Living United, Issue 01

January 2018

Malia On The Move The inspiring story of a girl who defied the odds

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Addressing Poverty Head-On How we’ll tackle this together

Nonprofit Matchmaking

Local leaders find harmony on nonprofit boards

Who You Gonna Call?

A behind-the-scenes look at 2-1-1, United Way’s life-changing service

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT It is my pleasure to present to you the first issue of our publication, “Living United.” This magazine is another way for us to show you the impact of your support. Each page is focused on rich and engaging storytelling. Our team is dedicated to telling the stories of people we serve and people who have found an opportunity to thrive thanks to the generosity of people like you. I hope you’ll find these stories informative, as well as inspiring.

Perhaps the biggest news in this issue, is our community’s outstanding effort to raise just over $60 million during our 2017 campaign. I was proud to stand with our campaign chair, Gary T. “Doc” Huffman in October and announce a total of $60,050,000. We achieved that incredible result together. Thanks to so many people working hard and giving from the heart, this community’s collective support will help people in Greater Cincinnati who need it most.

Thank you.

In this issue, you’ll also meet Liz and Malia - just two of the 365,000 people whose lives are improved each year by United Way of Greater Cincinnati, our agency and community partners, and this caring community. Liz found herself in a situation she never expected: caring for her niece after she was born addicted to drugs. Thanks to Liz’s love and dedication, plus support from United Way programs, Malia is on the move and headed in the right direction. I am confident her story, and especially the picture you’ll see of her in her princess dress (while playing with a remote control monster truck!) will make you smile just like it does me.

Thanks for reading and thanks for everything you do to support United Way. I look forward to sharing even more with you in future issues of “Living United.”

Gratefully,

CELEBRATING A COMMUNITY THAT CARES

IN THIS ISSUE

$60+ million raised during annual community campaign “I am incredibly proud of how our community came together for this meaningful work,” said Gary T. “Doc” Huffman, 2017 campaign chair and chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Ohio National Financial Services, at United Way’s community campaign finale in October.

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Campaign Recap

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Cover Story

4

Addressing Poverty Head-On

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Nonprofit Matchmaking

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Holiday Volunteering

Huffman cheered along with the crowd of more than 600 people, as they celebrated a grand total of $60,050,000 raised for the community.

In Our Community

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Inside 2-1-1

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New Neighbors

Robert C. Reifsnyder President

ABOUT UNITED WAY United Way of Greater Cincinnati is addressing poverty head-on. Our work is focused on helping children, families, and individuals in poverty or struggling to meet basic needs. We bring people and organizations together across our 10-county, 3-state region through leadership, innovation, and investments. Together, with 90,000 supporters and 140 partner agencies, we’re creating a community where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

CONNECT WITH US

@UnitedWayofGreaterCincinnati

@UnitedWayGC

“Thanks to hundreds of companies and thousands of supporters, many people in this community will be touched by this significant achievement,” Huffman said.

“As we collectively take on our most transformative work yet, we are so grateful for our supporters who show up every year to help this community be the best it can be,” said Rob Reifsnyder, United Way of Greater Cincinnati president. “Together, we are committed to creating a community where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. We couldn’t do that collective work without this caring community.

Thank you for stepping up this year and showing everyone what we can accomplish when we choose to Live United.”

Top 25 Companies - Thank you to our largest

Tremendous 25 Companies - The highest per capita

1. P&G - $9,700,000 2. GE - $5,315,000 3. Fifth Third Bank - $3,700,000 4. Western & Southern Financial Group - $1,400,000 5. Cincinnati Bell - $1,258,377 6. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center - $1,233,000 7. Ohio National Financial Services - $1,177,814 8. Macy’s, Inc. - $1,091,447 9. American Financial Group, Inc. - $881,000 10. U.S. Bank - $818,690 11. The Kroger Co. - $814,147 12. PNC Bank - $771,114 13. AK Steel Corporation - $731,477 14. TriHealth, Inc. - $630,000 15. Duke Energy - $625,000 16. University of Cincinnati & UC Health - $609,414 17. Vantiv - $474,332 18. Deloitte - $451,032 19. American Modern Insurance Group - $450,826 20. The Cincinnati Insurance Companies - $426,932 21. Frost Brown Todd, LLC - $424,877 22. The E. W. Scripps Co. - $420,000 23. The Corporex Family of Companies - $413,390 24. Enterprise Holdings - $401,404 25. Pomeroy - $368,750 25. EY - $368,750

