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UNITED WAY TAKES NEW APPROACH
Traditional United Way campaigns enlist a prominent citizen to lead the charge in raising community support for funds. This year our United Way will be led by the Beta Club & Honor Society from the five area high schools. We are very excited about this unique change. “The area Beta Club and Honor Society represent our best and brightest youth, our future leaders. We anticipate their youth, energy and creativity will produce a community-wide campaign with those same characteristics. I believe they will refuse to accept the status quo and expect to do great things. We look at this also as an educational opportunity. Members will learn and experience how to mobilize a community to identify needs, raise funds, evaluate agencies and create solutions to local problems. They will work closely with community leaders in this process from A to Z and realize how much of an impact a motivated individual can make.”
Dr. Jack A. Parton, Director of Schools, stated, "The work of United Way of Sevier County symbolizes the commitment of our community to mobilize to meet the needs of our citizens. Through United Way's efforts, a variety of community organizations and Sevier Countians work together to create a culture of problem-solving and support. I recognize that the future of our youth is brighter due to the efforts of United Way."
Dr. Debra Cline, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, for the Sevier County School System further clarified, "I am delighted that the Sevier County School System has a strong partnership with United Way of Sevier County. United Way makes significant contributions to our community that positively and profoundly impact the lives of Sevier County's citizens. I look forward to greater involvement of student leaders in United Way."
The past year resulted in many changes and a new direction. First of all, new board members were recruited to bring new energy and focus on re-organizing and re-defining our United Way to best serve our community. The goal is to build up a strong United Way to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of Sevier County to create positive, long-lasting change for the benefit of all.
Another focus is to build or re-new important partnerships within our community for strong, synergistic alliances. These partnerships are to include organizations who share a vision of creative, effective and broad-based community responses to the needs and concerns of Sevier County. Successes in this critical area have been significant.
Citizens National Bank donates office space in Gatlinburg for United Way operations and hold the largest banking employee campaign. President & CEO David Verble states that, “We believe in the mission of United Way, and we are proud to partner with an organization that touches so many lives.” Verble continues, “As a community bank, Citizens National Bank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work. We are proud to have 100% participation of our employees who also believe in giving back to our local community.” LeConte Medical Center conducted their strongest campaign in years resulting in the largest percentage growth in the Covenant Health System. Titanic Museum selected United Way as their first charitable event. The Sevier County School System holds the largest employee campaign. Food City holds the annual Bagging for Tips event and sponsorships for other events. Ripley’s Aquarium hosts the Great Gatlinburg Shark Race. Cities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg hold annual fundraising events. Earlene Teaster, City Manager of Pigeon Forge, constantly receives request for support from charities. She notes that, “Our employees love supporting our local United Way because they know how great the needs are in our city and they know how many lives are improved through their efforts. I also like how United Way brings our county together to solve county problems and improve our overall quality of life.” Johnson Family of Restaurants and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts host special events. “With the pace of business and life these days, it’s increasingly difficult to find the time to chose where we spend our philanthropic dollars. By partnering with the United Way, the Johnson Family of Restaurants knows our money will be put to good use in helping those who need it most,” Jonathan Wimmer, Controller. These are just a few examples of how community businesses and organizations come together for the common good of Sevier County.
On the other side of the partnership coin are community agencies that are struggling to meet the needs of Sevier Countians. These partners represent an important arm of United Way’s community impact efforts and are listed below:
Ø Boy Scouts of the Great Smoky Mountain Council
Ø Boys and Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains
Ø Child and Family Services Tennessee
Ø Douglas Cooperative
Ø East Tennessee 211
Ø Epilepsy Foundation
Ø Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians
Ø Hearing and Speech Foundation
Ø Helen Ross McNabb Center
Ø Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Ø Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic
Ø Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center
Ø Sexual Assualt Center of East Tennessee (formerly Safe Haven)
Ø SafeSpace
Ø Senior Citizen Home Assistance Services
Ø Sevier County Children’s Shelter
Ø Sevier County Council on Aging
Ø Sevier County Help Fund – Douglas Cherokee
Ø Seymour Volunteer Fire Department
Based on last year’s campaign, our United Way volunteers allocated $150,000 to be divided among these partner agencies. All agencies are receiving a greater amount than last year. Our volunteer Allocation Committee worked hard to stretch these dollars to make the most impact in Sevier County.
An example of this impact occurred with the Sevier County Children’s Shelter. This non-profit organization serves as an emergency crisis shelter for children abused, abandoned or neglected. When a child in Sevier County is suddenly without parental care where do they go? When a child’s parent or guardian is arrested or hospitalized with no other family support available, where does the child sleep tonight? It is for these situations that our Sevier County Children’s Shelter exists. The Allocation Team of volunteers who reviewed the agency’s application felt strongly that Sevier County needs their services and granted $20,000 for 2011. The Shelter’s sole employee, Kaye Webb, serves as the houseparent and shared that, “We were actually facing a budget that would call for us to close the doors in 6 months. The fact is the United Way’s support will keep us open!” That is community impact for Sevier County.
So when you see a Beta Club, Honor Society member or another volunteer trying to mobilize the resources of Sevier County to Live United as a community, please help them. When you hear of an event benefitting our United Way, spread the word and attend. When you are with an employee of a company that supports our United Way, say thank you. The bottom line is give, advocate, volunteer….Live United!
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| 2011 Beta Club Co-Chairs |
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