Displaying items by tag: United Way of Summit County

(Akron Public Schools) Today Akron Public Schools (APS) and Bridgestone Americas, Inc. announced the new Bridgestone Academy of Applied Engineering and Technology, which will bring a Firestone Complete Auto Care (FCAC) center to East Community Learning Center (CLC) in the Fall of the 2018/2019 school year. The center will give up to 100 students hands-on experience working with top-of-the-line automotive technology while learning business practices necessary to run a retail store. Bridgestone Americas will also become a Named Academy Partner in the growing community of businesses engaging in the new College & Career Academies of Akron for APS high schools.

Akron Public Schools will retrofit a portion of the existing Automotive Technology lab at East CLC in conjunction with Bridgestone Americas, which will donate materials, fixtures, and point-of-sale systems. The center will come complete with software programs, customer waiting area and equipment to service vehicles. Uniformed students will provide limited auto maintenance services to the local community while practicing exemplary customer service and business acumen. All revenue generated from service and sales will be reinvested into the program.

“The Automotive Technology program at East CLC has a long history of teaching students auto repair skills,” Chadwick Groom, East CLC automotive technology teacher said. “This collaboration with Bridgestone Americas will strengthen our curriculum by providing students with more advanced training while learning about customer service and business fundamentals.”

“Bridgestone is thrilled to be part of the College & Career Academies of Akron. This collaboration underscores our long-term, deep-seated commitment and ties to the Akron community and education in particular,” said Christine Karbowiak, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer, and Executive Vice President, Bridgestone Americas.“Bridgestone is a leader in innovation, and this training center is a tangible representation of Our Way to Serve, our corporate social responsibility commitment. The center reflects our dedication to educating the next generation of automotive and retail professionals, using the latest technology, operational procedures and business practices offered in our Firestone Complete Auto Care tire and automotive service centers.”

This new center was inspired by Maplewood High School Automotive Training Center, a public-private collaboration between Bridgestone Americas and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools to benefit Nashville education. Since the beginning of the collaboration in 2015, Bridgestone has hired 17 Maplewood graduates as store teammates and 12 as interns at Firestone Complete Auto Care locations in the Nashville region.

“We are grateful for the investment Bridgestone Americas has made in our students at East CLC,” APS Superintendent David W. James said. “This collaboration marks another step forward in the transformation of APS high school education to College & Career Academies, providing all students with the opportunity to explore their world in greater depth and achieve success after graduation.”

APS was designated a Ford Next Generation Learning Community in May, 2017. Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, is supporting the transformation of public high schools into career-themed academies to better prepare students for college and professional success in today's competitive global economy. College and Career Academies of Akron are supported by the following key strategic partners: GAR Foundation, United Way of Summit County, ConxusNEO, Summit Education Initiative, and Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce.

The collaboration between Akron Public Schools and Bridgestone Americas, Inc. was formed with the help of United Way of Summit County. In May, APS announced that United Way would serve as a link between the College and Career Academies of Akron and local businesses to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students and to strengthen the education to employment pipeline in Summit County.

“United Way is proud to work with Bridgestone Americas, Inc. to bring the Bridgestone Academy of Applied Engineering and Technology to East CLC,” said Jim Mullen, United Way president and CEO. “Akron Public Schools, through their College and Career Academies, are transforming their educational model. Bridgestone’s investment will help them create exciting new learning experiences that will prepare students with valuable skills for future success.”

Since its inception three years ago, the iC.A.R.E. student mentoring program has been a partner with Akron Public Schools, providing in-school mentoring to students grades K through 12. 

On Thursday, the United Way announced that iC.A.R.E. is officially one of their programs now, offering an expansion of services in the Akron Public Schools system and more mentors for students. 

Jonathan Greer, director of the iC.A.R.E. program with the United Way of Summit County says it's a perfect partnership, and "it's awesome to see how our agency is really expanding and doing impactful work within the Akron Public Schools district." 

Greer says they're looking to have more than 1000 students, and in turn mentors, involved in the program this year. iC.A.R.E. prides itself on being a one-on-one student to mentor program, so the "more the merrier," Greer says. 

