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2009 UWAC Campaign Co-Chairs!
Leigha & Hudson Edwards
Leigha and Hudson Edwards pose for a candid photo during the UWAC Campaign Cabinet meeting on July 15th. (Hudson did start the meeting in his Live United onesie and he did what 4 month olds will do!)
"Blake (Leigha's husband), Hudson and I are so excited about this opportunity to serve our home county," Leigha told the Campaign Cabinet. Recognizing the unprecedented times with unprecedented needs, the Edwards agreed to take on the challenge of the 2009 United Way campaign. "We are honored to serve in the tradition of so many great community leaders before us'" Leigha said.
Stories such as Jane's below motivated Leigha, Blake and Hudson to step forward this year:
Jane was a good elementary school student. When she began skipping school and failing tests, her teacher knew something was wrong. She learned that Jane was too tired to go to school because she was staying up at night to keep her step father from abusing her mother. The teacher called the Legal Aid Society. Legal aid attorneys got a protective order that removed the husband from the home and required him to give her support. They also helped the mother get public benefits and health insurance for the children. The family is now stable. Jane is again a leader in her class.
UWAC partnered with Legal Aid to start the nation's first program of this nature, Leigha explained. When situations like Jane's exist every day in our community, true community leaders step up. Please take the time to thank Leigha, Blake and Hudson for their compassionate leadership in this years campaign! |
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Ridgeview & UWAC Partnership
serves our Vulnerable Neighbors
A person diagnosed with chronic paranoid schizophrenia is faced with a lifelong battle to function on a daily basis despite believing things that have no basis in reality and hearing things that aren't real. Fortunately, with effective treatment, it is possible to lead a happy and healthy life. But without insurance, TennCare or the ability to work, it is impossible to pay for the medications that save lives and keep individuals out of psychiatric hospitals.
Thanks to the funding Ridgeview receives from United Way of Anderson County, assistance is available through Ridgeview's Indigent Medication Program. The program provides services to individuals who require medication for their psychiatric condition and have no other source of coverage to pay for the medicines.
To be eligible for this assistance, an individual must have limited income. Medications are then prescribed and purchased by the client at participating pharmacies in their local community for a nominal fee. For most participants this means their symptoms are reduced and they avoid hospitalization.
Individuals continue in the program until other financial arrangements are made or coverage is in force. Generally, they are eligible for Medicaid, TennCare or other types of assistance which Ridgeview's case management services assist them in obtaining. Without this program, many individuals would go without medicines that could allow them to be productive members of society.
Ridgeview has been providing mental health services for over 52 years. Staff in twenty-two facilities in Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Roane and Scott counties serve over 7,000 clients of all ages, annually. The administrative offices are located in Oak Ridge, at 240 W. Tyrone Road, which also houses an adult inpatient psychiatric hospital and outpatient treatment services. For more information, please visit: Ridgeview
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Mission Accomplished:
Scarboro now a Learning Center
Scarboro Day Care Center will now be known as Scarboro Learning Center (SLC). After a 14-month transition process, the center has finally achieved its desired goal. "With the curriculum, programs, staff and special activities we have put in place, we feel we accomplished our mission", says Kenneth Herring, Executive Director.
The learning center now has seven programs for its children to participate in. Programs include a reading academy, enrichment program, a music and movement program and a "Hands of Compassion" program with Caris Healthcare. The center also has two partnerships with the University of Tennessee. The programs include Healthy Steps, which focuses on nutrition and exercise and Scarboro is also a H.A.B.I.T. facility, making it the first childcare facility in the programs 23-year history. "What makes our programs so great is that they are all conducted by current of former industry professionals", says Herring.
"We are very proud of the changes we have made and will continue to do whatever necessary to improve the education experience of our children. We would also like to thank our community volunteers, because without their sacrifices, we would not be where we are today". Interested parents can inquire about enrolling their child by contacting the center at 483-6871.
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Tennessee offers first United Way Specialty plate in America!
You will be able to show your friends, neighbors and co-workers how you Live United! By purchasing one of these specialty plates, you will be promoting United Way in your hometown, across the state and throughout our nation. Wherever you go, you will be showing your support of this great organization
Proceeds from the sale of the plates will go to the United Ways of Tennessee. It will assist in the support, promotion and training of the 39 active United Ways within the state
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