May 5, 2008
DeWitt Middle School Students Award $3,500 to Nonprofits Working with the Caroline Community
 
Ithaca, NY –The Caroline FOCUS (Focus on Community and Understanding Service) Council, a United Way of Tompkins County Program, will award $3,500 to local nonprofit organizations that serve the town of Caroline. Overseen by volunteers and staff from United Way of Tompkins County, the FOCUS Council is comprised of nine students from DeWitt Middle School. They met for five weeks to deliberate about the one-time grant requests, while learning more about their community and philanthropy.

The FOCUS Program was developed as an extension of United Way of Tompkins County’s successful Youth and Philanthropy Program. Middle school students in select towns in Tompkins County distribute funding to local nonprofit organizations that serve their communities. They participate in consensus building activities, review grant applications, conduct interviews, and make all decisions related to awarding the money. United Way of Tompkins County volunteers and staff, in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County’s Rural Youth Program, worked with the Caroline middle school students and high school program assistants on leadership development activities, community needs assessment, and fund distribution process for their local town.

This is the seventh year of the FOCUS Program. Since the program’s inception in 2002, with the generous support from the Park Foundation, the towns of Dryden, Groton, Enfield, Ithaca - in
conjunction with The Learning Web, Newfield, and Trumansburg/Ulysses have hosted FOCUS Programs. To date, students have allocated $18,800 to nonprofit organizations serving women, children, and men in the communities of Tompkins County.

In preparation for this year’s application review process, the Caroline FOCUS Council Members completed a public, town-wide community needs assessment at dance held at the Brooktondale Community Center. The students received 136 responses and used this data during their decision-making process. United Way of Tompkins County’s Board of Directors reviewed their findings and awarded an additional $500 to the $3,000 grant from the Park Foundation for the students to distribute.

Students read through eight grant applications with a total of $15,430 in requests. Caroline Youth Program Manager, Penny Boynton stated, “If we give youth a chance they will help change the world and energize you on the way."

• The Brooktondale Community Center – Awarded $1,270 to repair the Center’s Old Fire Hall Building, making it more energy efficient and fixing the broken ceiling, adding insulation, and new sheetrock, enhancing its use as the community’s food pantry and farmers’ market.
• Caroline Elementary School – Program: Empower Caroline School! Awarded $1,000 to construct a small wind turbine at Caroline Elementary School as an innovative education tool to teach about renewable energy and conservation.
• Cooperative Extension Association in the State of New York – Program: Caroline Beautification Volunteer Coordinator awarded $500 to fund a volunteer coordinator position that will work with a group of people from Caroline on local beautification projects by planning, planting, and maintaining attractive flower plantings throughout the community.
• Ithaca Youth Bureau – Program: Caroline Outing Group End of Year Trip awarded $730 to provide food and transportation for the group’s team building end of session trip, the culmination of the program that works on fostering personal growth and building a team mentality.

“Working together with the Caroline Middle School students has been both an enlightening and rewarding experience. This group of dynamic young people has shown leadership in identifying the needs of their community. They are certainly doing their part to build a strong community,” stated Kim Swartz from the Public Service Center at Cornell University, who serves as United Way of Tompkins County lead volunteer for the FOCUS Program.

The FOCUS Council Members will present the grants to the recipients on Tuesday, May 6th, at 7:00 p.m. at Caroline Town Board Meeting held at the Caroline Town Hall, 2670 Slaterville Road, Route 79, Slaterville Springs, NY. Trevor Townsend, FOCUS Member added, "It was a fun experience because we got to help the community."

United Way continues to be at the center of the health and human service network in Tompkins County building and supporting   Strong People    Strong Families    Strong Communities. 

