UWGK 2022 Main Tabloid

UNITED WE’RE STRONG GIVE TODAY!

GIVE today at www.uwaykpt.org

United Way of Greater Kingsport

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UNITED WE’RE STRONG GIVE TODAY! “United We’re Strong” – these are the words of United Way. But these words are more than just words. They shape the essence of our work. They are witnessed in the powerful, enduring spirit of our community – a community that continues to reach out to help our neighbors in need.

Cover photo: Rhonda and Riley Nelson are grateful for the help that Riley has received from Small Miracles, a therapeutic equestrian center in Kingsport. Small Miracles is one of 25 agencies that receive financial support through the community’s generous gifts to United Way.

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF GREATER KINGSPORT No matter the obstacles. No matter the odds. At United Way of Greater Kingsport, we’re not afraid to take on the impossible. We improve 1,400 lives every day by tackling early grade literacy, breaking the cycle of poverty, fighting for the health of our neighbors, and supporting the needs of our senior citizens. UWGK supports 25 member agencies through financial funding of 32 programs across the areas of Education, Income, and Health, because these are the building blocks for a good quality of life for all. United We Fight! United We Win! Together, we can accomplish more than any single group can on its own. To live better, we must LIVE UNITED, because United We’re Strong.

We believe, and you have affirmed, that together we can make a difference.

• Y our gift supports our fight for the physical, mental, and emotional health of everyone in our community.

Individuals like Floyd (p. 3) are celebrating life and health today because of help they have received from member agencies.

• Y our gift helps provide a path forward for those who are experiencing difficulties - no homes, no jobs, no help, and no hope. Self-sufficiency, financial stability, and hope for a bright future are now realities for Terri (p. 4) and others.

• Y our gift undergirds our fight for children and youth of all abilities to be successful and prepared for life. Many, like Riley (p. 5), have excelled through opportunities for growth and development – physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral.

Your gift helps the United Way of Greater Kingsport to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community.

But there is still more to do. Needs have been compounded by the challenges of Covid, and now by housing availability and rising costs.

Your gift is needed now more than ever to support individuals across our community.

Will you join us this year? You can give online or set up a recurring payment at www.uwaykpt.org/give. Thank you in advance for helping those who need help.

Together, we can make a difference.

United We’re Strong!

Danelle Glasscock Executive Director

Greg Perdue 2022 Campaign Chair

In 2022, there is refreshed hope in our community. But there is still more to do. Our mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. Our work is to connect, inspire hope and action, and invite all to be part of positive, sustainable change. Your pledge drives results. Your involvement helps people in our local community. We invite you to get involved.

Give. Advocate. Volunteer.

Give Today!

Give online at uwaykpt.org, give at your workplace, or mail a check to 301 Louis Street, Suite 201, Kingsport, TN 37660.

2021 CAMPAIGN DETAIL

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HEALTH We fight for the health of our neighbors. We fight for the physical, mental and emotional health of all those in our community.

One member agency that does just that is Friends in Need Health Center, providing medical and dental services to the uninsured and under-insured in upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. When Floyd Pate began having health problems in 2019, he and his wife, Thelma, didn’t know much about Friends in Need. Floyd had lost his health insurance when his place of employment burned down. His friends encouraged him to seek medical care at Friends in Need, so he and Thelma made an appointment. As soon as the doctor looked down his throat, he immediately referred him to another doctor, and before long, Floyd was undergoing surgery. Thelma was told her husband would not have lived two more days without the operation.

“If it hadn’t been for the United Way and Friends in Need, we couldn’t have afforded the care,” Thelma said. “You could see God’s hand in it.”

United Way donor Paul Montgomery said he knows of many people who’ve been helped by United Way and its member agencies. “I’m thankful for the United Way,” Montgomery said.

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FINANCIAL STABILITY We fight for stability in the lives of our neighbors. We fight for individuals experiencing homelessness, those without financial resources, those who have no one else to care.

