Volunteers needed for holiday gift wrapping at Great Lakes Mall

United Way of Lake County is looking for volunteers to help with gift wrapping at the Great Lakes Mall this holiday season!

This is a great way to spend some time helping those in need for the holidays. Proceeds from the gift wrapping go to the many programs in Lake County that benefit people from all walks of life. You can help make a difference in someone's life! There is space for three to four people on each shift and it is a first-come, first-serve basis.

Please either reply to this email, email mgrdina@uwlc.org, or call 440-639-1149 to reserve your shift. If the shift is full, you will be notified and asked to choose another. 

The days and times are: 

   

Friday - December 13

Shift 2: 7pm - 10 pm

Saturday - December 14

Shift 1: 4 pm - 7 pm (2 spots available)

Shift 2: 7 pm - 10 pm

Sunday - December 15

Shift 1: 11 am - 3 pm (3 spots available)

Tuesday - December 17

Shift 2: 7 pm - 10 pm

Thursday - December 19

Shift 1: 4 pm - 7 pm (2 spots available)

Shift 2: 7 pm - 10 pm

Friday- December 20

Shift 1: 3 pm - 7 pm

Sunday - December 21

Shift 1: 4 pm - 7:30 pm

Shift 2: 7:30 pm - 11 pm (2 spots available)

United Way's Women's Event is Thursday, Dec. 5. RSVP now!

  "Women's Winterfest: Food for the Holidays" -- an event for women featuring the best holiday foods from the county's various local restaurants, bakeries and hotels. All proceeds from the event go to women's programs in Lake County.  

The event will take place from 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm at Pine Ridge Country Club on Thursday, Dec. 5. Registration starts at 5:30 pm and the program begins at 6:30 pm.

  

Tickets are $50 at the door which includes three wine tickets. There will be an assortment of food from local vendors, food demonstrations, auction items and holiday décor.

  

To register visit uwlc.org or contact Kristin Kozar at 440-639-4583 or kkozar@uwlc.org

  

Women's Winterfest is the perfect night out to get together with friends and other women to enjoy holiday food samples, music and décor while giving back to the community.

Wells Fargo Advisors last week donated $2,500 to Women's Winterfest: Food for the Holidays. This is a new relationship for United Way of Lake County and the nonprofit organization is extremely thankful for the generous support.

  

Participating vendors, thus far, include: Great Harvest Bread, Confectionary Cupboard, Tommy's Jerky, Skye, Food for Thought, Melt Bar & Grilled, Pickle Bill's, Dino's, LaMalfa, Tastefully Simple, Sweet Love Cookies, Market Spice, Cold Stone Creamery and many more.

  

Students from the Brown Aveda Institute will also be offering beauty treatments at no cost and live music will be provided by students from the Fine Arts Association.

  

Sponsors include: Vanek Plastic Surgery, Wells Fargo Advisors, Huntington Bank and Salida Woods.

Contact Kristin Kozar at 440-639-4583 or kkozar@uwlc.org for more information.

Super Raffle tickets now on sale at United Way's BRAND NEW website!

United Way of Lake County's Super Raffle is back and is better than ever.

Local companies and individuals have combined to donate 56 BIG TICKET items including a 2014 Ford Fusion 2-year Lease (or $5,000 cash option), two cruises, vacations to Disney World, Fort Myers, FL, Harbour Town, SC, Chicago, IL, Erie, PA, airline tickets, electronics, sports tickets, gym and spa packages, and many, many more prizes.

Super Raffle tickets are now on sale on United Way of Lake County's BRAND NEW website: www.uwlc.org. (*more information on the new website below!)

Tickets for Super Raffle are $5 each or six for $25. Aside from the website, tickets can also be purchased 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 14, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. at the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor. If present at the live drawing, winners can pick from available prizes. A separate drawing for the Ford Fusion will be held at United Way of Lake County's Celebrity Server event, which is Thursday, March 13, 2014 at LaMalfa.

Top prizes include:

• 2014 Ford Fusion 2-year lease OR $5,000 cash option from Classic Automotive Group
• Five-day Cruise from Asa Cox Homes
• Eight-Night Mexico Getaway from Right Track Benefits
• Harbor Town, SC Vacation from The Crockett Team
• Caribbean Cruise for Two from Right Track Benefits
• Chicago, IL Weekend Getaway including a Ladies & Gentleman Salon & Spa day and tickets to The Second City
• Disney World Vacation
• Fort Myers, FL Vacation from Stanley Steamer
• Erie, PA Casino Getaway from Presque Isle Downs & Casino
• 20 Captains Tickets with $200 toward food and drink from Lake Health
• One Year of Massages from Ladies & Gentlemen Salon & Spa
• Year of Services from Edge Hair Studio
• One Year Fitworks Membership with Personal Trainer from Mentor Fitworks
• Six VASER Shape Treatments from Vanek Plastic Surgery
• Cosmeceuticals & Massages from Vanek Plastic Surgery
• Forever Young Package from Vanek Plastic Surgery
• 60" Flat Screen Television from The Lubrizol Corporation
• 32 GB iPod Touch with Wi-Fi from The Lubrizol Corporation
• One Year of Free Lawn Mowing from Sharp Edge Tree & Landscape
• Airline tickets from Anonymous 

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

 

* Check out our new website 

United Way of Lake County is proud to announce our new website is now live. Go to www.uwlc.org to check us out where we hope you'll find it easier to navigate through news, events and information. It's easier than ever to donate, volunteer or learn more about United Way of Lake County.