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April 4, 2008
United Way Honors Volunteers and Celebrates Exceeding $2,000,000 Record-Breaking Campaign
 
Ithaca, NY –With a trumpet blaring to start the event, United Way of Tompkins County hosted its annual Campaign Victory Celebration and Volunteer Recognition Breakfast on Friday, April 4th at the Country Club of Ithaca, with 145 guests in attendance.  Roger Sibley, Executive Director, Franziska Racker Centers and Chairman of UWTC’s Board of Directors, Campaign Co-Chairs Jean McPheeters, President & CEO, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Rob Mackenzie, President & CEO, Cayuga Medical Center, and Fund Distribution Co-Chairs Barbara West, Community Volunteer and Steve Adams, Manager of System Information, Ithaca College had the opportunity to thank the volunteers, donors, 43 member organizations and media for their outstanding support. James Brown, President, United Way of Tompkins County, acknowledged the commitment of the thousands of donors and the work of the dedicated Board of Directors and presented gifts to the lead volunteers.  In addition, Jonathan Feldman, a senior at Cornell University was acknowledged for his outstanding work on the Campaign and for his development of the Stephen E. Garner Summers of Service Scholarship Program.

President David Skorton spoke about Cornell University’s commitment to the community and United Way of Tompkins County.  The faculty, staff, administration, and students contributed over $800,000, which represented 114% of the campus goal. 

Campaign Co-Chair McPheeters presented the Patricia E. Stage Trophy recognizing the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, which was awarded to deserving campaign volunteer, John E. Alexander.  John’s commitment to UWTC and our community has been outstanding. 

• Dedicated UWTC campaign volunteer for several years, including serving as Campaign Chair in 2002 and currently as a UWTC Board Member and Campaign Committee Member.
• Serves as Chair of the Leadership Giving Committee.
• Serves as Chair of the Tocqueville Society, representing those individuals who give gifts of $10,000 or more annually to the UWTC Community Campaign.
• Has been the lead volunteer for the past two years working with our Corporate Cornerstone Partners and developed that program in to one of UWTC’s most successful Campaign initiatives.  For 2008, the Corporate Cornerstone gifts will cover all of UWTC’s operational expenses. As a result, 100% of the donations received from donors will benefit programs and services.
• Written numerous letters and followed up with phone calls and emails to individual and corporate donors and prospective donors.
• Has encouraged generous corporate and employees’ support from The CBORD Group, Inc.

The 2007-08 successful Community Campaign exceeded its goal of $2,000,000, raising $2,047,556, which represented the most donations ever received in United Way of Tompkins County’s 87-year history.  Early in the Campaign, the Triad Foundation made a silent challenge gift commitment to United Way of Tompkins County, pledging $100,000 if the UWTC could raise $1,900,000 in donations from individuals and businesses in the community.  Campaign Co-Chairs McPheeters and Mackenzie announced that UWTC reached that mark on March 10th.

Gifts support more than 150, local, year-round, health and human service programs helping women, children, and men to improve their lives, in addition to the two targeted areas of care: Hunger & Food Security and the Urgent Rx Prescription Program.

 United Way continues to be at the center of the health and human service network in Tompkins County building and supporting   Strong People    Strong Families    Strong Communities. 

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March 10, 2008
Record United Way Donations Raised Through Strong Community-Wide Support and Capped by Generous Gift from the Triad Foundation
 
Ithaca, NY –United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) has exceeded its 2007-08 Community Campaign Goal of $2,000,000, the most funds raised in the agency’s 87-year history, as announced today by Campaign Co-Chairs Jean McPheeters and Rob Mackenzie, M.D.  The campaign’s final success was made possible by a generous gift from a long-standing partner, Triad Foundation, Inc., a family foundation based in Ithaca.

Donations raised through the 2007-08 Community Campaign will help support more than 150 Tompkins County health and human service programs, with special emphasis on two areas of care: Hunger & Food Security and the Urgent Rx Prescription Program.  Community donors may continue to support the 2007-08 Campaign until it closes on March 31, 2008. 

Early in the Campaign, the Triad Foundation made a silent challenge gift commitment to United Way of Tompkins County, pledging $100,000 if the UWTC could raise $1,900,000 in donations from individuals and businesses in the community.  On March 10th McPheeters and Mackenzie stated that contributions to date have exceeded the $1,900,000 target, ensuring the generous silent challenge grant from the Triad Foundation would be awarded. 

