a difference! If you have any questions, please contact The Education Alliance at wvementoring@educationalliance.org.