We're hiring seasonal campaign associates

Mentor, OH - United Way of Lake County is looking for at least three seasonal campaign associates to step in immediately to work during our 2012 campaign to help us reach our fundraising goal.

The campaign associates will work Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Friday's from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.  

Essential Functions 

Relationship Building: Engage in customer-focused relationships within assigned divisions to include donors, volunteers, business owners, Chief Executive Officers, union officials, employee campaign coordinators and other workplace volunteers. Cultivate and attract new donors through on-going relationships, contacts, communications and timely follow up.  Must be able to communicate well with all types of audiences and personalities.

Campaign Account Management: Work for success in the annual campaign utilizing various tactics and strategies including working with companies, campaign volunteers, leadership givers, website giving, organizations, affinity groups and corporate giving along with developing other alternative resource development. Assist with other fundraising efforts outside the campaign time period through special events.

Teamwork: Work positively as a team member with several internal departments to jointly produce campaign materials, marketing materials and financial and data plan.

Understand and Interpret Data/Technology: Utilize campaign data programs to capture meaningful and timely data to determine campaign progress and success. Must be able to utilize various office equipment such as computers, printers, copy machines, faxes, etc. Must be skilled in Microsoft office programs, especially Excel.

Passion and Commitment to Nonprofits: United Way of Lake County is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to measurably improve the lives of Lake County citizens. With this mission in mind, the person must feel inspired and excited by the United Way's work and feel proud to share the impact of our with with others. 

Essential Qualifications 

Self Sufficient: This person should "own his/her work" and have a desire to learn the specialized skills required of working for the United Way's annual campaign. The work requires relationships, dealing with a large diversity of people and a wide-range of companies and organizations. Strategic thinking and implementation is essential along with flexibility and an ability to multi-task. The person must be able to work within a group, when necessary and be self-directed.  This person must be willing to take on additional tasks, not necessarily in his or her area.    

Energetic: Donors must be inspired and asked to contribute their time and talents. The Campaign Associate should possess a sense of urgency and enthusiasm for the United Way campaign.

Results Oriented: This person should understand and have an ability to express the goals that must be achieved, outline the strategies to obtain those goals and set forth a workable action plan. Outcome and results management are imperative.

Strong Organizational Skills: This person should be able to prioritize actions and organize the work to achieve results.

Superior Computer and Technical Skills: This person will need knowledge of the campaign data program and the ability to manage information in a presentable form - spread sheets, data sheets, charts, etc.

Superior Interpersonal Communications Skills: As part of the campaign, the campaign associate will be asked to do public speaking and presentations and must possess good written and social media skills. 

 Credentials 

Be able to work with staff and volunteers
Experience with Microsoft Office programs
Fundraising, sales and marketing skills, a plus
Nonprofit experience, a plus
Exsisting relationships within Lake County, a plus

All interested applicants can e-mail their resume to Cheryl Noviski at CNoviski@UWLC.org 

Broadway and Beyond is THIS Saturday!

We are just a few short days away from bringing in world class entertainers to the Mentor Fine Arts Center THIS SATURDAY for "Broadway & Beyond."

Among the night's performers is Ciarán Sheehan, who has starred in the role of the Phantom in over 1,000 performances of "The Phantom of the Opera." Sheehan, who was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, has also performed in "Les Miserables," has four sold out performances at the world-famous Carnegie Hall, has appeared in three PBS specials and has a strong Cleveland area following for his frequent performances with the Cleveland Orchestra.

Sheehan will sing popular Broadway and Irish songs during his performance, which The New York Daily News describes as "glorious" and that Sheehan "brings a rich understanding and depth to familiar melodies." Hollywood Variety says Sheehan "has the kind of soaring stage voice from which indelible Broadway moments are made...the best yet."

Performing alongside Sheehan will be Sarah Pfisterer, who hails from the East Coast and has also played the role of Christine Daae in more than 1,000 performances of "The Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway and across the country. She has also performed in "Show Boat," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Sound of Music" among many other Broadways. She has also had appearances on The Today Show and The Rosie O'Donnell Show.

Other performances will come from Heather Martin Bixler, a violinist from Wisconsin and Cleveland's own Murphy Irish Dancers who just placed fourth in a world dance competition hosted in Ireland.