In confirming the award, Joanne Florino, the executive director of the Triad Foundation, noted, “Collaborating with United Way of Tompkins County in the 2007-08 campaign has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to leverage Triad’s contribution in order to assist United Way in reaching a milestone fundraising goal and help build a stronger community. We are grateful to all the donors who have made campaign gifts and encourage those who have not yet participated to consider joining in this effort.”

The Triad Foundation has been a leading partner of United Way of Tompkins County.  Over the past five years Triad has supported UWTC’s work in the community with annual grants ranging from $25,000 to $35,000, that have specifically focused on food and hunger.  The Triad Foundation was UWTC’s first community partner in its Hunger and Food Security Initiative, working to quantify the scope of and develop solutions for Tompkins County’s unmet hunger and food needs.

Most recently, the two organizations awarded a combined grant of $33,000 to Foodnet Meals-on-Wheels to employ a Nutrition Outreach Worker for one year. The newly hired staff member is responsible for linking low-income seniors in Tompkins County with local services and resources, and reducing food insecurity among this population by increasing participation in the county’s Food Card Program.  In a new endeavor, the Triad Foundation has joined Tompkins Trust Company and others in supporting the recently announced Stephen E. Garner Summers of Service Scholarship Program initiated by Cornell University student Jonathan Feldman.

James Brown, President, United Way of Tompkins County added, “From thousands of individual and corporate gifts, to the Cornell community raising nearly $800,000, and our Corporate Cornerstone contributors that have now provided funding for United Way’s operational expenses next year, this has been a been a broad-based community effort.  The fact that the Triad Foundation has the trust and confidence, in our United Way, to make such a major gift is meaningful and benefits the residents of Tompkins County.”  

United Way of Tompkins County is an independent, non-profit corporation, incorporated and governed by a local, volunteer board of directors.  Its mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities.  

Triad Foundation, Inc. is a family foundation led by Roy H. Park, Jr. and his children. Triad continues to honor the legacy of the late Roy Hampton Park and makes philanthropic investments in the communities in which its family members are active.

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February 4, 2008
United Way of Tompkins County Unveils the Stephen E. Garner Summers of Service Scholarship
 
Ithaca, NY –United Way of Tompkins County Campaign Co-Chairs, Dr. Rob Mackenzie, President & CEO of Cayuga Medical Center and Jean McPheeters, President of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, hosted a special Campaign Committee Meeting at Robert Purcell Community Center. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier organized a service project, which had the fifty-five volunteers and guests packing 220 backpacks to be distributed as part of the BackPack Program. United Way funded this program, which provides nutritious snacks over the weekends and during school breaks for students in the Newfield and Ithaca City School Districts. Mackenzie and McPheeters announced that the Community Campaign is at 93% of the $2,000,000 goal and based on other gift commitments, the outlook was promising to meet and even exceed this milestone goal by the closing campaign date of March 31st.

Steve Golding, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration at Cornell University, and serving as the Cornell University United Way Campaign Chair, announced that the employees had once again given generously and exceeded their $700,000 campus goal, with donations totaling $784,882 to date.

In addition, Cornell University has made a three-year commitment to be a Corporate Cornerstone Partner. A select group of local businesses and Cornell University have stepped forward to support the Corporate Cornerstone Program, which funds United Way’s overall administrative expenses, allowing more of the individuals and other corporate donors’ gifts to directly support health and human service programs throughout the county.

Jonathan Feldman, Cornell University Student and United Way volunteer, has been instrumental in organizing several successful fund raising events on campus, all to benefit United Way. Today, Jonathan had the pleasure of announcing his newest initiative, the Stephen E. Garner Summers of Service Scholarship. This initiative, funded by donors’ gifts, including Feldman’s generous lifetime commitment to fund one scholarship per year, will provide summer internships for local high school students at one or more of United Way’s 43 member organizations. Stephen E. Garner was President & CEO of Tompkins Trust Company and served as United Way’s Campaign Chair in 2004 and Board Chair in 2006 before his untimely passing in May 2006.  “Steve believed in making our community a stronger and healthier place for all who live and work here. He was instrumental in bringing about numerous positive changes that will continue to benefit the residents of Tompkins County,” stated James Brown, President of UWTC. The annual internships will give high school students the opportunity to learn firsthand about the health and human service sector in Tompkins County. Feldman had the honor of naming the first Stephen E. Garner Summers of Service Scholarship in honor of Gary Stewart, Assistant Director of Community Relations at Cornell University, and the impetus behind many of Jonathan’s ideas and efforts during his Cornell experience.

