2015 United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County Annual Report

AdvAncingThe common good 2014-15 RepoRT To The communiTy

United Way of Oxford & Lafayette CountyUnitedWayOxfordMS.org

give. AdvocATe. voLunTeeR.

What do you aspire for lafayette-oxford-university?

During 2014–2015, we asked this question to hundreds of our friends and neighbors. You thought hard about your answers, and your ideas—whether unique to you or shared by many—were both moving and motivating. Perhaps more than anything else, your responses affirmed United Way’s focus on three building blocks of a good life: good health, quality education, and a stable income.

In 2014–2015, we invested over $376,800 and thousands of volunteer and staff hours to advance our mission of improving lives and meeting community needs. We funded programs, convened issue-driven coalitions, supported non-profit capacity building, and served as a resource to individuals and organizations throughout our community.

The impact of your investment is the subject of this report. We hope you’ll read on to see how United Way has advanced the common good, not only for today and tomorrow but also for years to come, and we hope you’ll continue to join us as loyal donors, passionate advocates, and committed volunteers. There is a part for everyone to play.

– Alice Ricks, Executive Director *In many cases, UWOLC funding complements other programmatic funding in ways that do not allow disaggregation of achievements by funding source. Therefore, many of the achievements highlighted in this Annual Report reflect the impact of a program’s total budget, including but not limited to UWOLC’s 2014–2015 investment. Also, please note that the total investment above includes designated gifts, and that specific grant awards can be found on UWOLC’s website.

cover photo by sylvia stewart

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special olympics area 4

2014–2015 Investments in Prevention and Wellness: $14,400

and Health and Mental Health Care: $52,500

Funded pARTneRsPrevention and WellnessExchange Club Family Center To Love a Child LIFE of Mississippi Empowering Oxford & Lafayette CountyL.O.U. Excel By 5 Coalition Health & Safety Focus AreaSpecial Olympics Special Olympics Area IV

Health and Mental Health Care Family Crisis Services Victim Services North MS Kidney Foundation Patient Assistance

Meet KarlaFollowing several after-lunch-stomachache visits to the nurse’s office, Karla, a ninth grader, discovered she was pregnant. Things were tough enough already—Karla was getting F’s in school—and she seriously considered dropping out. Fortunately, for both Karla and her little one, Nurse Hayden encouraged Karla to join the Exchange Club Family Center’s To Love a Child (TLC) program, a program she runs in addition to her responsibilities as head nurse for Oxford School District. With funding from United Way, TLC provides wraparound supports to pregnant teenagers in Lafayette County. Through TLC, Karla learned what to expect as her body changed with pregnancy and how she could take the best possible care of herself. She learned how to prepare for labor and how to look after her baby, in part from other girls who had already delivered but continued to attend TLC’s classes. And, in the midst of all of this, she started studying, turned off her cell phone at school, reached out for tutoring help, and brought her grades from straight F’s to straight A’s. In her words, “Nurse Hayden reeled me back in. When I thought about quitting, she was there for me. She’s still there for me.” Late this spring Karla gave birth to a healthy, full-term baby boy, Devon. Less than two weeks later, she was back at school to take her state test. Karla has clear priorities and big dreams: a stable life for her little boy and a degree in psychology. Thanks to the TLC program, she is on her way.

exchange Club family Center to love a Child


Reading at Grade Level Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi Power Hour Lafayette County Literacy Council Reading Rockets Leap Frog Program TutoringL.O.U. Reads Coalition University of Mississippi Horizons Summer Learning Program

Adult EducationLafayette County Literacy Council Adult Basic Literacy Education

horizons summer learning program

educATion Achieving ouR poTenTiAL

2014–2015 Investments in Early Childhood: $31,150, Character Development and

Enrichment: $10,900, Reading at Grade Level: $95,450, and Adult Education: $5,000

Funded pARTneRsEarly Childhood EducationLafayette County Literacy Council Dolly Parton Imagination Library L.O.U. Excel By 5 Coalition

Character Development and Enrichment Boy Scouts of America Yocona Area Council Traditional Scouting Exchange Club Family Center Correcting our Past & Establishing Skills Girl Scouts Heart of the South Girl Scout Leadership Experience Lafayette County 4-H 4-H Programs Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Arts Education & Outreach

Coming Together For KidsDoing better by our kids doesn’t just mean funding educational programs (though it does mean that!). It also means coming together to ensure that we are working as effectively and efficiently as possible. Issue-based coalitions allow us to innovate together, increase our impact, and hold ourselves jointly accountable for the outcomes our children and community need. Convening such coalitions is a key United Way role.