1. Katz Teller - $2,449.41 2. United Way of Greater Cincinnati - $1,855.68 3. AIM MRO Holdings, Inc. - $1,697.24 4. Bartlett & Co. - $1,652.17 5. BKD, LLP - $1,468.35 6. LyondellBasell - $1,327.98 7. Squire Patton Boggs - $1,309.90 8. RiverPoint Capital Management - $1,147.06 9. The Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the American Red Cross - $1,093.75 10. HORAN - $1,073.80 11. KPMG, LLP - $1,059.08 12. Park National Bank - $1,000.00 13. Thompson Hine LLP - $979.26 14. The Shepherd Chemical Co. - $887.47 15. Michelman - $835.00 16. Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP - $809.77 17. Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, REDI & CBC/CRBC - $802.63 17. ITW - Air Management - $802.63 18. Bahl & Gaynor Investment Counsel - $786.28 19. Central Bank of Northern Kentucky - $780.65 20. BakerHostetler - $765.32 21. Al Neyer - $746.60 22. Raymond James - $712.55 23. Messer Construction Co. - $698.69 24. Blank Rome LLP - $694.00 25. Washing Systems, LLC - $669.96

The finale event, held at Duke Energy Convention Center October 27, was a chance for United Way leaders and campaign organizations to show their appreciation for the efforts for nearly 90,000 donors.

corporate, retiree and employee campaign donors in this year’s annual campaign.

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@UnitedWayGC

UWGC.org

Living United is a publication from United Way of Greater Cincinnati, 2400 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45212. It is mailed to supporters of United Way. Prefer paperless, but want to keep in touch? Sign up for the digital edition at UWGC.org/newsletter. If you have questions about the material in this publication, contact the Marketing Department at 513-762-7100 or email live.united@uwgc.org

The campaign supports United Way’s heightened focus on helping people in our region who are in poverty or struggling to meet basic needs. United Way will make significant investments in programs and solutions that help lift children, families and individuals living in poverty and struggling to meet basic needs, while still supporting programs that address critical needs for people across all income levels.

TOP NEW BUSINESS LEADERS - The top

new business donors. To qualify, a company or organization can provide a new corporate gift, run a new employee campaign or both.

giving companies with at least 25 employees and 55% employee participation that are not large enough to be in the Top 25.

1. Q Laboratories - $13,450 2. Inspire Talent Management - $10,000 3. United Bank & Capital Trust Co. - $4,263 4. Centennial, Inc. - $2,500 5. Palmer-Donavin - $2,488 6. Consolidated Metal Products - $2,000

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PRINCESS GOWNS & MONSTER TRUCKS A lively 4-year-old & her aunt find the help they need

Liz Cowans, from Newport, Kentucky, adopted her niece Malia after she was born addicted to drugs. For help tackling the challenges Malia faced, Liz turned to First Steps—Kentucky’s statewide early intervention system that provides services to children with developmental disabilities (from birth to age 3) and their families.

“Malia was born addicted to several drugs. We brought her home and she was doing ... not so well.

Someone said, ‘Have you tried First Steps?’ So I called them, and they came ready to work. They stayed with her until she was three years old and amazing things happened,” Liz said.

First Steps is Kentucky’s response to the federal Infant-Toddler Program.

First Steps offers comprehensive services through a variety of community agencies and service disciplines.

When Liz first enrolled Malia into the program, she had no idea that she could expect such a transformative experience from the therapists, along with relationships that would last well beyond the therapy sessions.

Malia built incredible bonds with Miss Ann, Miss Kathy, and Miss Alice - all therapists in the program. Liz says after visiting with a few of the therapists one day, they all emphasized how much progress they could see in her.

Liz and Malia were able to receive treatment for Malia’s druginduced developmental delays during a critical time in her ability to learn and absorb. Early intervention services such as these can help

reduce the need for special education programs for a child later in life.