In closing, Campaign Co-Chairs McPheeters and Mackenzie thanked the community for its generous support and recognized the outstanding efforts of Jonathan Feldman and the students from Cornell University.

United Way continues to be at the center of the health and human service network in Tompkins County by building and supporting  Strong People    Strong Families    Strong Communities.

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January 18, 2008
United Way of Tompkins County Awards $20,570 to NY Coalition for Healthy School Food
 
Ithaca, NY –The Board of Directors from United Way of Tompkins County has approved a $20,570 grant to the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food (NYCHSF). The grant will be used to supply nutritious fruits and vegetables for students at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School (BJM).  NYCHSF is providing fresh produce as a means for healthy snacks and influencing good eating habits for the children.  This project is the first significant activity from this statewide organization in Tompkins County.  The goal is that by eating fresh produce on a daily basis, it will become part the children's routine, something they actually come to prefer, as it makes them feel better. The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food, United Way of Tompkins County, and Greenstar Community Projects (GCP) will announce a partnership with the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) for this one-year pilot Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program at the January 22 ICSD Board of Education Meeting at the administrative offices at 7:00 p.m. 

The program is a private version of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program. NYCHSF developedthe program after learning of its popularity with the limited USDA initiative.

The NYCHSF program is employing an “Adopt a Classroom” concept, similar to businesses adopting sports teams, where local businesses and foundations provide funding for the purpose of providing fresh fruit and vegetable snacks in the classroom to increase consumption of those foods and to decrease consumption of less healthy snacks. “Less than 2% of children are eating according to the US Dietary Guidelines. This program will directly increase students’ fruit and vegetable consumption,” said Amie Hamlin, Executive Director of NYCHSF. The program will also incorporate an educational component, using NYCHSF’s signature program, Wellness Wakeup. From this experience, NYCHSF will create a blueprint document during the summer that tells other businesses, foundations, and schools how to implement the program.  Ardyth Gillespie, Ph.D., from Cornell University’s Food Decision Making Program, will provide research and evaluation support.

One of United Way of Tompkins County’s targeted areas of care is Hunger and Food Security.  James Brown, President of United Way of Tompkins County, stated,  “By sponsoring fresh fruit and vegetable snacks in twelve BJM classrooms, United Way is contributing to the efforts of students, families, and educators.  This is a wonderful convergence of people and community assets, and we are happy to be a partner.”

The non-profit arm of Greenstar Cooperative Market is adopting an additional classroom, and will be directly providing produce with an emphasis on local and organic. GCP Board Member Liz Karabinakis states, “The FFVSP is a great opportunity to leverage support from socially responsible businesses, and to use schools as a vehicle to help improve children’s access to healthy foods. This is an exciting endeavor for GreenStar and I’m eager to share our blueprint with other natural food co-ops across the country.”  

Ithaca City School District Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Lesli Myers is thrilled with the program. “A healthy diet should consist of a great deal of raw fruits and vegetables. The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food has partnered with the Ithaca City School District to help students at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School meet this requirement. This joint venture enables our students to eat healthy snacks of fresh fruits and vegetables, which in turn enables them to focus on learning.” said Myers. Denise Gomber, Principal of BJM added, “We are very excited about this opportunity that NYCHSF, Greenstar, and United Way of Tompkins County has brought to us. It will have a great impact both nutritionally and academically, and we will integrate it into our curriculum.”

Cayuga Radio Group provided $5,000 of donated advertising to inform the business community about this opportunity. At this time, NYCHSF is seeking additional businesses, foundations, and individuals in Tompkins County to adopt the remaining six classrooms at BJM. 