 The performances will start at 7 p.m. Tickets for the fundraiser start at $25 or $100 for the VIP experience, which includes a Sheehan autographed CD, backstage access and refreshments and appetizers following the show. The VIP tickets are limited to 100 tickets. Parking for the event is free. Proceeds will benefit United Way of Lake County.

To purchase tickets go to www.uwlc.org or call 1.866.967.8167. Tickets can also be purchased by clicking here.  Tickets can also be purchased at the door on Saturday. Doors open at 6 p.m.

If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please contact Annemarie Barnett at 440.639.4588 or ABarnett@UWLC.org

All money raised during the 2012 United Way of Lake County campaign benefits programs that focus on senior citizens, health and human Services, children and families and basic needs. 

Broadway and Beyond is THIS Saturday!

This Saturday is our "Broadway and Beyond" show!! Don't miss performances from famous Broadway stars who have performed in more than 1,000 times in The Phantom of the Opera, Les Mis and with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra.

Cleveland's own Murphy Irish Dancers will also perform. Tickets can be purchased by clicking the link or at the door on Saturday. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

Check out www.uwlc.org for more information about Broadway and Beyond!

 

Broadway and Beyond is Saturday, July 14

United Way of Lake County is bringing in world class entertainers to the Mentor Fine Arts Center on Saturday, July 14 for "Broadway & Beyond" to raise money for the nonprofit organization's 2012 campaign.

Among the night's performers is Ciarán Sheehan, who has starred in the role of the Phantom in over 1,000 performances of "The Phantom of the Opera." Sheehan, who was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, has also performed in "Les Miserables," has four sold out performances at the world-famous Carnegie Hall, has appeared in three PBS specials and has a strong Cleveland area following for his frequent performances with the Cleveland Orchestra.

Sheehan will sing popular Broadway and Irish songs during his performance, which The New York Daily News describes as "glorious" and that Sheehan "brings a rich understanding and depth to familiar melodies." Hollywood Variety says Sheehan "has the kind of soaring stage voice from which indelible Broadway moments are made...the best yet."

Performing alongside Sheehan will be Sarah Pfisterer, who hails from the East Coast and has also played the role of Christine Daae in more than 1,000 performances of "The Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway and across the country. She has also performed in "Show Boat," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Sound of Music" among many other Broadways. She has also had appearances on The Today Show and The Rosie O'Donnell Show.

Other performances will come from Heather Martin Bixler, a violinist from Wisconsin and the Murphy Irish Dancers who just placed fourth in a world dance competition hosted in Ireland.

 "This is a very rare opportunity for people in the Northeast Ohio region to witness some world class entertainers perform in their own backyard," said Ray Somich, WELW personality and owner of Spirit Media, who will also serve as the event's emcee. "At the same time, it's also a great way to raise money for those in need here in Lake County."

 

The performances will start at 7 p.m. Tickets for the fundraiser start at $25 or $100 for the VIP experience, which includes a Sheehan autographed CD, backstage access and refreshments and appetizers following the show. The VIP tickets are limited to 100 tickets. Parking for the event is free. Proceeds will benefit United Way of Lake County.

To purchase tickets go to www.uwlc.org or call 1.866.967.8167. Tickets can also be purchased by clicking here.

All money raised during the 2012 United Way of Lake County campaign benefits programs that focus on senior citizens, health and human Services, children and families and basic needs.  

Thoughts on Day of Caring, 2012

Last week, more than 750 people from 56 companies participated in the United Way of Lake County’s Day of Caring.

As a (fairly) new staff-person at United Way of Lake County, I did not know what to expect, and I certainly did not expect to feel the way I felt throughout the process, in a good way. Starting at United Way of Lake County last October, I had been through the campaign process. I have relationships with some of the companies and am still learning names and who is involved with us, but there are names that repeatedly come up in conversations around the office. There had been build-up to Day of Caring around the office. We were excited that almost 100 more volunteers and 10 more projects were adopted than the previous year. We were excited for getting people involved, and I was excited to drive around and see what Day of Caring is about, being my first one (though there have been 20 since it started).