Malia was able to receive treatment from First Steps through United Way agency partner New Perceptions. In addition to these critical services, Liz says that the agency poured “love” into Malia.

“Kids need love. When everyone around them pours into them – they feel loved,” Liz said. “This work is so important. It’s awesome that United Way partners with people to build dreams. United Way’s presence as a strong organization with a great reputation is so important. I am at the poverty level, but these kids still get experiences that they wouldn’t get if United Way wasn’t helping.

They are filling in the gaps. My kids don’t have to be poor and do nothing. There are things for them to do. They have dreams, goals, and help that makes them feel like they can be something.”

With the help of United Way and First Steps, Malia went from being told she may not walk - to running and thriving like any other child her age should be able to do.

At New Perceptions, emphasis is placed on teaching parents and caregivers the skills and information needed to facilitate their child’s development with activities occurring during the child’s daily routine.

“She is fully recovered,” Liz said. “She is a normal, wild fouryear-old. All of the support from United Way, First Steps ... all the things that we’ve used; they make us strong. They are truly, truly our life savers.”

More about First Steps and New Perceptions Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are offered to children under the age of three in their homes through New Perceptions’ Home-based Early Intervention Program, a United Way-funded service. Referrals are received through Kentucky’s First Steps program.

•• Physical Therapy helps coordinate and strengthen

large muscle groups (walking, running, riding a bike, throwing a ball).

•• Occupational Therapy helps small muscle movement (i.e., writing, using scissors), sensory integration (sensitivity to touch, sound, light, food), and eating disorders.

•• Speech Therapy helps develop early language skills and treat eating disorders.

Learn more at NewPerceptions.org and KYFirstSteps.org

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POVERTY: A CALL TO ACTION

MATCHMAKER MATCHMAKER, MAKE ME A MATCH!

Our most transformative work begins now

Imagine: Dating site meets job placement site

With more than 100 years in the game, United Way of Greater Cincinnati is leaning on its renowned experience and decades of leadership to tackle poverty—one of our region’s most challenging and pervasive issues.

The new year will bring a new energy of innovation at United Way. Addressing poverty head-on in the organization’s 10-county, 3-state service region will mean doing things differently.

For 2017 community campaign chair Gary T. “Doc” Huffman, understanding that need became clear during a tour of a health clinic in Price Hill.

“I was speaking to a local OB-GYN professor who volunteered her time at the clinic,” he said. “She told me about the time a pregnant woman came into the clinic needing prenatal care. As this doctor was treating her, she knew nothing she could do for the woman would make a difference if the woman had nothing to eat. So, this doctor’s parents generously took on the task of making sure the mother had enough food throughout her pregnancy. In the end, a healthy baby was born.”

But what comes next? The baby in Price Hill would continue to need food and health care and eventually preschool to be ready for kindergarten, which we know is critical for future success.

Helping children and families in similar situations requires a pioneering approach.

BoardBank, a new online tool launched by United Way of Greater Cincinnati, is a collaborative effort between community partners to find or fill positions on nonprofit boards and committees with the best leaders in greater Cincinnati.

“It was clear to me that it’s not just one intervention that moves someone in need or someone being impacted by poverty to independence – it’s a collection of services, resources and opportunities that can help children, families, and individuals answer that question, ‘what comes next?’”

Huffman explained.

“Anyone that’s looking for an opportunity can come to one central location, and any nonprofit in our community looking for a new board or committee member can come to one central location to find candidates,” said Anna Coutts, board programs leader, United Way of Greater Cincinnati.

United Way is increasing the percentage of its funding, more than ever before, to support programs that help the one-inthree people in the area who are in poverty or struggling to meet basic needs.

In spring of 2016, United Way convened nearly 100 community volunteers to meet, listen, and work together on a new process for investments. Local nonprofits responded overwhelmingly in support of this new direction.

Beginning in 2018, the majority of United Way’s investments will support programs and solutions focused directly on serving those in poverty or unable to meet basic needs.