United Way of Tompkins County: Supporting  Strong People    Strong Families    Strong Communities. United Way of Tompkins County is an independent, non-profit corporation, incorporated and governed by a volunteer board of directors. United Way continues to be at the center of the health and human service network in Tompkins County.

The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food(NYCHSF) is a statewide nonprofit that works to improve the health and well-being of New York's students by advocating for healthy plant-based foods, including organic where possible, farm to school programs, the elimination of unhealthy competitive foods in all areas of the school (not just the cafeteria), comprehensive nutrition policy, and education to create food- and health-literate students.

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January 8, 2008
United Way of Tompkins County and the Triad Foundation Award $33,000 to Foodnet Meals-on-Wheels
 
Ithaca, NY –United Way of Tompkins County and the Triad Foundation have awarded a combined grant totaling $33,000 to Foodnet Meals-on-Wheels. This grant will be used to employ a Nutrition Outreach Worker for one year, who will be responsible for implementing a plan that will include identifying seniors in Tompkins County who have low-incomes and then linking them with other valuable services and resources available within the community. The grant was awarded as a result of the successful Foodnet Food Card Program, a two-year summer program funded by United Way of Tompkins County with additional funding from the Community Foundation of Tompkins County for the second year.  A social worker funded through Foodnet identified needs, mailed 700 people information, made 280 connections for service, and increased food card usage for 25 elderly people. As an extension of this program, United Way of Tompkins County awarded $17,500 and the Triad Foundation $15,500 to fund the new position. The outreach worker will work 50% with food card outreach and 50% with case management of participating Foodnet clients. 

Tompkins County has been identified by New York State as a pilot county for receiving online applications for food card usage. Together, the Triad Foundation and United Way of Tompkins County are committed to this program, which will identify low-income elderly persons living in Tompkins County who are facing nutritional risks. The county population of persons aged 60 years and over is approximately 12,000, of whom 53% are estimated to be food insecure, which means they lack access to enough food to fully meet basic needs as a result of insufficient financial resources.

Regarding Triad Foundation’s decision to make this grant award, Executive Director Joanne Florino commented: “The Triad Directors appreciated this particular opportunity to collaborate with United Way to continue and expand a program that had already demonstrated impact in improving the lives of a particularly vulnerable population. While providing for the nutritional needs of low-income elderly, the Nutrition Outreach Worker will also be able to assess and address other needs and offer much-needed protection against the dangers which result from social isolation.”

The Nutrition Outreach Worker will:  

• Travel to rural townships to meet with seniors
• Conduct comprehensive intake assessments for Meals-on-Wheels under the supervision  of Foodnet’s registered dietitian

• Provide Food Stamp Benefit Card pre-screening and application assistance to isolated low- income seniors throughout Tompkins County

• Assess other unmet needs
• Identify other available services and assist with applications
• Conduct process and outcome evaluations of the project

The goal is to reduce food insecurity among frail, isolated elders by increasing participation in the Food Card Program and other valuable services within Tompkins County. This will be accomplished by incorporating Food Card outreach into assessments and reassessments of Foodnet’s clients, working with the Tompkins County Department of Social Services to identify actual and perceived barriers to seniors’ participation in the Food Card Program, and assisting elders to help them overcome these barriers.
 
The outreach worker will identify seniors at-risk who are not receiving needed services and connect them to these resources, making at least fifty appropriate referrals to community programs per year, and providing more in-depth case management of clients receiving home-delivered meals.

This will enable Foodnet’s registered dietitian to provide more nutritional counseling for their clients. The outreach worker will also share the client assessment and reassessment caseload that is currently the sole responsibility of the registered dietician.

James Brown, President of United Way of Tompkins County,  stated, “Triad Foundation was United Way’s first partner in trying to quantify the scope of local hunger and food insecurity and develop solutions. The fact that three years later we are jointly funding this project demonstrates the commitment both organizations have to strengthening the lives of all Tompkins County residents.”  Brown added, “This program and these two grants represent collaborations between funding organizations and both public and private service providers.  Along with Foodnet, the Tompkins Department of Social Services played a key role in both summer pilot programs and will be an important contributor in this year-round effort.”

