United Way 76 percent to goal
COSHOCTON – United Way Coshocton County is 76 percent to its 2018 goal of $325,000 with more pledges set to come in.
“More than half of donations come in through payroll deduction, usually through local industries,” said Lyn Mizer, executive director of United Way. “We get a lot of donations by cash or check through retirees, farmers, and professionals in town.”
For the 2018 campaign, many divisions surpassed their goal. The public employees division surpassed their goal of $22,000 with close to $23,000 in pledges made. The agriculture division collected $6,300 which more than met their goal of $5,000, and the retail division has met their goal of $32,000.
The United Way provides funding to various programs in the community as well as 14 partner agencies. They give to the 2-1-1 program, which is a 24/7 information and referral center for Coshocton County. They also support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which mails a free book to children in Coshocton County each month. United Way will have a celebration this spring at the courtsquare where they will be giving away the 100,000th book and all children are asked to bring their favorite book.
United Way also gives support dollars to Coshocton Behavioral Health Choices and helps sponsor a video entitled “I Spy”, which is an educational video for parents to scan a typical teenager’s bedroom to show how drug paraphernalia can be hidden in plain sight.
United Way funding also goes to Family and Children First Council for their Food for Kids Program; Junior Achievement for their financial literacy program; Fatherhood Initiative; the Community Center for their mentoring program; and the Pregnancy Distress Center to support their crib program.
The deadline to donate to the 2018 campaign is March of 2020. For those who can’t donate financially but who still want to make a difference with United Way, there are many volunteer opportunities available with their partner agencies. Visit coshoctonunitedway.org/volunteer to view a list of non-profit organizations in Coshocton County that are in need of volunteers.
“It’s all local,” said Mizer. “One hundred percent stays local. You’re reach is to multiple programs and thousands of people. One donation can reach many programs. We’re locally-governed and make our own decision on how funds are allocated. We’re accountable. The board takes very seriously vetting the agencies and programs we run. We’re reputable. We’ve been in town close to 80 years now. Fortune Magazine just ranked the United Way system as the number one charity to give to.”
Each year, United Way has a breakfast to celebrate the top donors to their campaign. This year’s breakfast will be Thursday, March 21 at 7 a.m. at Coshocton Village Inn and Suites.
“The people who run workplace campaigns, we call them champions because there is no way we could make goal without them asking of their employees,” said Mizer.
To donate to the 2018 United Way campaign, visit coshoctonunitedway.org and click on the ‘Give’ tab or call 740-622-4567.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
