Tomorrow is United Way's Block Party

Tomorrow is our Block Party in the circle of Progress Parkway in Mentor.

The Block Party will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include lunch for $5 as well as the chance to socialize with neighboring businesses and a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Food is being provided by CiCi's Pizza, Guilio Bonazza's, DiBella's, Giant Eagle, J&J Catering, Pizza Hut, Bakers Square, Chick-Fil-A, Manhattan Deli, Target, Eat'n Park and Dunkin' Donuts.

Don't forget to bring extra cash for games and raffles. All proceeds go to United Way of Lake County-funded programs.

For more information, or to RSVP, call Makella Slavick at 440.639.4583 or MSlavick@UWLC.org. Walk-ups are welcome.

United Way's Block Party is Thursday

On Thursday, we hosting a Block Party in the circle of Progress Parkway in Mentor.

The Block Party will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include lunch for $5 as well as the chance to socialize with neighboring businesses and a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Food is being provided by CiCi's Pizza, Guilio Bonazza's, DiBella's, Giant Eagle, J&J Catering, Pizza Hut, Bakers Square, Chick-Fil-A, Manhattan Deli, Target, Eat'n Park and Dunkin' Donuts.

Don't forget to bring extra cash for games and raffles. All proceeds go to United Way of Lake County-funded programs.

For more information, or to RSVP, call Makella Slavick at 440.639.4583 or MSlavick@UWLC.org. Walk-ups are welcome as well.

United Way Super Raffle tickets on sale NOW

Do you dream of going on a cruise or taking vacations to Florida, South Carolina or Chicago?

How about driving a 2013 Ford Focus, flying across the country or training with a personal trainer at the gym for one year?

Now is your chance to do all of the above as United Way of Lake County's Super Raffle tickets are now on sale!

This year's Super Raffle consists of 59 prizes, which were generously donated from area businesses.

In 2011, Super Raffle raised more than $55,000.

Tickets for Super Raffle are $5 each or six for $25. Tickets can be purchased online at www.uwlc.org, by phone at 440.352.3166 or in person at United Way of Lake County's office, 9285 Progress Parkway, Mentor, OH 44060.

Money raised during Super Raffle benefits 74 partner programs that United Way of Lake County funds. These programs focus on senior citizens, health & human Services, children & families and basic needs.

A live drawing will take place on Friday, March 15, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor. If present at the live drawing, winners can pick from available prizes. A separate drawing for the Ford Focus will be held at United Way of Lake County's Celebrity Server event, which is Thursday, March 14, 2013 at LaMalfa.

Top prizes include:

• 2013 Ford Focus 2-year lease OR $5,000 cash option from Classic Automotive Group
• Five-day Cruise from Asa Cox Homes
• Harbor Town, SC Vacation from The Crockett Team
• Hilton Head, SC Vacation from Right Track Benefits
• Chicago, IL Weekend Getaway including a Ladies & Gentleman Salon & Spa day and tickets to The Second City
• Isle of Tierra Verde, FL Vacation from Frank and Jane Kaim
• Disney World Vacation
• Fort Myers, FL Vacation from Stanley Steamer
• 14 Lake County Captains Loge Tickets from Lake Health
• One Year of Massages from Ladies & Gentlemen Salon & Spa
• Beauty for a Year from Jenniffer & Co.
• One Year Fitworks Membership with Personal Trainer from Mentor Fitworks
• Six VASER Shape Treatments from Vanek Plastic Surgery
• Laser Hair Removal and DermaSweep from Dr. Janet Blanchard
• Laser Hair Removal Package from North Coast Laser Cosmetics
• iPad2 from The Lubrizol Corporation
• One Year of Free Lawn Mowing from Sharp Edge Tree & Landscape
• Airline tickets from STERIS

To see all 59 prizes, visit www.uwlc.org.

United Way to host 5K run & 1 Mile walk

This October, we'll be warming the hands and hearts of Lake County by hosting a Warm Hands, Warm Hearts 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk.

The race will take place at the beautiful Chagrin River Park in Willoughby on Sunday, October 21. Pre-registration cost for the 5K is $20 (including a shirt) and the 1 mile walk is $15 (including a shirt). Day of race registration starts at 8 a.m. and is $25 for the 5K and $20 for the 1 Mile walk (shirts included while supplies last.)

