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Mason Food Pantry Director Gina Brown has plenty of shelf space to fill now that Warren County commissioners are kicking in $30,000 for the annual Warren County food drive. The Enquirer/ Tony Jones

Paul McKibben reports:

For the seventh straight year, Warren County commissioners are doing something unheard of in these parts.

They are organizing a taxpayer-funded food drive to benefit county pantries.

The commissioners’ role in a charitable campaign is unique among Southwest Ohio’s four county commissions – and possibly the state. But with zero general fund debt, the county can afford to donate, as commissioners did this year, $30,000 of taxpayer money to the drive.

The County Commissioners’ Association of Ohio said many counties often partner with the United Way on charitable campaigns, but its officials didn’t know of any county taking it further.

Commissioner Pat South originated the idea in 2006. She said “there’s a major need out there” that’s not being filled by government and social service agencies. She said those organizations have not been able to keep pace with the demand on food pantries.

Despite a relatively low unemployment rate – Warren County’s 5.8 percent unemployment rate in September was below the state’s 6.5 percent – there is still a need for food pantries in Ohio’s second-fastest-growing county.

“We still have a lot of people unemployed, and we have a ton of people under-employed,” South said.

(more…)

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: charity, commissioners, dave young, food drive, gina brown, mason food pantry, needy, pat south, united way, warren county

Mary Rees, of GE Aviation, dances with Reds mascot Gapper on Fountain Square during the 2012 United Way campaign kickoff Wednesday. They were joined by the Blue Wisp Big Band. The Enquirer/Tony Jones

The Enquirer

The United Way of Greater Cincinnati kicked off its 2012 fundraising campaign on Wednesday, led by David Joyce, GE Aviation’s president and CEO, backed by the Blue Wisp Big Band and framed by the Bold Goals for Our Region. The campaign ends on Oct. 26.

The goal

This year’s campaign seeks to raise $61 million. That would be an increase from last year’s $60.9 million campaign, which exceeded a goal of $60. 6 million. So far this year $8.3 million has been raised. The United Way funds more than 150 social service agencies and programs in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.

Who gives

Corporate donors and their employees are key sources of funding. Last year Procter & Gamble led the way with $12.5 million in donations. Other sources include the Tocqueville Society, for people who give $10,000 or more; WINGS (Women Investing in the Next Generation); and the Herbert R. Brown Society, which recognizes African-American donors.

The Bold Goals

In addition to helping raise money, Joyce called on the community to engage in the United Way’s Bold Goals to improve education, income and health by 2020. The goals are part of United Way’s ongoing strategy to align its work and that of its agency partners, create benchmarks and measure results over time. Overall, 200 businesses and organizations have endorsed them.

What else

In addition to money, Joyce encouraged people to give their time. Read to a child every day to help improve literacy. Recruit a new donor, or volunteer for an agency. “This is a very generous community of giving. It will take bold leadership by businesses and simple actions by individuals to achieve the Bold Goals,” Joyce said in prepared remarks.

More information:Go to www.uwgc.org

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: 2012, campaign, david joyce, donations, goal, P&G, procter & gamble, social services, united way

David Holthaus reports:

The worldwide United Way organization has recognized Procter & Gamble with its most prestigious corporate prize, the Spirit of America award, for the company’s contributions not only in Greater Cincinnati and the United States, but around the world.

At its Worldwide Community Leaders Conference in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday night, the global United Way recognized the philanthropic contributions of P&G and its people, their volunteer efforts and their impact on communities.

“P&G and its employees have demonstrated incredible leadership, innovation and volunteer commitment which are improving children’s lives and making a lasting impact in communities here in the U.S. and around the world,” said Brian Gallagher, CEO of United Way Worldwide.

P&G and its employees are the biggest contributors to the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and they have been instrumental in United Way programs in other countries. They’ve helped create early childhood education programs, called “Born Learning,” in several Latin American countries, including Panama, Peru, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil.

P&G also uses its marketing expertise through its BrandSaver program to make donations, based on product purchases, to clean drinking water programs and other health care programs in other countries.

Globally, P&G contributes more than $100 million annually in charitable cash, product and employee donations, the United Way says. Company employees volunteered more than 52,500 hours in 2011, and senior leaders served on more than 200 local, national and global boards.

“Nearly 100 years ago, a Procter and a Gamble were among the first leaders of what is now United Way of Greater Cincinnati,” said Robert C. Reifsnyder, president of United Way of Greater Cincinnati. “Since those beginnings, Procter & Gamble has been a bedrock of philanthropic support for both our United Way and the Greater Cincinnati community.”

P&G was instrumental in starting United Way programs in Latin America and employee participation is high, said Jorge Uribe, P&G’s global president for Latin America. Sixty-five percent of P&G employees in Latin America, including its manufacturing workers, have authorized payroll withdrawal for United Way, he said.