United Way of Tompkins County is committed to addressing unmet health and human service needs in our community by working with partners to develop solutions.  For the last five years, United Way of Tompkins County has been actively addressing hunger and food security issues in the county.  This has been possible because of the generous support from businesses, individuals, foundations, and the community-at-large.  As a result, United Way of Tompkins continues to build Strong People    Strong Families    Strong Communities.

United Way of Tompkins County is an independent, non-profit corporation, incorporated and governed by a volunteer board of directors. Its mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities. 

Triad Foundation is a family foundation led by Roy H. Park, Jr. and his children. Triad continues to honor the legacy of the late Roy Hampton Park and makes philanthropic investments in the communities in which its family members are active.

United Way continues to be at the center of the health and human service network in Tompkins County. 

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April 20, 2007
United Way Honors Volunteers and Celebrates Record-Breaking Campaign
 
Ithaca, NY –During National Volunteer Week, United Way of Tompkins County hosted its annual Campaign Victory Celebration and Volunteer Recognition Breakfast on Friday, April 20th at the Holiday Inn Ithaca, with 150 guests in attendance.  Maryanne Banks, Director of Services, Tompkins County Department of Social Services and Chair, Board of Directors, Charles Walcott, Professor and Dean of the Cornell University Faculty and Campaign Chair, and Philip McPheron, Director of Graduate and Professional Housing, Cornell University, and Allocations Chair had the opportunity to thank the volunteers, donors, and media for their outstanding work and support. James Brown, President, United Way of Tompkins County, acknowledged the work of the dedicated Board of Directors and presented gifts to the lead volunteers.  The annual Year-In-Review video produced by volunteer, Doug Melens, from Tompkins Trust Company, received raved reviews from the guests.

The Patricia E. Stage Trophy recognizing the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year was awarded to deserving volunteers, Nancy Pringle, Vice President and College Counsel at Ithaca College and Brian McAree, Vice President, Student Affairs and Campus Life at Ithaca College.  Both Nancy and Brian served on the Community Campaign Committee for the last three years, and have worked on the successful Ithaca College United Way Campaign with other dedicated campus volunteers.  They attended numerous meetings and events, wrote letters, sent emails and made telephone calls, all to benefit United Way of Tompkins County’s 44 member organizations and numerous other programs and services.  This year Ithaca College employees exceeded their campaign goal under the leadership and guidance of Nancy and Brian.

The 2006-07 Community Campaign, led by Charles Walcott, exceeded its goal of $1,900,000, raising $1,910,880, which represents the most donations ever received in United Way of Tompkins County’s 85-year history.  Gifts support more than 150, local, year-round, health and human service programs helping women, children, and men to improve their lives, in addition to the two targeted areas of care; Hunger & Food Insecurity and the Urgent Rx Prescription Program.

United Way continues to be at the center of the health and human service network in Tompkins County. 

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February 1, 2007
The Ithaca Journal
Guest Column Submission
by Charles Walcott, 2006 Campaign Chair, United Way of Tompkins County and Professor and Dean of University Faculty, Cornell University
 
Often times it is easy to get so busy with our daily routines that we are not aware of those in our community who may be experiencing some difficult times. The elderly couple who needs some minor home repairs that will enable them to stay in their residence, the school-aged child who is experiencing emotional difficulties after the death of a parent, the young adult with special needs looking for employment, the recent college graduate diagnosed with breast cancer, the distraught parent who needs counseling services, or the uninsured patient who needs a prescription filled. These examples represent a very small sampling of people in Tompkins County who need our help throughout the year.