“In addition to new investment decisions, United Way will boldly change the way services and programs are delivered,” said Ross Meyer, senior vice president and chief impact officer, United Way of Greater Cincinnati. “We can no longer help a person or family with one single service. Instead, we must bring agencies and solutions together to address all the complex issues and barriers that hold people back.”

Poverty: Up Close

Rob Reifsnyder, United Way of Greater Cincinnati president, has been championing the work and calls it the right thing to do.

1 in 3 Greater Cincinnatians struggle

to meet basic needs due to poverty *

of jobs in the region % 72 p ay l e s s t h a n

“Far too many people are struggling,” Reifsnyder said. “This challenge has been decades in the making. United Way is positioned to lead, innovate and invest in solutions that lift our community.”

Similar to a dating site, once candidates complete a simple profile, they receive custom matches to nonprofit organizations that need a new board member. Matches are selected especially for the candidate to best fit their experience and interests. Candidates are also able to search for specific board and committee positions, as well as their favorite nonprofits via a search feature with a variety of filters.

For nonprofits, BoardBank allows organizations to fill out general information on a profile - such as mission focus and service populations - and post open board positions.

Once candidates find positions that pique their interests, they simply click “connect” to let the nonprofit know they would like to learn more and be considered for the open board position. If a nonprofit is also interested in the candidate, they can accept the connection, starting what could be a potentially the perfect board membernonprofit relationship.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s latest BOLD class (Board Orientation Leadership Development) is one of many regionally-recognized leadership programs eligible for BoardBank.

“We’re doing so much to address what I consider seemingly intractable problems in our region, and by relying on the talent that exists in our region, we’re able to really raise the bar with what our nonprofits are doing,” said Russell Winters, CEO, Tender Mercies, one of the many nonprofits who will use BoardBank to recruit board members.

Find your match today at, BoardBankCincy.org

Follow United Way’s work addressing poverty and more at, UWGC.org

$50,000 per year

(the wage required for a family of four to be self-sufficient) §

200,000 CHILDREN

•• Nearly 70 percent of United Way investments will be in “wrap around”

in Greater Cincinnati are growing up in financially unstable households *

60% * American Community Survey, U.S. Census

children living

in poverty

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§ N.K.U. CEAD

services and collaboratives of agencies that promise to address multiple factors faced by a family or person in poverty.

•• United Way has also identified what it calls “big opportunities” where

it will make a major investment ($6.5 million collectively) in innovative programs expected to produce new and significant impact on moving families out of poverty.

of all Cincinnati

have at least one working caregiver

Addressing Poverty Head-On

•• United Way is adding 11 new partner agencies to advance equity by †

reaching under-represented populations.

† RAND Corp

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GIVING YOUR TIME THIS SEASON

IN OUR COMMUNITY

Find the right opportunity for your skills and schedule

Recent projects led by United Way of Greater Cincinnati

The holiday season can be the most wonderful time of the year for many, but we need your help in making that a reality for all in our community.

Looking for holiday activities with the kids while they are out of school?

Want to make an impact with your friends during the holidays? Sign up for a holiday volunteer opportunity with one of our agency partners!

Below are just a few ways you can get involved to make a difference in the lives of local families this holiday season and new year.

•• Love Your Neighbor Campaign with

The Salvation Army of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Monday – Saturday through December 23 Various locations, Greater Cincinnati & NKY

•• Christmas Operations with Freestore Foodbank Wednesday – Friday, December 20 – 22 Cincinnati, OH

•• Tax Preparer with United Way of Greater Cincinnati

Weeknights and weekends, January 30 - April 15 Various Locations in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Indiana

To sign up, learn more or find other ways to get involved, visit CincyHelps.org. For other questions e-mail volunteer@uwgc.org.

“I am excited to lead this community effort at this time,” said Dr. Bankston. “I am blessed to work with a dynamic and diverse group of citizens and organizations — and especially directly with the families living the experience of poverty right now. Our mission, working alongside families, agencies, partners and the community, is to facilitate sustainable, meaningful change that will empower our fellow neighbors in ways that enable them to live their best lives.”

Beginning in late August and running through early October, P&G employees volunteered at 46 different events as part of the Give Back Days program, all tied to two of United Way’s focus areas: poverty and early childhood education.

