From left, Stephanie Rummel, director of development at
the United Way of Portage County, and Steve Kleiber,
former president and CEO of the United Way of Portage
County, accept a ceremonial check from Kent State’s Iris
Harvey, vice president for university relations, and Todd
Diacon, Kent State’s senior vice president for academic
affairs and provost, following the university’s successful
2013 United Way campaign.

Kent State University is proud to kick off its 2014 Kent State United Way Campaign. United Way envisions a world where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, income stability and healthy lives.

These goals align nicely with the mission of Kent State. As the largest employer in Portage County and a great community partner, your participation in the annual campaign makes a tremendous difference. In fact, because of your caring, the Kent State community is the single largest donor to the United Way Workplace Campaign.

The United Way of Portage County funds more than 40 partner programs housed within local social service agencies in the county. With your gift to the United Way, you are playing an important role in improving the lives of people in need throughout Portage County.

Choose to give in accordance with your philanthropic goals and means.

You can give without designating a specific organization or choose to designate your contribution to a community impact organization. United Way of Portage County funds numerous health and human services programs through its partnership with multiple community service agencies. Visit www.uwportage.org/programs to learn more about these programs.

It is really easy to donate. Click here.

Your donation will improve lives in any number of ways:

• Help supply food pantries to feed families facing food insecurities.
• Support youth organizations that keep young people off the street and in constructive activities.
• Assist disaster and emergency assistance agencies that help families recover from everything from home fires and floods to tornados.
• Help homeless veterans in our community achieve greater self-sufficiency.
• Provide medical care to adults in Portage County who are uninsured.
• Provide emergency shelter to adults and children living in crisis.
• Assist families impacted by domestic violence.
• Provide psychiatric and counseling services and intervention to a child or adolescent.
• Help remove barriers to people looking for meaningful employment.
  

These are just a few of the ways United Way helps the people in our Kent community.

The United Way partners with local agencies (also known as nonprofits, not-for-profits or charities) that, in turn, provide services in the areas of health, education and income. It is the most efficient and effective way to help the most people because United Way focuses on results. Local volunteers, educated on the issues, diligently make decisions to fund programs based on need, resources and accountability. The Portage County United Way is governed by a Board of Directors, made up of local volunteers. The board is legally and morally responsible for all activities of the organization. The board upholds the highest level of integrity and community leadership. Kent State’s Iris Harvey, vice president for university relations, sits on the board.

For more information about Kent State’s United Way campaign, visit www2.kent.edu/unitedway.

For more information on how to donate to the Kent State United Way campaign, visit http://www2.kent.edu/unitedway/howtogive.cfm.