What is the most important thing a community can do to brighten its shared future? Invest in its children from their very youngest days. The L.O.U. Excel By 5 Coalition works to ensure that all children—regardless of zip code—enter kindergarten prepared to succeed in school and in life. From newborn packets to parent workshops to community playdates to professional development for child care providers to a local Family Resource Center, the L.O.U. Excel By 5 Coalition leverages its members’ many strengths in the service of Lafayette County’s littlest learners.

Early learning is critical, but we cannot stop there. Children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are more likely to drop out before completing high school, as they struggle with the key transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” This year, L.O.U. became only the second Mississippi community to join the national Campaign for Grade Level Reading. Already, the L.O.U. Reads Coalition, co-convened by United Way and the Lafayette County Literacy Council, has led a Read Aloud 15 Minutes campaign, hosted Growing a Great Reader parent workshops, brought together out-of-school time providers for networking, and launched the Literacy Leaders training to maximize the power of volunteer tutors. Learn more from the new website, loureads.org!

While both of these coalitions depend on dozens of individual volunteers and organizational partners, United Way provides essential leadership. Coalition work is at the heart of living united.

photo by sylvia stewart

almost 100 TeAcheRs And AdminisTRAToRs learned how to

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2014–2015 Investments in Basic Needs: $108,500

and Financial Stability: $39,067

incomemeeTing needs & pRomoTing sTABiLiTy

Financial StabilityAmerican Red Cross Disaster Preparedness

Doors of Hope Transition Ministries Self-Sufficiency Transitional Empowerment Program

Holding Hands Resale Shop Employment for the Mentally Ill

L.O.U. Home Homeownership Services

L.O.U. Saves College Savings Program

Pro Bono Initiative at the University of Mississippi School of Law Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center

Funded pARTneRsBasic NeedsAmerican Red Cross Disaster Relief Interfaith Compassion Ministry Homeless Client Assistance Interfaith Compassion Ministry Indigent Client Assistance Salvation Army Financial Assistance Three Rivers PDD Meals on Wheels

l.o.u. saves photo by sylvia stewart

Meet Becca & TomRecently, two local organizations—both funded by United Way—supported a family in overcoming homelessness. Becca, Tom, and their children were homeless—but were committed to getting their family together and back on their feet. How would they begin? For Becca and Tom, like many other homeless individuals in Lafayette County, the first stop was Interfaith Compassion Ministry (ICM). ICM provided overnight shelter, food, and toiletries, all essentials and all desperately needed. Just as important, however, was the referral that ICM provided to its close partner, Doors of Hope Transition Ministries. Becca and Tom applied and were accepted into Doors of Hope’s Self-Sufficiency Empowerment Program (STEP), where they were quickly housed with their children in a two bedroom shelter unit. As required by the program, Becca and Tom began meeting with Doors of Hope’s case manager twice weekly. Through their meetings, Becca and Tom started planning and practicing ways to save, building an escrow account, paying off debts, managing their money better, and looking for permanent housing. Tom continued with full-time employment. After 4 months in the program, Becca and Tom had saved more than enough money for their own housing, utility payments, and deposits. Continuing to use skills they learned in the program, they have remained in their own housing for over 2 years. Becca and Tom now contribute to Doors of Hope Transition Ministries!

united Way Worldwide stock photography. all names have been changed.


2015 Board Members President: Bryon CohronCommunity Investment Chair: Ryan Upshaw2014 Campaign Chair: Connie Hwang2015 Campaign Co-Chair: James Harper2015 Campaign Co-Chair: Susan MasseyTreasurer: Melissa SwetlandSecretary: Sarah BallPast President: Karen Chain

Sarah Ball, Volunteer OxfordCheryl Cannon, Cannon MotorsKaren Chain, Community Trust BankBryon Cohron, ProMatura GroupThelma Curry, University of MississippiLaTanya Dixon, University of MississippiJacqueline GilnerJames Harper, James D. Harper Law, PLLCMary Harrington, RetiredConnie Hwang, FNC, Inc.