“Our own people have become part of the solution,” he said.

P&G’s philanthropy is closely tied to its business purpose, said Chris Hassall, global external relations officer.

“It helps all of us if we have a vibrant, strong community,” he said. “It’s fundamental to how we operate in other parts of the world.”

United Way also handed out Summit Awards to six corporations for their contributions. Four of them have a presence in Greater Cincinnati:

• Deloitte, which raised $21 million globally and is No. 21 on United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s Top 25 list, raising $416,500 last year;

• Illinois Tool Works raised $11.4 million total for United Way, and more than $191,000 locally.

• Microsoft and its employees donated $100.5 million to nonprofits and educational institutions in 2011, with United Way the single largest recipient. Combined corporate and employee giving to United Way of Greater Cincinnati totaled $6,920 in 2011.

• Wells Fargo raised $56 million nationally and $69,908 locally. That doubled its 2010 results in Cincinnati.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: brandsaver, cincinnati, mason, P&G, philantropy, procter & gamble, spirit of america award, united way, worldwide community leaders

A former Mason Middle School teacher’s family is among the recipients selected for the 26th annual Wish List program, a joint effort by the United Way of Greater Cincinnati and Enquirer.  More than $3.5 million has been raised and donated since the program started in 1986. A series of 12 short profiles of people who need your help appear in the Enquirer this month, with information on how to donate.  Money contributed beyond what these 12 people need will go to help people in similar circumstances.

Kyle McIntosh, 5 is autistic. He needs a special wheelchair to allow his mother Kelli McIntosh to take him out shopping and on other trips with her. He easily gets tired if he walks by himself. Here they shop in the Target store in MIddletown, one of Kyle's favorite places, he mimic's Elmo, his favorite Sesame Street character. The Enquirer/Glenn Hartong.

In many ways, Kyle McIntosh is like any other boy his age.

The 5-year-old from Monroe likes to swim, go on car rides and watch football with his dad, Jesse.

But Kyle, who suffers a variety of physical and developmental disabilities, faces more barriers than most children.

Kyle McIntosh, 5 is autistic. He is growing fast and regular changing tables are to small for him and often too short for his mother Kelli McIntosh. They need a special table to make the job of changing Kyle far easier. The Enquirer/Glenn Hartong.

He was diagnosed with hypotonia shortly after birth. The condition, marked by low muscle tone, makes it difficult for Kyle to walk long distances and makes him more prone to falling.

Kyle also has epilepsy and autism. Although he has yet to say his first word, he communicates through a special application on his iPad and knows basic sign language.

“It’s been a journey,” Kyle’s mother, Kelli, said. “He reaches his milestones, but way delayed.”

As Kyle gets older, the challenges of caring for him mount. Both parents are tall – Kelli is a willowy 6-foot-1 and Jesse towers at 6-foot-6 – and Kyle is quickly shooting up.

Lifting and carrying their 55-pound son is becoming more difficult for Kelli and especially Jesse, who suffers from degenerative discs in his back.

His parents are hoping that an adaptive stroller designed for disabled children and a wall-mounted changing table will help them better care for Kyle and allow the family more freedom to go places.

“We’ve had him on a typical stroller, and it’s just not big enough for him,” Kelli said. “This will grow with him and will be a necessity for years and years.”

The family borrowed a donated stroller this summer from Abilities First, where Kyle attends preschool. The increased mobility allowed the McIntosh family to take its first vacation in years.

“Before, we were limited on where we could go,” Kelli said. “If I just wanted to go to the mall for fun, that was really impossible.”

An extended-length changing table would make it easier to change Kyle’s diapers and clothing through adulthood.

“Right now, we change him on the floor of our living room. That’s the only place where we can lay him down and do this,” said Kelli.

“We hope that one day he will be able to go to the restroom, but based on his development now, it could still be a few years before we get to that – or it could be for life, we don’t know,” his mother said.

Insurance doesn’t cover the costs of the stroller or changing table and the family’s finances are sapped.

Kelli taught at Mason Middle School for seven years before leaving her job to take care of Kyle and his younger sister, Kaylie.  She now works part-time as a bookkeeper.

Jesse works as an over-the-road truck driver, which keeps him away from the family for days and weeks on end.

“Even though life is difficult, Kyle finds happiness in even the smallest things. He has a laughter that’s contagious,” said Kelli.  “He’s still a blessing and joy, and I would do it all over again.”

Give to the Wish List

Posted in: Community, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: autism, changing table, child, christmas, cincinnati enquirer, disabled, epilepsy, hypotonia, kelli mcintosh, kyle mcintosh, mason middle school, monroe, stroller, teacher, united way, wish list program