We are fortunate that we live in a wonderfully caring community that is blessed with a wide variety of support services for people who need assistance; food, clothing, shelter, respite care, daycare programs, literacy programs, disaster preparedness training, recreational programs, transportation for people with disabilities, and counseling.  These programs and services and many more too numerous to list are available because of the thousands of generous, individual donors and hundreds of businesses who support the annual United Way of Tompkins County Community Campaign. Their gifts help to fund more than one-hundred, year-round, health and human service programs, in addition to the two targeted areas of care; Hunger and Food Insecurity and the Urgent Rx Prescription Program.

One of the identified priority areas of need in Tompkins County is affordable health care, which affects individuals and especially, families, several who are the working poor.  The Health Planning Council, Cayuga Medical Center, Kinney Drugs, and United Way of Tompkins County are addressing this unmet basic need. The goal is simple and twofold:

1. To provide prescriptions to uninsured individuals who receive treatment at Cayuga Medical Center’s Emergency Room or at Convenient Care Center in Ithaca, to help resolve their immediate, urgent health issue, and also to prevent more serious medical needs in the future.

2. To provide information about other prescription and health insurance programs available to the uninsured.

In the year since the Urgent Rx Prescription Program began, it has served hundreds of patients by providing free prescriptions. The majority of the drugs, mostly antibiotics, pain relievers, and steroids have not been expensive; the average prescription costs $17.44. Participants were newborns through senior citizens from throughout Tompkins County, who, for one reason or another, have faced financial challenges, and do not have any health insurance. 

The Urgent Rx Prescription Program has been supported by the generosity of the Brooks Family Foundation. This year, the Brooks Family Foundation has again challenged United Way of Tompkins County to match its grant of $35,000. So far, we have raised donations totaling $20,000 leaving $15,000 yet to go. We hope that you might be willing to help. Consider the effect of even a small gift of $10 or $20. Matched by the Foundation, this becomes $20 or $40, which is enough to provide a potentially lifesaving antibiotic prescription. It is a remarkably cost-effective way of helping our friends and neighbors in their time of need.

While United Way's Community Campaign is almost over for this year, we are so thankful to have received donations to date of $1,855,150, over 97% of our $1.9 million goal, from generous friends and neighbors, but we still need to complete the match of the challenge grant for Urgent Rx.  The Campaign officially ends on March 31, 2007.

Are you able to help us maximize this challenge grant? Your gift to support the Urgent Rx Prescription Program is truly needed.  You most likely will never know the person you helped, but be assured that you have definitely impacted someone’s life in a positive way. Please contact United Way of Tompkins County, 313 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 or call 272-6286.

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January 8, 2007
Newfield Middle School Students Award $2,000 to Nonprofits
 
Ithaca, NY –On January 5, 2007 during half time of the Newfield v. Thomas Edison high school boys’ basketball game, the Newfield FOCUS Council, a United Way of Tompkins County Program, awarded $2,000 to local nonprofit organizations that serve the town of Newfield. Overseen by volunteers and staff of United Way of Tompkins County and Cornell Cooperative Extension, the FOCUS Council is comprised of eight, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students from Newfield Middle School. They met for five weeks last fall to deliberate and allocate the one-time grants, while learning more about their community and philanthropy in the process.
         
The FOCUS Program, which stands for Focus On Community and Understanding Service, was developed as an extension of United Way of Tompkins County’s Youth and Philanthropy Program. Middle school students in select towns allocate $2,000 to local nonprofit organizations that serve their communities. They participate in consensus building activities, review grant applications, conduct interviews, and deliberate about how to award the money. Students also engage in a documentary photography project, where they capture on film what they like about their community and what they would like to change.

This year marks the fifth year of FOCUS. Since the program’s inception in 2002, the towns of Dryden, Groton, Enfield, and Trumansburg have hosted FOCUS Programs. To date, students have allocated $10,000 to nonprofit organizations serving women, children, and men in the communities of Tompkins County.

This was the most competitive FOCUS grant process yet. Students read through eleven grant applications with a total of $9,780 in requests. The Newfield FOCUS Council elected to grant funds to four organizations. Better Housing for Tompkins County, Inc. received $900 towards a water softener for Newfield Garden Apartments; the Newfield Historical Society received $500 for equipment to furnish the Kelloggs Corner One-Room School House; Newfield Kitchen Cupboard received $300 to start a personal care items closet for its patrons; and the Town of Newfield was awarded $300 to support the Newfield Night Out.
         