Our member agency, Hope House of Kingsport, has been fighting on behalf of homeless pregnant women and girls and their children for 20 years now. This organization has helped hundreds of people through the years. Terri McKnight was one who came to Hope House 14 years ago as a homeless woman with no food, no clothes and no money. She was 19 weeks pregnant.

After her son was born, Terri moved into an apartment, but then reconnected with her son’s biological father. The relationship was toxic and destructive, so once again she went to Hope House for help.

625 individuals experiencing homelessness were sheltered.

43

individuals achieved permanent housing.

3,500

Over books were distributed through partnerships and local events.

1,600

Over local students participated in afterschool programming.

“They helped me get on my feet a second time,” Terri said. “I honestly would have probably died of a drug overdose, committed suicide or been in prison if I didn’t have someone who believed in me.”

And the United Way and Hope House believed in her.

She is now married and has two children.

United Way donor Laurie Paulonis said her first involvement with United Way was to serve on its Citizens Review Panel, where she saw first-hand how donations are spent to serve the community.

“You know that your money is going to a great cause,” Paulonis said. “It’s very important for everyone to be involved with United Way.”

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EDUCATION We fight for all children and youth to be successful and prepared for life. Through our many programs and initiatives, over 1600 local students participated in afterschool programming and more than 3,500 books were distributed through partnerships and local events. In every case, students have the opportunity to build safe, stable and nurturing relationships with caring adults.

Many of our member agencies fight for children and youth of all abilities. One of those agencies is Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, whose equine-assisted activities and therapies program enhances the physical, emotional, social, cognitive and behavioral growth of individuals with special needs and disabilities through both mounted and unmounted equine-assisted activities and therapies.

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Rhonda Nelson started bringing herof son, Riley, to pounds individuals Small Miracles when he was fivewere years old. Riley had medications experiencing been diagnosed with Down Syndrome collected at take- and autism.

homelessness were sheltered.

“The horses helped build his confidence and discover back events.

things that he is able to do,” Rhonda said.

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United Way donor Cody Woods met Riley and his students achieved mom on a recentparticipated visit to Smallin Miracles. drug Woods permanent said it’s extremely rewarding to get involved in the prevention housing. community, “whether that be with your time, your curriculums. efforts, donations,” Woods said, “… because United, we’re strong.”

3,500

Over books were distributed through partnerships and local events.

1,600

Over local students participated in afterschool programming.

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2023 PROPOSED MEMBER AGENCY PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES UNITED WAY OF GREATER KINGSPORT INITIATIVES AveNew – A community drug education and prevention coalition working to create a healthy and safe community that is free of substance misuse.

GRANDfamilies Network – A group of representatives from various community organizations working to create a support network for grandparents/relative caregivers and their families in the Greater Kingsport area.

Kingsport Homeless Coalition – A coordinated effort of public, private, non-profit, and faith-based agencies working together on a compassionate plan to serve the homeless population of the Greater Kingsport area by maximizing resources and minimizing redundancy of services.

United WE READ – Initiative that aims to engage, empower, and equip all children, families, and the Greater Kingsport community with tools and strategies that build a literacy-rich culture, and a pathway to lifelong success.

HELPING CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUCCEED Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Tri-Cities – Community-Based & Site-Based Mentoring Program ($65,000) matches caring, consistent adult volunteers with children in our community who need a friend and mentor.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport – Formula for Impact Program ($170,000) helps young people who need us most to reach academic success, good character & leadership, and healthy lifestyles through targeted programs, high-yield learning activities, and regular attendance.

Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, Inc.– Leadership Experience Program ($13,600) provides a comprehensive leadership development program that positively impacts girls grades K-12 by building skills that lead to future success. Girl Scouts is where girls discover and grow in their courage, confidence, and character.

Girls Inc. of Kingsport – Core Program ($186,165) provides facility-based and off-site outreach programs both after school, after hours, and during the summer for girls ages 4-19 that enhance their educational, occupational and physical development.

