United Way of Charles County
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GIVE, ADVOCATE, VOLUNTEER.
ENEWS FROM UNITED WAY OF CHARLES COUNTY
United Way Happenings ... Winter 2014
 Port Tobacco, MD
 

Port Tobacco, MD

Lisa Bryant, Executive DirectorUnited Way of Charles County welcomes their new Executive Director, Ms. Lisa D. Bryant.  Ms. Bryant took leadership at United Way of Charles County in August, 2013.  Prior to joining United Way, Ms. Bryant served as the Administrator of the D.C. Office on Aging.  Ms. Bryant brings with her 17 years of executive management in the health and human services field.

 

Ms. Bryant believes that the mission of United Way is aligned with her knowledge, skills and experiences.  Ms. Bryant has outlined several goals that she has begun instituting: increasing strategic partnerships for advocacy opportunities; engaging the next generation of givers; increasing the financial capacity of the organization and expanding United Way of Charles County's presence in social media platforms.

 United Way of Charles County's
2014 Spring Events

 

Spring is just around the corner and United Way of Charles County is here to help you shake the chill with some fun-filled outdoor activities for you and your family and friends.  Save the dates for March 22, 2014 and April 16, 2014. 
 
United Way of Charles County has started planning the two spring fundraising events that will raise money for the less fortunate in Charles County with activities that the community looks forward to each year.

 

We are pleased to announce that the Charles County Sheriff's Office will be hosting their Annual Bike Ride for the 5th year along the scenic Rail Trail that goes from Indian Head, MD to White Plains, MD.  All proceeds will benefit United Way of Charles County and Spring Dell Center equally.  It will be a fun ride without competition for all bicycle enthusiasts and in-line skaters.  Participants can ride the entire 26 mile trail (round-trip) or turn around at any point to head back.

 

This year the event is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, 2014 with a rain date of March 29th.  Registration and check in will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Village Green Pavilion located at 100 Walter Thomas Road, Indian Head, MD, with a flex start time of 10:00 a.m. to accommodate riders of all ages and abilities.  All riders and skaters must wear helmets.  Participants 17 and under must have an adult with them.

 

The entry fee will include lunch, beverages and snacks provided by the Town of Indian Head and sport back-packs while supplies last.  Pre-registration by March 13th guarantees a back-pack.

 

Bike Ride Registration Forms Available Here

 

Calling all Golfers!  April 16, 2014 marks the 17th Annual Back to Back Golf Tournament at the beautiful Swan Point Yacht and Country Club.

 

There will be contests, complimentary pre-tournament food, on-course beverages and snacks, a full meal in the clubhouse following play and prizes for every foursome.

 

You or your company can be publicly recognized as a supporter of United Way of Charles County and the work we do locally by signing up to be a sponsor of the tournament or being a tee sign sponsor.

 

As in years before, this event fills quickly.  Early registration can guarantee your choice of morning or afternoon tournament times!

 

2014 Golf Registration/Sponsorship Form

  

United Way of Charles County Admits One New Agency/Renews Partnership With 38 More
  
At its November board of directors meeting, the United Way of Charles County voted to grant partnership status to one new nonprofit agency providing health and human services to Charles County Citizens: Western Charles County Community Association, Inc.
  
Western Charles County Community Association, Inc. (WCCCA) is an organization that provides housing, nutrition, health care, education, emergency assistance and other basic services to low-income people who do not receive help from other sources.
  
The newest agency joins 38 returning health and human service partners serving Charles County and the surrounding communities.  Partner agencies must apply for re-admission each year, with the admission process beginning in October.  Eileen Minnick chaired the Admissions Committee which reviewed the applications, interviewed agency representatives and made recommendations to the full Board.  The Admission Committee is comprised of Board members and representatives from several of United Way of Charles County's Partner agencies.  Each partner has met United Way of Charles County's requirements for renewal and has agreed in writing to comply with all of the Federation's policies. 
  
