United Way of Greater Kingsport | December 2018 Newsletter
2018 Campaign Celebration | FINAL REVEAL
The United Way of Greater Kingsport (UWGK) kicked off its 2018 Campaign on September 12, 2018, setting an aggressive fundraising goal of $3.5 million. On November 29, 2018, we announced the campaign results and celebrated the community's efforts in surpassing the original goal. The celebration event was held in the Douglass Room of the V.O. Dobbins Sr. Complex where guests gathered to hear keynote speaker, Dr. Marvin Cameron, and listen as honorary guest and Kingsport Centenarian, Dr. Bob Miller, helped unveil the fundraising total. The theme of the hour centered around generosity and expressing gratefulness to the efforts of the entire Greater Kingsport community. First Baptist Church Senior Pastor and United Way of Greater Kingsport board member, Dr. Marvin Cameron's keynote entitled, "The Give and Get of Generosity" drew from principles found in book, The Paradox of Generosity, by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. "People who give six hours of their time per month and donate up to 10% of their income to any non-profit-not just churches," he quipped to a chuckling audience, "report living happier and healthier lives." To put it simply, giving back is good
for well-being across all domains, and the crowd present at UWGK's Campaign Celebration today represented the generous spirit that is found across all of Kingsport. Dr. Bob Miller, who turned 100 last month and additionally holds the honor of being UWGK's longest legacy donor (having contributed annually to the campaign since 1948), entertained the crowd with a candid interview about his journey to 100 years of life. "As people grow older they have two choices, they can elect to exist or they can elect to live. I choose to live," Miller shared. During the interview, hosted by UWGK Executive Director, Danelle Glasscock, UWGK volunteers revealed the total amount raised in cash and pledge donations: $3,527,543.48. Keith Parker, UWGK Campaign Chair for 2018 further revealed that with the addition of generous in-kind contributions the overall total raised for the Greater Kingsport Community was $3,711,313.48, or 106% of the initial goal.
Letter from Executive Director Danelle Glasscock
Church Circle is an iconic sight of Kingsport that represents the circle of community shared by those who live and work in this region. My family was recently standing in the circle marveling at the annual Christmas parade as bands with instruments all aglow marched past. It was such a great sight to see numerous non-profits from our community represented and count the faces of so many who have volunteered and been served. The culmination of the evening came with the annual lighting of the Christmas tree: candles were handed out and flames were passed through the crowd until all were lit. This year, though, there was a problem. Just as the parade concluded and the tree was about to be lit, the wind started up and a cold rain began, making it difficult to keep our candles lit in the elements. However, in the true Kingsport Spirit, neighbors shared their flames to relight the candles whose light had been quenched. And in turn, those neighbors shared their lights with others.
To me, this symbolic gesture is truly what the circle of community in Kingsport and the United Way are all about. Each one in this community may be impacted by the same elements of economy, health factors, or family circumstances. For some, their light burns on through these tough times, and in response, they turn to help others. And those they help, then help others. And the circle of giving - the circle of community - continues. So at this Christmas time of year, I wish a great season of generosity and purpose for each of your families. Thanks to each of you who, through your giving of dollars and time throughout this year, have helped light the candles of our friends and neighbors. United We Fight and United We Win! If you perhaps have missed the opportunity to give this year, there's still time! Online gifts can be given at uwaykpt.org/give or mailed to 301 Louis Street, Suite 201, Kingsport, TN 37660. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!
United We Fight, United We Win! Danelle Glasscock Executive Director
Give Back to UWGK Through Holiday Shopping!
Don't forget that your purchases can make a difference! AmazonSmile donates to United Way of Greater Kingsport when you do your holiday shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/62-0481461. Simply click the link, login to your Amazon account, answer the prompt to choose United Way of Greater Kingsport as your charity, and shop as normal!
UWGK Celebrity Bagging Event 2018
United Way teamed up with Food City to host the 12 th annual Celebrity Bagging Event in support of their annual fundraising campaign on November 20th. The event included Food City locations in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Jonesborough, Gray, Elizabethton, Piney Flats, Blountville, Hixson, Chattanooga, Athens and Cleveland, TN; Bristol, Abingdon, Marion, Chilhowie, Galax, Independence, Cedar Bluff, Lebanon, Wise, Weber City, Pennington Gap, Bluefield and Pulaski, VA and Fort Oglethorpe, GA. Local celebrities from throughout the region volunteered their time and talents to bag groceries at the participating Food City locations. Shoppers were able to contribute to the United Way at the checkouts, via collection containers; or they elected to have their contribution conveniently added to their grocery total. All donations benefited area United Way Campaigns.
THANK YOU to this year's cheerful celebrity baggers! United Way of Greater Kingsport appreciates YOU!
Dreamland | Sam Quinones On November 12, 2018, the United Way of Greater Kingsport was honored to attend the presentation and participate in a book club discussion with Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic. He provided great insight about the current opioid epidemic discovered
from his journalistic research and his interactions with individuals throughout the country who are personally affected. He boldly stated, "It's time to stop believing there is an easy way out." In efforts to target root causes, he encouraged people to come together regardless of boundaries and work collectively to rebuild relationships within our neighborhoods and strengthen the "culture of community." He added that "real change in life comes incrementally" and UWGK is committed to making this change come to life in our community. The great attendance by various community partners and respected leaders emphasizes the continued dedication across the TriCities region in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Thanks again to our local sponsors for organizing and Left to Right, Danelle Glasscock, Sam hosting this outstanding event. Quinones, Becca Sutphen, Joy Shoun
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