Holston Children & Youth Services (Frontier Health) – SchoolBased Prevention Program ($35,400) provides clinical services for at-risk students with academic, social, and/or behavioral problems; helps schools maintain safe, disciplined learning environments; and provides consultation for teachers and collaboration with counselors.

Kingsport Child Development Center – Sliding Fee Scale/ Income-Based Childcare Program ($114,667) provides quality childcare/preschool services implementing developmentallyappropriate programs meeting the social, emotional, and educational needs of all children, served at affordable rates for parents/guardians.

Sequoyah Council, Boy Scouts of America – Youth Development Program ($13,600) prepares young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – EquineAssisted Activities & Therapies Program ($20,000) enhances the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral growth of individuals with special needs and disabilities through both mounted and unmounted equine-assisted activities and therapies.

Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – EquineAssisted Positive Youth Development Program ($16,000) enhances the fundamental life skills and personal development of children and youth by providing prosocial, leadership, and work/college-readiness skills through the utilization of equineassisted experiential learning activities.

Sullivan County Imagination Library – Sullivan County Imagination Library Program ($22,000) promotes early childhood reading through monthly mailings of free, ageappropriate books to registered children in our county who are between birth and age five.

PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY Frontier Industries (Frontier Health) – Day Services Program ($15,000) offers pre-vocational, employment, residential, and community integration services to individuals who have intellectual, developmental, emotional, and/or physical disabilities.

Hope House – Fresh Start Program ($22,944) offers support services for pregnant women, new parents, and extended family members who are in crisis concerning pregnancy, parenting, and providing basic needs for themselves and their young children.

Hope House – Restart Program ($22,500) provides a residential program with a full range of support for pregnant mothers in crisis in our community to grow, succeed, and become self-sufficient.

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H ( t Family Promise of Greater Kingsport – Family Self-Sufficiency t Program ($18,300) enhances the lives of those experiencing L homelessness in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia A by providing families with children temporary shelter and s assistance so they may become self-sufficient. g Literacy Council of Kingsport – Tutoring Program for Adults L ($40,000) helps improve the literacy and/or English language p skills of adults who struggle to read, write, do math, or use e technology above a third-grade level through one-on-one f tutoring with trained volunteers. d Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Horses Empower Heroes Program ($9,500) promotes the recovery, stability, and self-sufficiency of veterans by assisting with the transition from mere survival mode into resiliency and hope through trauma-focused, relationship-rich, equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT).

ENSURING HEALTH, SAFETY, AND STABILITY American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee – Disaster Cycle Services ($119,599) serves people affected by disaster and continually strengthens its own capacity and the capacity of communities for disaster, response, and recovery, ultimately helping to create a more resilient community.

CASA for Kids, Inc. – Core Program ($48,500) supports and promotes professionally-trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children’s best interest within the Juvenile Court and ensure safe and stable placements.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County – Counseling Program ($37,929) provides trauma-focused treatment to the child victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse in a child-friendly environment that focuses on the well-being of the child.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County – Victim Services Program ($10,000) provides counseling and assistance to the non-offending parents or caregivers of victims from initial contact and throughout the investigation and intervention process.

Friends In Need Health Center – Appalachian Miles for Smiles Mobile Dental Unit ($24,000) provides quality dental care and eye examinations at no cost to uninsured residents of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Friends In Need Health Center – Dental Services Program ($62,000) provides affordable dental care to the uninsured and underinsured across Northeast Tennessee.

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Friends In Need Health Center – Medical Services Program ($24,000) provides affordable medical care to the uninsured or underinsured across Northeast Tennessee.

Holston Counseling (Frontier Health) – Outpatient Services ($57,738) offers a wide variety of services, including various therapy types, case management, and medication management to those with mental, addiction, or co-occurring conditions.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee – Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Program ($17,500) provides family safety and stability for victims of domestic violence through court orders granting a divorce or order of protection.