Returning partner agencies are The Accokeek Foundation,  Arc of Southern Maryland, American Red Cross of the Chesapeake Region, Bay Community Support Services, Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Maryland Mentoring Resource Center, Catherine Foundation Pregnancy Care Center, Catholic Charities, Center for Abused Persons, Center for Children, Charles County Children's Aid Society, Charles County Crime Solvers, Charles County Freedom Landing, Charles County HARC, Charles County Literacy Council, Charles County Meals on Wheels (formerly Charles County Cooperative Ministry on Aging), Christmas in April Charles County, Community Support Systems, The Compassionate Friends of Southern Maryland, Greater Baden Medical Services, Health Partners, Hospice of Charles County, Humane Society of Charles County,  The Jude House, Legal Aid Bureau, Lifestyles of Maryland Foundation, Lions Camp Merrick, Melwood, NAMI Southern Maryland, National Capital Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Point of Change Jail & Street Ministry, Port Tobacco River Conservancy, Senior Services of Charles County, Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee, Special Olympics Maryland Charles County, Spring Dell Center, The Promise Resource Center, Tri-County Youth Services Bureau and Walden Sierra.
Introducing the 2014
 Board of Directors for
United Way of Charles County
  
  
United Way of Charles County announces the election of its 2014 Officers and incoming Board Members.

 

Eileen Minnick is the 29th Chairman to be elected since United Way of Charles County was incorporated in 1983.  Ms. Minnick joined the United Way board in 2010 and has served on the Personnel, Community Impact, Selection and Admissions Committee and has participated in various fund raising events.  Ms. Minnick first began working for the Charles County Government in 1989 and is currently the Director of Charles County Department of Community Services.

 

Terrie Horstkamp is the Chairman-Elect.  Mrs. Horstkamp, a 46 year resident of Charles County is the Accounting Manager for The Wills Group, Inc., the parent company for Southern Maryland Oil, Dash In Food Stores and SMO wholesale.  She has worked in accounting for The Wills Group for 26 years.  She has been on the board of United Way of Charles County for nine years, serving as Campaign Chairperson from 2006-2007 and was the Treasurer from 2008 - 2013..

 

Mark MacFarland is the Immediate Past Chairman.  Mr. MacFarland is currently the Vice President of Land Development at the St. Charles Companies.  A native of Syracuse, NY, he holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and an M.S. in Engineering Management from Syracuse University.  He has been on the United Way of Charles County board for nine years.
  
Earle Knapp is this year's Treasurer.  Mr. Knapp has served on the United Way's board and various key committees since 2004.  He most recently served as the organization's Immediate Past Chairman.  Prior to that he served as the organization's Chairman from 2009-2011.  Prior to that he served as Chairman-Elect in 2008 and Treasurer in 2007.  He retired from the State Department in 1999.  He contributes much of his time to the Charles County Children's Aid Society, is Chairman of the Grants Advisory Board, is Chairman of the Local Management Board, is Chairman of Lifestyles of Maryland Foundation and is on the Mental Health Advisory Council.

  

Stacey Cook remains in the position of Secretary.  She has been on the United Way board of directors for six years serving on the Personnel Committee, Community Impact Committee and the
Charles County Woman-United in Giving.  She is currently Vice President of Human Resources at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center with over 20 years experience providing strategic and operational leadership.  Ms. Cook holds a MS in Human Resource Management from the University of Maryland and a BS in Business Administration from North Carolina A&T State University.

 

Chrisie Mulcahey will serve as a non-voting member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors as well as Chairperson of the Advisory Council.  The council is comprised of representatives of all of the United Way of Charles County's partner agencies.  Ms. Mulcahey is the Executive Director of Health Partners, Inc., the only free clinic in Charles County.  Health Partners provides free adult primary care, child & adult dental care, women's wellness and a "connection to care" for uninsured and under-insured residents of Charles County.
 
The United Way of Charles County elected four new board members.  Ms. Lolita Curtis, Ms. Linda Gill,  Mr. Christopher Ripley and Ms. Linda Schliep.
 
Ms. Curtis is the founder of The Assets for Financial Independence Foundation (AFFIF), Inc. a non-profit organization in Charles County.  Ms. Curtis holds a BA from The Colorado College a MSW from the University of Denver and is credentialed as an Accredited Asset Management Specialist from The College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado.
 