uWoLc Board of directors 2015

photo by Jessi hotakainen

Corinne Jackson, Lulu’s Shoes & AccessoriesRich Joyce, WinchesterSusan Massey, CaterpillarLucile McCook, University of MississippiSonia McKeithen, Baptist Memorial Hospital–North MississippiKelley Norris, University of MississippiMatt Parham, Bank of CommerceAndrew Robinson, Second Baptist ChurchMoni Simpson, Invitation OxfordKathleen Sullivan, RetiredMelissa Swetland, Swetland Cook, PLLCJames Thomas, University of MississippiRyan Upshaw, University of Mississippi

Staff Alice Ricks, Executive DirectorKatherine Drinkwater, Assistant DirectorChelsea Herbert, AmeriCorps VISTASylvia Stewart, AmeriCorps VISTA

Community Investment CommitteeUnited Way is committed to maximizing the impact of our donors’ contributions. Doing so requires us to listen to our community as we determine funding priorities, set goals for improving lives, and invest funds. Our Community Investment Committee is a diverse and knowledgeable group of volunteers charged with reviewing grant applications and recommending awards to UWOLC’s Board of Directors.

Chair: Ryan Upshaw, UWOLC Board, University of Mississippi

Health Sub-CommitteeChair: Moni Simpson, UWOLC Board, Invitation OxfordMelissa Bass, University of MississippiMary Bragg, Baptist Memorial Hospital–North MississippiJeong Jolee, Baptist Memorial Hospital–North MississippiRuss McNees, Holcomb DunbarRyan Wally, Oxford Eye Clinic/Vision Source

Education Sub-CommitteeChair: Kathleen Sullivan, UWOLC Board, RetiredJoel Amidon, University of MississippiJames Harper, UWOLC Board, James D. Harper Law, PLLCJames Herod, Rust CollegeLynndy Hurdle, Oxford School DistrictAlecian Mathis, Little Angels Preschool & Daycare Center

Income Sub-CommitteeChair: James Thomas, UWOLC Board, University of MississippiJonathan Hill, Oxford Housing AuthorityRich Joyce, UWOLC Board, WinchesterMelissa Leach, Early Years NetworkLibby Lytle, Oxford Police DepartmentChris Maples, WIN Job CenterMatt Parham, UWOLC Board, Bank of Commerce

82%

2014–15 Report to the Community | 9

2014–2015 was a great year for United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County.

For the second year in a row—and only the second time in our history—we

raised over $525,000 towards our mission of improving lives and meeting

community needs in Lafayette County. We continue to appreciate all our

donors—those with the means and vision to give at extraordinarily high

levels, as well as those with fewer resources who nonetheless donate with

humbling generosity. Every gift— indeed every penny—counts.

sTRong FinAnces

0

20

40

60

80

100

1%17%ALLocATion oF ResouRcesData drawn from UWOLC’s 2013-2014 audit and IRS Form 990 for 2012.

Fundraising & Management Expenses

United Way Worldwide Dues

Program Expenses*

giving By secToR

Workplace Campaign Corporate Gifts

12%

individual Gifts

13%

local Business Gifts

4%

Workplace Campaign employee Gifts

68%

0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

giving oveR Time

*Program spending is restricted to Lafayette County, except in the case of donor-designated gifts to organiza-tions outside of Lafayette County. This includes employee gifts from GE-Aviation which are designated to Panola County.

other

3%

2014 cAmpAign ToTAL: $527,141

WoRKpLAce giving cAmpAignUnited Way of Oxford & Lafayette County is proud to partner with many local

employers to promote charitable giving in the workplace. This year’s contributions

came through payroll deduction, corporate gifts, and—most fun of all—special

events! Caterpillar’s County Fair. Winchester’s Golf Tournament. Oxford University

Bank’s Battle of the Banks. The Oxford Eagle’s Kiss the Pig. FNC’s chili cook-off and

silent auction. The University of Mississippi’s Open the Envelope social media

campaign. And many, many more… We are grateful to the companies and their

thousands of employees, especially the United Way campaign coordinators, for

advancing our mission by investing in Lafayette-Oxford-University.