Activities included classroom improvements, harvesting food for food pantries, serving food, making literacy kits for local students and beautification of buildings and grounds, amongst others tied to poverty and early childhood education.

In addition, more than 100 volunteers from P&G’s Feminine Care group held a United Way fair for 7th and 8th grade girls from eight different CPS schools, as part of their #LikeAGirl campaign to boost girls’ confidence by encouraging them to embrace failure as fuel to build confidence and keep going #LikeAGirl.

One of the more unique volunteer opportunities was an all-day hackathon to explore solutions for families facing poverty, facilitated by P&G’s Consumer Market Knowledge and Human Insights teams. United Way and P&G worked together to come up with challenge areas related to poverty while overlapping with P&G capabilities or business units.

Thank you to P&G for their support through their Give Back Days, and for helping United Way create a community where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

New Leader In Poverty Fight Dr. Karen Bankston knows what it’s like to be held back by poverty.

She’s lived it and is using her understanding to help those who are currently being impacted by it. That experience early in her life, combined with a passion for equity, empowerment and a lifelong commitment to serving others are some of the experiences she brings to her new role as Executive Director the Child Poverty Collaborative (CPC), which receives major support from United Way of Greater Cincinnati.

This year, P&G and approximately 1,500 of its employees partnered with United Way, Cincinnati Preschool Promise, Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) and several United Way agency partners for their annual Give Back Days effort.

Dr. Bankston, PhD, MSN, FACHE, most recently was the Associate Dean for Clinical Practice, Partnership and Engagement at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing. A member of the leadership boards of many organizations, Dr. Bankston has been an active member of the CPC Steering Committee since its inception in 2016.

Cincinnati Hebrew Day School

Her leadership will be pivotal in driving our community to achieve the CPC’s ambitious goal of moving 5,000 families and 10,000 children out of poverty.

United Way joined with other business, community, and political leaders in late 2015 to launch the Child Poverty Collaborative with the mission of taking on the community’s high rate of childhood poverty. United Way plans to scale the successes of CPC in Hamilton County across United Way’s entire 10-county, threestate region.

Current CPC co-chairs include: Mayor John Cranley, Michael Fisher, CEO of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Tom Williams, Donna Jones Baker, Dr. O’Dell Owens, CEO of Interact for Health, and Sister Sally Duffy, Sisters of Charity.

Dr. Bankston fills the position originally held by Lynn Marmer, who served as executive director since the founding of CPC. Marmer will remain involved with CPC as a senior advisor.

Water Lily Learning Center

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INSIDE 2-1-1

NEW NEIGHBORS

How one call can change a life

A place to call home

The dust has settled. The paint has dried. And the doors are open! United Way of Greater Cincinnati recently welcomed three new neighbors to the building’s newly renovated second floor at 2400 Reading Road in Mount Auburn in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The organizations join seven others throughout the building who all share space with United Way. Together, these partners are creating a community where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

The phones are always buzzing on the fourth floor of United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s office building on Reading Road. That’s where you’ll find United Way’s 2-1-1 specialists taking calls and connecting people across the region with a variety of critical social services when it’s needed most.

The service is free and available to anyone by dialing 2-1-1.

Since its launch in 2003, United Way’s 2-1-1 has received more than one-million calls. Callers are connected to vital services such as sheltering for a family, counseling, rental assistance, emergency food, and much more.

Easterseals Military & Veteran Services Easterseals Military & Veterans Services was launched in 2012 to convene organizations serving veterans in our region, with United Way serving as an original partner. Easterseals Military & Veterans Services rallies the community to create solutions, leverage existing resources and forging collaborations to help service members and their families access information, education, and meaningful employment. The organization offers services in the areas of emergency assistance, employment and education, and serves as a first resource for United Way’s helpline, 2-1-1. When a veteran calls 2-1-1, he or she is directly connected to Easterseals.

Caring, compassionate, and certified United Way 2-1-1 specialists listen and work hard to identify options and direct callers to a range of community services. Knowledgeable specialists can take out the guesswork while navigating what can often be a complicated human services system. Independent surveys show a 99 percent satisfaction rate.