Ms. Gill is the Executive Director of School Administration for Charles County Public Schools.  She has lived in Charles County for 21 years and has worked for the Charles County Public Schools for 23 years as a teacher, vice-principal and principal.
 
Mr. Ripley is the owner of the Strategic Marketing Group, a Waldorf, Maryland based marketing business development firm.  He is also an adjunct professor at the College of Southern Maryland and the University of Phoenix.  Mr. Ripley has a BA from the University of Virginia and an MS from the University of Maryland University College.  He resides in Waldorf with his family.
 
Ms. Schleip is a Sr. Business Developer at the Corporate Center for the College of Southern Maryland.  She has been with the college for 22 years.  Ms. Schleip earned her BS in Business Administration from University of Maryland University College and her AS in Business from the College of Southern Maryland.  She is a member of the Calvert and Charles County Chambers, the Human Resources Association of Southern Maryland and Charles County Technology Council.
  
All new members began a renewable 3 year term January 1st. 
 
Our returning board members:
Marie Bottoms - Vision 2 Fruition, LLC
Gilbert Bowling - Fraternal Order of Police
Peggy Danielson - Southern Maryland Glass
Jane Higdon - Community Member
Crystal Jackson -SMECO
Eric Johnson - Kemper Sports
Dawn Mooney - Community Bank of Tri-County
Steve Salvas - Charles County Sheriff's Office
Sonja Scharles - Community Member
Judy Schroeder - Community Member
 
If you would like to consider serving on our all-volunteer Board of Directors and play an important role in the work we are doing for our community and its residents, call or email us!
 
  
Charles County Women -
 United In Giving

Charles County Women - United in Giving (CCW-UIG), was created in 2004 under the auspices of the United Way of Charles County.  The group is a network of men and women who solicit, contribute and distribute funds to support the local needs of women and children.  The mission of the initiative is to create a powerful network of women and men who strengthen the Charles County community through a focused investment of their time, talents, and treasure, in order to bring about positive change in the lives of women and children in the community. 

 

CCW-UIG differs from most charities in three key ways:  there are no administrative fees, 100 percent of the funds go directly to community organizations; anyone donating $500 or more can be on the steering committee, the group that reviews requests for funding and decides what grants to fund.  Finally, all donors receive a letter detailing how their contributions were spent.  CCW-UIG recognizes that everyone cannot make donations of $500, and welcome donations of any amount, directly or through payroll deductions.

 

Since its inception, CCW-UIG has awarded more than $160,000 in grants to organizations that directly impact the needs of Charles County.  Grants are awarded to organizations that promote physical and mental health of children and women, and the developmental needs of children.  In 2011 and 2012, Health Partners received funds to provide dental cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatments to nearly 200 children under age 14 who were from low-income families and were uninsured or underinsured.  And in 2012, CCW-UIG granted Greater Baden Medical Services funds to purchase an EKG machine and provide exams for women at risk for cardiac disease.  Over the years CCW-UIG grants have funded ultrasounds and lab work for high risk pregnancies, money for car seats, cribs, diabetes management education and a number of other projects designed to benefit the women and children of Charles County.

 

For more information on the

Charles County Women - United in Giving, please contact United Way of Charles County at (301) 609-4844 or email lbryant@unitedwaycharles.org or

.
Message From The Executive Director

 

Happy New Year!  United Way of Charles County ("UWCC") is excited at the wonderful opportunities that are before us in this wonderful new season of promise and growth.  For the past thirty years, UWCC has worked to leverage the resources of the Charles County community to impact change for the common good, and in 2014, we are striving to impact greater change.

 

In striving for greater change, UWCC has begun to engage new strategic partnerships with impactful organizations such as the Tri-County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., private schools and the College of Southern Maryland Diversity Institute.  UWCC will continue to foster the growth of key partnership with long term supporters such as the Charles County Public School system, College of Southern Maryland and County Government agencies.  Additionally, UWCC is looking to expand the number of county-wide outreach projects to advocate for increased awareness of issues such as food insecurity, homelessness and transportation.  UWCC is excited to continue providing support to our 40 Partner Agencies.  These Human Service Agencies provide critical and life sustaining support to the Charles County community across the lifespan, with services ranging from shelter, ecological services, military and veteran support and youth development to name a few.  It is with great optimism that UWCC strives to achieve increased capacity and support from private donors, and new businesses within the county and nationally, to provide assistance to our 40 Partner Agencies and the entire Charles County community.