For more information on how you can be a mentor in the iC.A.R.E. program, visit www.uwsummit.org/mentor. You can also read more in the official press release below: 

iC.A.R.E in-school mentoring becomes United Way program

AKRON, Ohio – October 13, 2016 – United Way of Summit County has welcomed a new member into its family of community impact programs and initiatives. Created in 2013, the iC.A.R.E Mentoring program provides Akron Public School students in grades K-12 with nurturing and supportive role models.

Unlike other mentoring programs, which generally involve activities outside of school hours, iC.A.R.E works within the school system, coordinating with administrators to ensure that students can spend time with their mentors without taking time away from their academic work.

Since beginning in Summit County three years ago, iC.A.R.E has grown significantly, now serving nearly 300 students with a roster of more than 200 mentors. Volunteer mentors spend one hour per week with each mentee, helping children and young adults excel academically, build confidence and acquire the skills needed to face difficult life challenges.

“It’s a great source of stability for students,” says Jonathan Greer, director of iC.A.R.E Mentoring for United Way. “More than a third of Akron public school students change schools each year, but mentors follow their mentees from school to school.” Indeed, the results are often striking – absenteeism rates for students who are mentored through in-school programs have been shown to decrease by nearly 50 percent.

“It’s simple: kids go to school more when they have a mentor,” adds Greer. “It makes a huge difference when they can spend time with an adult who isn’t a disciplinarian, just a friend.”

It seems as though students agree. The program boasts a retention rate of above 90 percent.

For United Way, the acquisition of iC.A.R.E provides another opportunity to expand its impact in the local community. With the increase in recognition and resources that comes with being a United Way program, the organization hopes to have more than 1000 students involved in iC.A.R.E Mentoring this school year.

United Way has recruited a team of ten AmeriCorps VISTAs to help coordinate volunteer efforts and expand the program. The organization hopes to attract further funding for the program in the future through nontraditional sources such as grants.

Further, United Way will take advantage of its large network of corporate partners whose employees could serve as mentors in the program. Just as with other United Way engagement opportunities, volunteers can gain the satisfaction of helping to improve their communities. Corporations who encourage their employees to participate as mentors can also enjoy the benefits of greater employee satisfaction and a more upbeat and motivated workforce.

Ultimately, the addition of iC.A.R.E to its roster of programs will help United Way continue to advance its mission to improve education across the local community. With more than a quarter of Akron public school students not graduating high school in four years, investments in programs like iC.A.R.E, which help students succeed in school, can make an enormous difference in the lives of children and young people.

“iC.A.R.E is a natural fit for us,” says Jim Mullen, president and chief executive officer of United Way of Summit County. “It will allow us to drive volunteer engagement – consistent with our increased focus on engaging our partners in the work we do – and it will create a measurable impact in the lives of students and families in this community.”

“This program is a great investment in the future of this city,” he adds.

"The difference in our school climate, our students and their performance is marked and measurable," said Akron Public Schools Superintendent David W. James, in talking about iC.A.R.E's influence on grades, attendance and discipline.  "We have actually been working with mentoring programs for several years now, and Jonathan's approach is working at APS."

For more information on iC.A.R.E Mentoring, visit www.uwsummit.org/mentor. Individuals who would like to volunteer as mentors should contact Jonathan Greer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Corporate groups should contact Sarah Catherine Teixeira by phone at 330-762-0317 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About United Way of Summit County

United Way of Summit County advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on Education, Income and Health because these are the building blocks for a good quality of life. We train a spotlight on critical issues, engage with private and public sector leaders and coordinate agendas with partners to leverage Collective Impact. We invite everyone to be part of the change by giving, advocating and volunteering. When we work together in common purpose, we LIVE UNITED. For more information about United Way of Summit County visit uwsummit.org.

The United Way of Summit County is taking a controversial change in direction.

In a letter to high-level supporters, the social service agency is putting in place "strategic changes" that would curb designation of funds to so-called third party beneficiaries -- those outside the agency's scope and mission -- in order to keep resources focused on education, income and health. Starting in 2018, big donors will have a percentage of their directed donations pushed to those meeting the United Way's goals.

Chairman James Merklin wrote that major donors will notice changes starting in 2018, when United Way to deduct a percentage or a max of $5,000 annually from directed donations that don't meet United Way's mission. Donations going directly to United Way aren't affected and so far this covers just big donors. Merklin says third-party donations have nearly doubled in recent years and now make up 60% of United Way's designated donations and much of that money actually leaves Summit County.

