Mount Vernon Town Money Saver | October FOM 2021

Ihave lived in many communities, and the first time I ever heard of The United Way was as a Boy Scout in Rushsylvania, Ohio. They had helped fund a number of my peers in attending Boy Scout camp. Though it has been many years, I have kept a careful eye on how The United Way, wherever my path has taken me, has been there to consistently help more and more people. It has never been more true than in Knox County, and the United Way of Knox County celebrates 70 Years as the “cornerstone of community wellness and success” in Knox County.

When you begin to look at all of the things that the United Way funds, one needn’t look far as they fund more than 18 agencies across Knox County that assist people with food, resources, education and activities serving 27 programs impacting people every day. Local United Way Executive Director Kelly Brenneman also pointed out, “We have worked with other agencies to coordinate such positive activities as The Imagination Library, Crunch Out Obesity, free tax preparation assistance, and after-school tutoring and enrichment programs.”

70 CELEBRATING YEARS

Brenneman continued, “September marks the official kickoff of our 2021 campaign as we celebrate our 70th anniversary!”

Many of their family focused events this year include:

• A kickoff concert on Sept. 3 at Ariel-Foundation Park: a fantastic, free evening of entertainment, the “Cleveland Keys” presented by Park National Bank. Indoor seating at the Schnormeier Event Center can also make it extra special for a small donation to the United Way.

• $5 Buck Friday: a donation of $5 to the United Way makes you eligible to win a $100 gift card each Friday in September.

• The “Wacky, Quacky Duck Race” where all of the “rubber duckies” purchased by supporters (with all proceeds going to the United Way) will be released into the Kokosing River downtown on Oct. 1.

This year as you see that the United Way is kicking off their drive, I personally hope that you take a moment and find a way to support the United Way and the many programs and organizations they work hard to ensure are available to Knox County residents.

Look for all of these fantastic opportunities to help neighbors, friends, and even your own family by supporting The United Way of Knox County this month as they celebrate their 70th Anniversary. At the very least, be sure and mention to folks the important role that The United Way of Knox County plays in enriching all of our lives in Knox County!