WoRKPLACE CAMPAIGN ToTALS

(includes employee and corporate gifts)

NAME AMouNtS

university of Mississippi $146,278 Winchester $99,614 Caterpillar $32,781FNC, Inc. $23,111 GE Aviation, Panola County $13,030FNB oxford $11,816oxford university Bank $11,183oxford School District $8,574united Parcel Service $7,521Roseburg Forest Products $6,657Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi $6,343 North Mississippi Regional Center $5,350At&t $5,233Walmart $4,706Kroger $4,040Northeast Mississippi Electric Power Association $3,901City of oxford $3,888ProMatura Group $3,491Renasant Bank $2,783Cannon Motors $2,848International Paper $2,544Lafayette County School District $2,512Hayakawa Electronics $2,475CenterPoint Energy $2,318Lafayette County $2,214oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation $2,030Community trust Bank $1,961Mechanics Bank $1,726BancorpSouth $1,487Nationwide Insurance $1,240Belk $1,009Regions Bank $948Bank of Commerce $975JCPenney $866oxford Eagle $871Johnson’s Furniture $309Ability Works $185FedEx $52

CoRPoRATE LEADERS

(corporate gifts of $1,000 or more)

$10,000 – $24,999CaterpillarWinchester

$5,000 – $9,999Baptist Memorial Hospital-North MississippiOxford University Bank

$2,500 – $4,999AT&TFNB OxfordGE FoundationRoseburg Forest Products

$1,000 – $2,499BancorpSouthBelkCannon MotorsFNC, Inc.Hayakawa ElectronicsMechanics BankUPSWalmart


the united Way Golf tournament, hosted by Winchester and sponsored by many local businesses, raised almost $6,500.


2014–15 Report to the Community | 11

Local businesses, both big and small, give generously to United Way

of Oxford & Lafayette County and our community coalitions. Their

monetary and in-kind gifts are invaluable to the success of our work,

and we greatly appreciate their contributions and commitment to

expanding opportunity for all who live in the L.O.U. community.

LOCAL BUSINESS GIFTS

$5,000 – $9,999Marchbanks Real Estate $1,000 – $4,999Endoscopy Center of North MississippiGastroenterology Associates of North MississippiHolli’s Sweet ToothThe J.E. Neilson Co.The LibraryLuLu’s Shoes & AccessoriesSneed’s Ace HardwareSwetland Cook

$500 – $999Addy PhotographyAjax DinerElliott & Britt EngineeringMayo MalletteOxford Insurance AgencyOxford Urgent Care $250 – $499Elliott Lumber, Inc.High Point CoffeeOxford University ClubPickens Pest Control, Inc.Urgent Care Clinic of OxfordWaller Funeral Home

LocAL Business cAmpAign

$100 – $249Animal Clinic of OxfordBeacon RestaurantBim Bam BurgersFarm Bureau InsuranceHolcomb DunbarPanola Title and AbstractParis NailsPitner Office Supply CompanyRapid Cash & Tax ServiceSearsStout’s CarpetSugar Magnolia AntiquesTyler Van Buren Neighborhood AssociationVictor Medical LLC $1 – $99Don & Dale’s Barber ShopFrame UpGrantham ConstructionLusa’s BakeryMississippi Federal Credit UnionPeggy’s Specialty AlterationsPhil Bailey & AssociatesS & J Art Gallery and CollectiblesTurner IndustriesThe Woman’s Forum

IN-KIND GIFTS

$1,000 and AboveBaptist Memorial Hospital- North MississippiFirst Baptist ChurchOxford Conference CenterOxford–Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development FoundationReason to Believe DesignSuperTalk North Mississippi and Q93.7

$1 – $999Alice & Company SalonCaterpillar CupsEarly Years NetworkFarmer’s MarketFNB OxfordHigh Point CoffeeHoney Bee BakeryJimmy John’sLusa Pastry CafeMcLean Institute for Public Service and Community EngagementNewk’s EateryOxford Park CommissionOxford University ClubPanera Bread PaniniSquare BooksStarbucksTwisted Twig

the stamp out hunger food drive, led by the national association of letter Carriers with volunteer support from united Way, collected almost 5,000 pounds of food for the lafayette County pantry.



LeAdeRship donoRsUnited Way of Oxford & Lafayette County benefits tremendously from the outstanding

generosity of a growing group of leadership donors, individuals and families who

contribute at a level of $500 or more. Their support is critical to the success of our

organization and we strive to live up to their example.