 

Lastly, UWCC would like to quantify the positive impact we have or had on your family, organization or community-at-large.  As we work to enlarge the UWCC brand, let us know what your thoughts are about our organization; how we helped, and what the outcome of receiving support from UWCC was.  We look forward to hearing from you and being able to capture the true impact UWCC is having in the lives of those we serve.  Continue to LIVE UNITED in 2014!

 

With warm regards,

 

Lisa Bryant

 

Lisa D. Bryant, MSW

Executive Director 

 

"Get Connected"
In 2014

Have you  made a New Year's Resolution to become more involved in your community, but find yourself wondering how to begin? 

 

United Way of Charles County presents "Get Connected".  In an effort to increase the collaboration, connections and relationships among local non-profit and community members, we invite you to become a part of this free online volunteer and donor opportunity system. 

 

Get Connected is an easy-to-use web-based platform that matches the right donors, advocates and volunteers with the right opportunities in our neighborhoods. 

 

Use Get Connected to find ways to give your unused materials and household items to agencies in need of donations, advocate for causes that require your passionate voice and volunteer your time in ways that make a real difference.

 

To access the system, click on the following link and get started today!

 

Get Connected

 

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United Way Has Your Prescription For Immediate Savings!

 

United Way of Charles County and FamilyWize announce savings of $1,513,800 in everyday prescription costs for local residents since the program began in 2005.

  

In 2013, the residents of Charles County saved over $232,575 on 9,344 claims submitted for prescription discount savings.

 

Last year, United Way of Charles County announced that you could text the word 'family' to 700700

to get a free Familywize Prescription Discount Card sent to your cell phone by text.  Show the text to your pharmacist and they will automatically apply the appropriate discount* to the cost of your medication.

 

You can also get a free Familywize card with a click of a mouse at the new Familywize Facebook page or at our website www.unitedwaycharles.org.

 

Distributed through United Ways, the FamilyWize card lowers the cost of medicine by an average of 40% or more for people without insurance or who take medications not covered by their plan.  It's easy.  It's just like a coupon you can keep using every time you need to fill a prescription.  All you have to do is present the FamilyWize card at your pharmacy to get the savings.

 

"The FamilyWize card provides immediate savings on prescription medicines with no paperwork or form to fill out" said Susan Gilmore, Executive Director of Community Engagement for The FamilyWize Community Service Partnership.

 

These cards can be used by everyone in the community, not just people without insurance.  They can even be used by people with health benefits, including Medicaid or Medicare.

 

The FamilyWize card is easy to use:

  • Its Free
  • For immediate and unlimited use
  • Anyone can use the FamilyWize card
  • Accepted at 95% of pharmacies nationwide
  • No enrollment or personal information needed

1,000 United Ways in all 50 states have helped save $580 million in prescriptions in their communities as of November, 2013.

 

* Discounts vary depending on type of medication.  To contact Familywize directly please call (800) 222-2818.
 
Get your FamlyWize Care TODAY!

 

United Way Recycling Program
 
  
Keep pollutants out of
landfills and ground water, while supporting your local United Way.  Bring your wireless cell phones, chargers and other components to 10250 LaPlata Road.  Would you like to have a collection receptacle at your workplace?  Call us at (301) 609-4844 and get started with making the earth a cleaner place to live.

LIVE UNITED!

 

United Way of Charles County needs YOU to help make a change!  Did you know that your contribution WILL help others in your community?

 

Every dollar makes a difference!  If everyone combines their efforts, we could CHANGE Charles County by working to end homelessness and hunger, and assist those who need a helping hand.  Call us (301) 609-4844 and we will let you know how you and/or your company can help or click the link below for more information.

 

DONATE NOW

 



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