The students took particular interest in Newfield Kitchen Cupboard’s request for funds to start a personal care items closet. Christina Sanseverino, an eighth grade student at Newfield Middle School and FOCUS participant reveals, “I never realized there are things that some people can go out and get but others can’t. Some people don’t get what they need and they have to ask others for help.” This thought resonated so much with the Newfield FOCUS Council that they chose to award more money to the Newfield Kitchen Cupboard than the grant requested.

“Working together with the Newfield Middle School students was an incredible experience.” Kim Swartz, United Way of Tompkins County lead volunteer gushes, “I am so proud of the outstanding work these dynamic young people accomplished.  They are engaged in their community and have a keen understanding of the needs that are present.”

United Way continues to be at the center of the health and human service network in Tompkins County.

In 1922, twenty-seven local organizations received funding totaling $48,934 from the Community Chest.  The largest recipient was our county hospital with a $10,000 allocation. 

By 1948, the Community Chest’s largest annual investment grew to approximately $110,000, and was awarded to the hospital.  In 1958, the Community Chest became Tompkins County United Fund, and in 1973 it was renamed United Way of Tompkins County. 

While United Way’s funding relationship with the hospital ended years ago, the longstanding partnership is still important for our community and both organizations.  Cayuga Medical Center annually kicks off our Pacesetter Campaign by exceeding their internal fundraising goals. This February, CMC joined with the Health Planning Council, Kinney Drug and United Way to implement the Urgent Rx Program.  Through this effort 446 individuals who were seen at the Medical Center’s Emergency Department or Convenient Care Center in Ithaca received urgently needed prescriptions that they could not afford.

Among our original members, the American Red Cross, Family and Children’s Service, (now our largest local investment), Salvation Army, and the YMCA are still member organizations.  Catholic Charities, an initial member, rejoined United Way as an affiliate member in 2001.

Throughout the years, our United Way has been a place where people from across Tompkins County have come to build a stronger community.  We have benefited greatly and learned much by convening our past campaign chairs including John Alexander, Fran Benedict, Jim Byrnes, David Call, Sandi Chambers, Betty Cornish ("Million Dollar Betty" - for chairing the community's first $1,000,000 campaign), Dave Cutting, Doug Green, Dave Iles, Tom LiVigne, Roger Sibley, Tom Smith, Kim Swartz, Gary Woloszyn, and the late Raymond Van Houtte.

Tompkins County has a rich history of philanthropy founded on generous volunteer leadership, effective service providers, and an informed and caring population. 
                                   
This year we are taking time to remember and appreciate the people and events that have helped build our community and United Way.  With our partners, we will provide food, resources, and develop a congregate meal program outside the city of Ithaca.

Our youth and philanthropy efforts that have provided leadership and community building opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students will continue.  Did you know that local young people have invested more than $150,000 in needed services?  A new component that has Cornell students visiting daycare classes for reading projects and other activities has been rewarding and successful. These wonderful efforts are the foundation of our future!

On September 21, we will take an important step in our journey by recognizing the accomplishments of our friend, partner, and leader, Stephen E. Garner.  Like so many, we were unprepared to lose Steve this past May.  And to a great extent, we have not.  Through his far-reaching legacy, Steve is a part of United Way and our ongoing work.    
We will celebrate Steve’s many contributions through United Way by naming our Day of Caring in his memory.  From this point forward, our day of service and community campaign kick-off will be a special day when we remember our friend.

Please join us at noon in Stewart Park for a special program.  In addition, two free emergency preparedness training courses will be held at the Chamber of Commerce.  We will also have two service projects at Better Housing sites in Newfield and Trumansburg.

While Steve would surely be uncomfortable with this level of attention, we believe that these shared community activities will provide us one more opportunity to enjoy the memory of his warm smile and laughter.  We hope you will be able to take some time from your busy schedule to join us!