Alexis de tocqueville Society: $10,000 +John & Renee GrishamThe Tollison & Calhoun FamiliesOne Anonymous Donor

Visionary: $4,500–$9,999Bob & Carol DorseyDrs. Dale & Tonya FlesherChris & Allison MullenLaurie & Jeff Triplette

Visionary: $3,000–$4,499Ross & Sonya BjorkLaura G. HarperKate Kellum & Jason FinchJerry & Gloria KellumJean M. ShawKathy & Peter Sukanek

Community Builder: $2,000–$2,999John & Sumali ConlonCharles & Brenda EaglesGlen & Paige EvansConnie Hwang & Duncan ChenLucile McCook & Cliff OchsRonald & Natalie SchroederGinny & Cooper TerryMargaret Wylde & Ken Wooten

Community Builder: $1,000–$1,999Ann & Dale AbadieSharron & Harry AlexanderAllison & Bill BaileyJohn & Ev BarrettDavid & Karen BlackburnMr. & Mrs. John R. Bradley, Jr.

Michael & Kimberly BryantRobin & Denny BuchannonKaren ChainLinda ChitwoodAlice Clark & Charles HuffordThelma CurryNorman & Margo EasterbrookDavis L. Fair IIIEric FreimarkJohn P. FullenwiderKathy GatesMatt & Pam GawEuphiazene GrayDonna GurleyPriscilla HamricMary Harrington & Dave WheelockMichael & Eva-Maria MetcalfKristin NewmanWill H. NortonMike H. & Helen G. OverstreetBrian & Vicki ReithelBarbara & Wylie RichardsChristopher Ricks & Judith AronsonJohn Samonds & Kathryn McKeeLaura Jean SheppardsonMark Van BoeningJames & Kathleen VaughanDouglas & Jane VorhiesChristine WallaceSteve & Leslie WhiteBrandon Michael WilliamsBecky & Marvin WilsonTwo Anonymous Donors

Foundation Giver: $500–$999Aileen AjootianMelvin & Teresa ArringtonWilliam BallJames BattleJoel & Jill BellBrad & Allyson BestMike & Camie BiancoDanny & Caron BlantonAnne BombaWalter BoneyRachel BostBecki BresslerRobert BrownTom BurnhamBeverly ButtsBill CaldwellAnn CantyWilliam CarsonWalter & Diane ChamblissDaisy & Alexander ChengBryon & Kristy CohronMarcia ColeAudra CookAlice Cooper & John AdhamJeff & Katrina CousarMarshall Crowther, MDDoug DavisVictoria DickinsonMaurice R. EftinkBrad EwingMr. & Mrs. John S. FareseDon & Liza Frugé, Jr.Don & Mary Ann FrugéRichard Gershon & Donna LevineJulian & Jacqueline Gilner

Allen GlissonDeborah Gochfeld & Marc SlatteryDavid GuytonMatthew HallMark & Paige HamannWilliam HamiltonJames & Julie HarperKathryn Elizabeth HarringtonJames HelvestonJeannie B. HodgeMichael Hoffheimer & Luanne BuchananAlan & Jackie IngallsKirk Anthony JohnsonDan & Lydia JonesRon & Christy KnappMari G. KuhnleAllen N. KurrPaul & Barbara LagoEric Gregory LambertJames & Anna LangleyPam & Bill LawheadCynthia & Royce LintonAmy Lowe LewisCathy Marshall-SmithMike McCauleySage NicholsChristopher NoeLisa & Albert NylanderJon ParcherMatt & Tammy ParhamMr. & Mrs. Patrick PerryDennis PrideJason & Holly ReynoldsDavid & Vivian RoachAndrew Robinson

Lisa T. RogersMarc ShowalterStuart & Moni SimpsonMarquis & Rachel SledgeHugh Sloan IIIStacey & Whitman SmithLarry & Jacky SparksHubert & Rose SpearsDavid & Anne SteelJoAnn & Andy StefaniMorris & Cynthia StocksWilliam StricklandKathleen & James SullivanDouglas Sullivan-GonzalezDebbie SwanJackson Taylor Jr.Ryan UpshawSteve & Rosie VassalloKathleen WachterSherry WallJeffrey & Isabella WattMitchell WengerDr. & Mrs. Curtis WilkieNey & Dana WilliamsParham & Polly WilliamsCharles WilliamsJonny WilsonChristy WyandtLouis G. ZachosFour Anonymous Donors

In Memoriam GiftsRoger BynumAnnie Lee “Cricket” HurdleSue KingJan Robertson

letters on opposite page photographed from signage throughout lafayette County: by sylvia stewart

give. AdvocATe. voLunTeeR.

United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County440 North Lamar, Suite 5

Oxford, Mississippi 38655

Phone/Fax: 662 236 4265

[email protected]

UnitedWayOxfordMS.org

©2015 United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County

photo by Jessi hotakainen

Documents

2015 United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County Annual Report