My first stop, the project was a dirty one, where multiple companies had provided volunteers to work at Mooreland Mansion in the 90+ degree heat. I walked up to the first group and I immediately noticed the smiles. I took pictures, said ‘thank you,’ and went to the next site. A group of people was helping a senior who needed her house cleaned. Again, the first thing that I noticed were the smiles, from both the volunteers and the recipients. The elderly woman was so incredibly grateful and the volunteers seemed to be as well.

While driving around, I noticed that each site was the same. These people, who typically work in an office or factory, and who already generously donate money, were willing to work in the dust and dirt because they understood that there are seniors who can’t see and are not able to clean their house, that there are libraries and senior centers that are need repairs they are unable to do them themselves, that there are people in their own towns  that are unable to live comfortably, and each of the volunteers performed their tasks with the understanding that they were improving the lives of these people. I visited Birthright, another recipient of volunteers for the day. Birthright helps provide food and clothing for low-income, pregnant women and their children. There was a gentleman there putting an electrical outlet in the warehouse where they sort donations so that they could put a telephone in the back. The head of the organization was almost in tears telling the man how much help having a phone in the warehouse would be because there are only two staff members and this would provide more resources to help them assist more people in need. The gentleman smiled as though working on the wires in a hot warehouse was completely making his day. He was using his own individual talents and skills he most likely used on a daily basis to help an organization that will end up helping numerous people. He is just one example. At each site there were people using their skills to help others.

It was so cool witnessing companies, who already generously donate their money to United Way-funded programs (which is incredibly important), coming together to add another dimension of care to those around them.

Imagine for a moment, that every individual took that attitude, that each individual in Lake County ‘adopted a project’ in our neighborhoods… we see someone whose grass needs cut, we see that a mailbox needs repaired, etc… Imagine if every individual ‘adopted a project’ for those in need. The homeless wouldn’t be as in want, low-income children would have less to worry about, and homebound seniors would get to live a higher-quality of life because we each put some time and our unique gifts into improving their lives.

On behalf of the staff of United Way of Lake County, I want to thank those who took the time to participate in Day of Caring. You truly touched people all over this county. Your efforts spread far and wide that day and will continue to spread.

Lastly, I ask that those reading this attempt a ‘Day of Caring’ attitude with those around them. Please let your eyes be open and your hands be willing to help. It will have a larger impact that you know.

Thank you for reading,

Makella Slavick

Special Projects Associate

United Way of Lake County

*All images by United Way of Lake County

Broadway and Beyond - Tickets starting at $25

We wanted to let you know about a one-time concert in Lake County featuring two stars who have appeared 1,000 times on Broadway in the lead roles of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Mis.

You'll never have a musical experience like this before unless you're seeing a concert at a New York Playhouse. The concert featuring songs from these plays and others will be 7 p.m. July 14 at Mentor Fine Arts. Tickets start at $25 or $100 for VIP. 

To purchase tickets and choose your seats, go to www.uwlc.org and look for Broadway and Beyond.

All tickets benefit United Way of Lake County. The concert will sell out so make your order soon.

Day of Caring project list is now available

We are looking for more companies or organizations to sign up to volunteer for our 20th Annual Day of Caring which is Wednesday, June 20.

If you or your company/organization are looking to "adopt" a project, contact Nick Carrabine at 440.639.1131 or NCarrabine@UWLC.org to get the list of projects still available.  

More than 100 projects were submitted from non-profit organizations and agencies. So far, more than 50 businesses/organizations have signed up for Day of Caring.

How does Day of Caring work?

o    Non-profit organizations submit one-day projects on behalf of clients, people in need and/or organizations with limited resources.

o    Area companies, schools, service clubs and other interested individuals volunteer to "adopt" a project.

o    Agencies and organizations collaborate to procure supplies needed for successful completion of the project. United Way of Lake County is not responsible for supplying materials or supplies for projects.

Projects may be large or small in scale and may involve activities such as landscaping, painting or cleaning. Others may involve social activities such as an outing for nursing home residents, an ice cream social with seniors or a picnic for members of a parenting support group.

Day of Caring offers great benefits for companies and individuals and provides corporate team-building opportunities where you'll see immediate results, develop group work skills, develop camaraderie and friendly competition but more importantly, Day of Caring offers the chance to give back to the community in a tangible way.