Each participant receives a two-week trial membership to Mentor Fitworks and a two-week trial membership to Mentor Heisley Racquet and Fitness Club as well as being entered into a raffle with some great prizes. Proceeds for the event go to United Way-funded programs and participants are also encouraged to bring a donation of gloves or mittens to help those without them for this upcoming winter.

The 5K will start at 9 a.m. and the 1 mile walk at 9:15 a.m. For more information on participating or sponsoring, please contact Makella Slavick at 440.639.4583 or at MSlavick@uwlc.org.

To register for the 5K, click here. To register for the 1 Mile, click here. Online registration closes on October 17.

United Way to host Block Party

On Thursday, September 27, United Way of Lake County is hosting a Block Party in the circle of Progress Parkway in Mentor.

The Block Party will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include lunch for $5 as well as the chance to socialize with neighboring businesses and a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Food is being provided by CiCi's Pizza, Guilio Bonazza's, DiBella's, Giant Eagle, J&J Catering, Pizza Hut, Bakers Square, Chick-Fil-A, Manhattan Deli, Target, Eat'n Park and Dunkin' Donuts.

Don't forget to bring extra cash for games and raffles. All proceeds go to United Way of Lake County-funded programs.

For more information, or to RSVP, call Makella Slavick at 440.639.4583 or MSlavick@UWLC.org. Walk-ups are welcome as well.

Kick-Off Thoughts - Kicking-Off a New Season

As summer is coming to an end, there are new beginnings in the air, especially at United Way of Lake County. The United Way of Lake County's Kick Off event took place a couple of weeks ago (special thanks to Mentor High School, the Mentor High School football and basketball teams, the Lake County Captains, and everyone else who donated and helped that day). People from all over the county gathered to welcome the new campaign season in, both familiar faces who are very close to our message and work hard to help us bring in the money needed, and new faces who are going to bring new enthusiasm for the United Way of Lake County message. We gathered for breakfast, shot hoops, and took the first steps in preparing for the coming months of fund-raising. The main event was the announcement of the goals for this coming campaign season. We are hoping to raise 2% above last year ($3,716 million), then we have a stretch goal of 3% over last year ($3.715 million). I believe these goals are doable for our incredibly driven volunteers and staff.

Behind the excitement and celebrating, there is the underlying and driving knowledge of what these goals mean.

This year, we introduced another goal, a third goal, and it's one that represents everything that we are working towards at United Way of Lake County. Sometimes people don't fully understand the different aspects of what United Way of Lake County does. In my opinion, as someone who is still learning the ‘in's and out's’ of the UWLC-world, one of the coolest things that we do is the Evaluation and Investment (E&I) process. Committees from the community, people who live, work, and care in Lake County, meet together and look at the different ‘core’ programs  that UWLC commits to funding. These volunteers are the ones who decide where the funds are distributed. Part of the process is that the E&I volunteers  ask a few things from the agencies who run the programs that UWLC funds. The first are the outcomes of the programs. The agencies show the E&I committees how they use the money from UWLC and exactly who benefitted from the donor dollars. The E&I committees look at their budgets, make suggestions when needed, and get to know the programs. The agencies then provide a request for the amount of money they NEED for the programs to make the biggest difference.

The third goal UWLC introduced this year is the goal based on the requests for the money that is actually needed for these programs to make the biggest impact. We are calling it the Needs Goal. We can only provide so much funding for the programs based on what was raised but the Needs Goal shows us what the actual need for the programs is. The Needs Goal is 8% above what was raised last year ($3.934 million). While it may seem like an unreachable figure, it is something that us, as staff, will have in the backs of our minds throughout fund-raising and it is something that needs to be in the backs of all our minds when going through this year's campaign season. We understand that the economic state is difficult this year. There is a saying that I heard growing-up… 'Shoot for the moon… Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars (Les Brown).' The Needs Goal is the moon. It is there, lighting the way for everything that is done this campaign season, but reaching the 2% goal is still raising money that will significantly help those in need in the community. The programs that we fund are going to continue to function and every dollar that is donated makes a big difference.

Reach for the moon, and we, as UWLC staff and people who care about Lake County, will do what we can to help you get there.

So, at Kick-Off, we challenged the community to reach out to those who do not understand the need.  We are also challenged to raise even one dollar more than we raised last year and we are challenged to take a look at what we are able and willing to give because it is worth it.

 

 

 

Check out the story that The News Herald posted about Kick-Off here.

Pictures courtesy of Skip Trombetti of Van's Photo.

 

Makella Slavick

Special Projects Coordinator

United Way of Lake County