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(United Way of Summit County) United Way of Summit County is accomplishing great things. I’ve seen it firsthand in the work done by our dedicated volunteers to improve education, income and health throughout our community.

Over just the past few months, hundreds of people from across the county have taken part in United Way’s engagement events. Our volunteers distributed thousands of books to Akron Public School students through our Page It Forward Book Drive. They gave the too often neglected neighborhood of University Park a makeover as part of the Neighborhood Reborn project. On a hot Saturday in June, more than 200 volunteers built a brand new playground in an at-risk neighborhood in just six hours.

That so many people are willing to devote so much of their time and effort to improve this city is a testament to the love we Akronites have for our hometown. Moreover, it is an affirmation of the fundamental principle behind United Way’s mission – that a community thrives when members of that community invest their talent, their resources and their energy within it. 

Ultimately, volunteers are the engine that drives the work of United Way. I have the honor of serving as chair of United Way’s board of directors – 48 men and women who donate their time and effort to serve the common good. As the volunteer leaders of this nearly 100-year-old institution, we feel a tremendous responsibility to ensure that it can effectively carry out its mission to improve education, income and health for every child and every family here in Akron. 

Over the past year, we at United Way have undertaken extensive efforts to refocus and strengthen our impact in the community. This has required us to reexamine how United Way’s organizational structures and practices are aligned with that mission. Through our analysis, we have identified obstacles we must overcome in order to best serve Akron and all of Summit County. 

Most notably, in recent years, designated donations – that is, donations made through United Way but earmarked for a third-party nonprofit organization – have nearly doubled. For us on the  United Way board, this is of great concern because, too often, these donations do not drive the mission of our organization. Today, 60 percent of designated donations are made outside of United Way’s local mission and impact areas of education, income and health. Of even greater concern, half of all designated donations leave Summit County.

The end result is that, while United Way’s revenue has remained constant in recent years, we have had to make do with fewer funds to invest in impact initiatives within the community. Increasingly, it seems, many have come to see United Way as a go-between for charitable giving, not an agent for change in Greater Akron. 

That we would like to change this perception does not in any way diminish the generosity of our donors. That so many people have given regularly to – and through – United Way speaks to the extraordinary spirit of philanthropy that exists in this community. Rather, we want to demonstrate the value United Way brings to the table. We want to reassure our donors that the best way to achieve transformational change in Greater Akron is by investing directly in the work of United Way.

Over the coming months, we will begin to implement new strategies aimed at increasing the share of funds that we are able to invest in our local impact efforts. To that end, the United Way board of directors has put into place policies to curb the designation of donations to causes outside of our mission. 

Much more importantly, however, we are making a firm commitment to all of our current and future donors. We will pinpoint innovative, effective solutions to problems throughout our community. If you give to United Way, we will ensure that your donation is leveraged for maximum impact and return on investment. 

We can make that promise because United Way counts on the support of some of the most dedicated and talented individuals in Akron. From the volunteers who make our engagement events possible, to the volunteers who guide us as an organization, we all have a stake in the continued health and success of this community, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that Summit County is a place full of promise and prosperity for everyone. 

United Way is accomplishing great things, and the future is incredibly bright. I hope you will join us as we work to make our community a better place to live, work and raise our families. Changes to United Way of Summit County Donor Choice Policy for Tocqueville Society Members

2016 Campaign

These policies will take effect on July 31, 2016:

- Though it is preferred that designations be made at the time of a pledge, all 2016 campaign designations must be made by January 31, 2017. Beginning on February 1, 2017, all designations must be made at the time of a pledge.

2017 Campaign These policies will take effect on April 1, 2017

Designations must be made at the time of a pledge. All new Tocqueville gifts may only be designated to:

-Summit County direct service 501(c)3 organizations focused on Education, Income and Health, or Direct service 501(c)3 organizations focused on Education, Income and Health that have been approved by another United Way.

2018 Campaign tThese policies will take effect on April 1, 2018:

- A cost assessment of 13.4 percent – up to a maximum of $5,000 per year – will be deducted from all designated donations. Donations allocated directly to United Way of Summit County will not be subject to this cost assessment. 

All designations may only be made to: 

- Summit County direct service 501(c)3 organizations focused on Education, Income and Health, or Direct service 501(c)3 organizations focused on Education, Income and Health that have been approved by another United Way.