United Way breaks fundraising record, raising $1.65M for Wayne, Holmes nonprofits

Bryce Buyakie, The Daily Record
·3 min read
Leaders of United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties stand in front of the UW fundraising sign at Market and Liberty streets in Wooster.
Leaders of United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties stand in front of the UW fundraising sign at Market and Liberty streets in Wooster.

WOOSTER − The United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties achieved its lofty annual campaign goal, breaking an all-time fundraising record for the nonprofit.

The campaign concluded on Jan. 31 when UW raised nearly $8,000 more than its $1.65 million goal, CEO Katie Koglman announced in a press release.

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United Way raised more than $1.6 million once before in 2002, at the height of Wooster's Rubbermaid era, Koglman said.

The money will be allocated to 20 local nonprofits that run more than 50 programs.

Record-breaking

Koglman was thrilled when UW reached its record-breaking goal.

While she was confident they would reach their goal, she acknowledged it's never easy.

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“I was nervous about the goal, given the recent market decline combined with inflation, but the generosity of our community supersedes markets and costs," she said in the release.

That downturn gave Koglman more of a reason to raise funds.

"Our friends and neighbors who were already working and barely getting by are hurting now, more than ever," she said.

Donations ranged in size from $1 to thousands. Among the top donors was the Alexis De Tocqueville Society, which commits at least $10,000 each year.

Coupled with large commitments, the smaller donations made a difference. Each donation under $10 per paycheck quickly added up.

“We have such a diverse base of donors from both counties, who give of their hard-earned money because they believe in other people, they believe in living united and they believe that blessing others is imperative to communal success," President of the UW Board Ron Schlegel said in the press release.

Allocating the donations

Wayne County Children's Advocacy Center staff members, case manager and victim's advocate McKenna Bowman; executive director Lara Kiefer; and forensic interviewer Michelle Budzinski, stand outside the entrance to their offices in this 2021 photo.
Wayne County Children's Advocacy Center staff members, case manager and victim's advocate McKenna Bowman; executive director Lara Kiefer; and forensic interviewer Michelle Budzinski, stand outside the entrance to their offices in this 2021 photo.

The United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties raises money each year with the goal of funding community-oriented nonprofits.

The Volunteer Investment Team at UW will work toward that goal, allocating the $1.65 million to local nonprofits like OneEighty, Viola Startzman Clinic, Catholic Charities, Holmes Center for the Arts, Goodwill Industries and the Wayne County Children's Advocacy Center.

For the Children's Advocacy Center, the funding supports its core mission to help children who have experienced abuse, said Lara Kiefer, WCCAC executive director.

The center provides children with the care they need in Wayne County.

"They would also have to travel to Akron Children’s Hospital or Nationwide in Columbus for the sexual assault medical exam if we were not here," she said.

The WCCAC applied for $50,000, she said. This would directly support its forensic interview process, victim advocacy and medical examinations at appointments while providing around-the-clock service 365 days a year.

Center professionals link patients and caregivers with mental health and behavioral health care partners, which costs WCAC around $1,300 per case.

"We helped 263 children last year," Kiefer said. "We are not permitted to charge for our services, so we rely heavily on support from United Way, fundraisers, annual appeals and contracts with Children Services."

Bobbi Douglas of OneEighty said United Way helps them provide for people who fall through the cracks of federally- and state-funded assistance programs.

"There are people who fall through the cracks because they might miss one characteristic," said Douglas, executive director of OneEighty. "They also help with special crises like the flooding on Henry Street a few years ago."

United Way helps fund recovery coaches who are individuals with lived experiences of addiction, she said. They help individuals on the road to recovery.

The United Way campaign is "one more example of how this community rallies together to help folks in need," Douglas said. Kudos to Katie and her team. This is a year where you're not supposed to be able to raise dollars easily, and they did that."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: United Way Wayne, Holmes tops annual goal, sets fundraising record