Eastlake North and Willoughby South high schools kick off rivalry week by raising money for United Way

Rivalry week kicks-off today between Eastlake North and Willoughby South high schools.
The two schools will compete on the football field Friday night at South High School at 7 p.m. but off the field, the two schools will spend each day this week raising money for United Way of Lake County through creative fundraisers.

Events taking place this week will be students duct-taping their principals to the wall, dunking their teachers in a dunk tank, throwing pies in teachers' faces, stalling their teachers so they cannot start class until all the change students brought in is counted, etc. All for the good of their own community!

The school that raises the most money for United Way of Lake County will be announced at half time during Friday night's football game.

Good luck to both schools and thank you so much for getting involved!

Kirtland Elementary School is also raising money for United Way of Lake County on Tuesday where teachers will decorate pumpkins and students will vote for their favorite pumpkin by purchasing a raffle ticket.

Eastlake North and Willoughby South high schools kick off rivalry week by raising money for United Way

Rivalry week kicks-off today between Eastlake North and Willoughby South high schools.
The two schools will compete on the football field Friday night at South High School at 7 p.m. but off the field, the two schools will spend each day this week raising money for United Way of Lake County through creative fundraisers.

Events taking place this week will be students duct-taping their principals to the wall, dunking their teachers in a dunk tank, throwing pies in teachers' faces, stalling their teachers so they cannot start class until all the change students brought in is counted, etc. All for the good of their own community!

The school that raises the most money for United Way of Lake County will be announced at half time during Friday night's football game.

Good luck to both schools and thank you so much for getting involved!

Kirtland Elementary School is also raising money for United Way of Lake County on Tuesday where teachers will decorate pumpkins and students will vote for their favorite pumpkin by purchasing a raffle ticket.

United Way to host second Young Leaders Happy Hour on Sept. 18

The Lake County Young Leaders Movement Continues!

On Wednesday, September 18 at 5:30 PM, United Way of Lake County will host its second Young Leaders Happy Hour at The Wild Goose in Willoughby (4144 Erie St, Willoughby, OH, 44094).

We invite rising stars in our community to join us and other philanthropically minded young professionals to "Get Connected" over cold beverages and hand crafted brick oven pizzas.

Young Leaders will be given the opportunity to apply for a leadership position as a Founding Member of United Way of Lake County's Associate Board, or become a member of the steering committee for the Lake County Young Leaders (LCYL) group.

In addition to fantastic upcoming events, this is an amazing opportunity to take on a leadership role while becoming more deeply involved in your community.

Our Inaugural Happy Hour on August 14 drew over 50 young leaders from numerous area companies, and we expect this event to be even larger.

We hope you'll join us and be a part of what is happening now and next in Lake County. Please RSVP to this event on our Facebook page under the "Events" tab or to Annie Bontempo; Abontempo@uwlc.org (440)639-1203.

United Way kicks off 2013 Get Connected Campaign!

August 23, 2013 - Mentor, OH - United Way of Lake County's staff and 41 volunteer cabinet members from the community are asking YOU to personally GET CONNECTED to the nonprofit organization's 2013 campaign.

The campaign officially kicked off at 7:30 a.m. Thursday (August 22) at Lake Health Mentor Medical Center. The kick-off featured an outdoor pancake breakfast, agency carnival, cabinet introductions and announcement of the 2013 goal.

This year's campaign is being led by Campaign Chair Paul Vanek, M.D. and Co-Chair Lori Stevic-Rust, Ph.D. In 2012, United Way of Lake County raised $3.67 million and increased its fundraising efforts for the 12th time in the past 13 years.



For the next couple of months, United Way of Lake County will be asking local companies, organizations and individuals to GET CONNECTED and work toward bettering our community as a whole.

United Way of Lake County serves the most people in the most ways. It's not a singular focused organization but rather:

• Serves the whole community
• Focuses on what's important
• Provides programs and funding to solve Lake County's most critical issues
• Impacts the community's quality of life for all of Lake County.

In 2012, 2-1-1 received 163,068 calls for United Way services. That number is an increase from 160,475 in 2011. A recent community needs assessment report revealed some of the following statistics:

• 37.3% of people say the biggest barrier to filling prescriptions was lack of insurance.
• 14.4% of children were living in poverty.
• There were 101 homeless unaccompanied children under 18.
• 28% of seniors live alone.
• 25% of the senior population is in danger of poverty.
• Nearly half of the 3,408 calls needing emergency shelter were turned away because there were no beds.
• 33.9% of children received free or reduced lunch

United Way of Lake County gets connected and responds by working with more than 70 programs that help children and families, basic needs, health and wellness, health counseling and senior citizens.

"After my father was severely brain injured, my mother raised five children through industry, frugality, with the help of God and with the generosity of people I never met or knew," Vanek said. "She instilled in me a drive to succeed and a lifelong commitment to serve others. The mission of the United Way is the best way I can support leadership in giving for those in need in Lake County. It's time all of us who have talents and resources 'get connected' to support the organizations who are funded by United Way efforts."



"The campaign this year is about getting connected - connecting people to resources, organizations to people and people to people," Stevic-Rust said. "When we are connected to each other, we often find clarity in our own purpose. So, our challenge this year is for each of us to ask ourselves one questions, 'How do I get connected and stay connected?'" Those with questions, or who want to hold a United Way campaign, contribute or volunteer, can call United Way's campaign director Jean Argo at 440-639-1286.

The campaign will run through the end of December. Results will be announced at the United Way's annual meeting in April.