Link House (Frontier Health) – Core Program ($44,535) provides food, shelter, crisis intervention, diagnostic and evaluation services as well as counseling to adolescent females who are neglected, abused, runaway, unruly, or delinquent.

Mountain Region Speech & Hearing Center – SpeechLanguage Scholarship Program ($65,000) provides infants, children, and adults with the highest quality and cost-effective evaluation, treatment, and education for speech, language, and swallowing disorders regardless of their ability to pay.

SAFE House (Frontier Health) – Domestic Violence Shelter Program ($61,350) provides a safe, confidential, and temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence and their dependent children. 24/7 services may include crisis services, transportation, advocacy, follow-up, and community education.

Salvation Army – Social Services Program ($67,000) provides a wide variety of services including rent/mortgage/utility assistance, clothing assistance, food assistance, referrals, and case management.

Salvation Army – Emergency Shelter Program ($33,673) provides lodging, meals, personal hygiene items, clothing, counseling, job placement, financial planning, and survival skills to assist individuals/ families in becoming self-sufficient.

SUPPORTING AGING WITH CHOICES First Tennessee Human Resource Agency – Personal Support Services Program ($20,500) promotes self-sufficiency and prevents institutional placement by providing cost-effective in-home care for individuals in threat of harm due to abuse or neglect.

Meals on Wheels of Kingsport – Core Program ($122,000) provides hot, nutritious meals and human contact to isolated, incapacitated senior citizens and, if appropriate, other homebound, disabled persons to facilitate safe, independent living.

2022 Regional United Ways and Community Chests of Tennessee/Virginia We appreciate your gift to the United Way of Greater Kingsport. Occasionally, donors may also choose to designate a portion of their gift to one of these participating area Community Chests or United Ways. Any donor needing additional information on these funding decisions should contact the organization listed below.

ORGANIZATION NAME

CONTACT

PHONE

$ DESIGNATED IN 2021-22

Baileyton CC

Jessica Brown Treasurer

423-234-6911

$5,502

Blountville CC

Carol Hicks, Director

423-323-7018

$30,133

Fall Branch CC

Richard Bacon, President

423-956-7233

$30,172

Gray CC

Tony Barnes, President

423-913-2695

$93,582

Greater Indian Springs CC

Tony Ponder, Treasurer

423-276-8839

$36,296

Greater West Carter’s Valley CC

Stacy Barton, Secretary

423-357-5662

$15,567

Mount Carmel CC

David Jennings, President

423-534-8628

$11,653

Piney Flats CC

Ken Turner, Vice President

423-538-3419

$12,911

Sullivan South CC

Ben Wexler, President

423-384-5296

$87,771

Sulphur Springs CC

Bruce Bacon, President

423-753-2409

$18,681

United Way of Bristol TN-VA

Lisa Cofer, Executive Director

423-968-4912

$24,060

United Way of East Tennessee Highlands

Leslie Salling, President & CEO

423-220-1229

$143,068

United Way of Greene County

Wendy Peay, Executive Director

423-639-9361

$13,752

United Way of Hawkins County

Teresa Buttry, Executive Director

423-272-7379

$72,797

United Way of Southwest Virginia

Travis Staton, Executive Director

276-628-2160

$90,444

United Way of Unicoi County

Robert Stromberg, Bookkeeper

423-742-2595

$17,360

Other Designations

$5,971

Total

$709,719

A rate of 15.4% (5.4% administrative, 6.0% fundraising and 4% uncollectible), compliant with United Way Worldwide standards, is charged to offset the costs of processing designated dollars.)

UNITED WE’RE STRONG VOLUNTEER!

Volunteers enjoy lending a helping hand. There’s always room for more!

WEEK OF CARING 2022 United Way of Greater Kingsport 301 Louis Street, Suite 201 Kingsport, Tennessee 37660 Phone: 423.378.3409 uwaykpt.org

United Way of Greater Kingsport