“A caller may have no idea where to turn or where to start,” said Jennifer Bieger, United Way 2-1-1 senior manager. “We are here to manage tough situations that come up in everyday life.”

A major asset of United Way 2-1-1 is specialists can communicate with anyone, including non-English speakers, through interpretation services covering more than 150 languages. And some callers, such as human service providers, dial into United Way 2-1-1 as a tool to help others as well.

“We’ve transformed from general information to a more holistic framework centered on providing opportunity that helps people and families thrive,” Bieger said.

People can also connect to 2-1-1’s comprehensive online resource database via UWGC.org/211.

“No matter the need, no matter the time, 2-1-1 specialists promise to always be there on the other line, when it counts,” Beiger said. “For the many people who contact us, United Way 2-1-1 is the hope that they so desperately need.”

Cincinnati Preschool Promise Cincinnati Preschool Promise is a nonprofit organization, expanding access to quality preschools in Cincinnati, which is made possible thanks to a significant investment from taxpayers who approved a 5-year Cincinnati Public Schools levy in 2016. The levy includes $33 million a year to strengthen K-12 education and $15 million a year to expand access to quality preschool. United Way was selected as our community’s “trusted entity” to oversee the implementation of preschool expansion.

Supporter Spotlight

Patrick Bailey, LINC member When and How did you get involved with United Way? I have been involved with United Way since May 2016. As a recent college graduate, I knew I wanted to get involved in the local community. In doing so I found United Way’s young professional program, LINC (Lead. Impact. Network. Change.) and the Emerging Leaders group. I gravitated towards the LINC group and ever since my first event, I got more involved. I helped plan some of the previous events, and this made my passion for the organization grow.

Why should the community support our programming and consider getting engaged with one of our donor groups?

The community should support United Way programming because it offers a solution to multiple problems the area is currently facing.

For example, a big of United Way of Greater Cincinnati is childhood and family poverty. The LINC group specifically addressed this focus with “Soupe for Thought,” where we partnered with La Soupe to create cookbooks for kids to take home. The cookbooks can help children learn how to cook and eat healthy with fresh food. Another example of the childhood poverty focus is, “Carnival for Kids.” LINC partnered with The Children’s Home of Cincinnati to create a fun

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Tristate Veterans Community Alliance In May of 2014, Easterseals and United Way were two of five local organizations convened to build the Tristate Veterans Community Alliance (TVCA), an independent, veteran-led nonprofit working to better align veteran support services across our community. With about 2,000 regional organizations working to help veterans, TVCA acts as a bridge in our community between veterans and their families to all of the services that make the most sense for them to help during the often difficult transition from military life to civilian life.

day for low-income children. The ability to make a direct impact is just one of the many reasons why the community should support United Way’s programming.

As a young professional, what has been the biggest benefit for you being part of LINC?

Cincinnati Preschool Promise is expanding access to quality preschool in Cincinnati in two ways: providing tuition assistance to local families who need it most, and providing quality improvement grants to ensure more local preschools are quality rated, which is defined by a 3, 4, or 5-star rating on Ohio’s Step Up to Quality rating system. Cincinnati Preschool Promise’s interim director is Stephanie Byrd, who also serves as United Way’s senior vice president for early learning strategies.

The biggest benefit for me is the learning experience. I am learning about the issues that the community is facing and being involved allows me to work with others who are dedicated to combating these issues. LINC allows me to not only partake in philanthropic opportunities, but also to have a hands-on approach to the issues, and see how the money we help raise is benefiting the community.

What’s your favorite thing about Cincinnati?

My favorite thing about Cincinnati is the people. No matter where I travel, if I bump into someone from Cincinnati, an instant connection is made. The people of Cincinnati truly understand the real meaning of community. I would be lying to you if I did not mention the food. I love Graeter’s Ice Cream and Skyline Chili.

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100 YEARS STRONG: A LOOK BACK This vintage poster from 1982 is one of many in United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s archives from past campaigns. It was selected as a playful yet meaningful alternative to the typical campaign message.

See more throwbacks like this in upcoming issues of “Living United.” United Way’s rich history of leadership and helping the community dates back more than 100 years.

CONNECT WITH US

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