United Way highlights Marion County volunteers, $16.5M economic impact in 2021 celebration

Community leaders and volunteers gathered Thursday evening at the College of Central Florida’s Klein Center for the United Way of Marion County’s 2021 Community Celebration.

Along with highlighting the nonprofit’s work throughout the last year, the United Way gave out awards to community partners and individuals and announced its annual fundraising results.

For its 2021-2022 campaign, Giving Chair Shane Alexander revealed that the United Way raised $1,442,410, which came from community donations and workplace campaigns, where employees could donate through payroll deductions.

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All in all, the United Way’s total economic impact on the community was more than $16.5 million, including a substantial amount of COVID-19 relief money and other grants.

“We’re trying to make a difference in people’s lives, one person at a time or one family at a time,” Alexander said. “Ocala/Marion County is a great place to live because of the people who care and give generously.”

COVID-19 relief money made big impact

The previous year's campaign, headed by Marion County Public Schools Deputy Superintendent of Support Services Mark Vianello, had raised $1.77 million. Including grants and other COVID-19 support, the 2020 revenue had totaled $4.7 million.

The big difference this year was more than $15.1 million the United Way has distributed through its COVID Assistance Program (CAP). Those funds came from federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program money that was given to the county, which chose United Way to help with distribution to families in need of rent and utility assistance.

“Specifically, 2,839 families have been assisted, and the average amount of assistance has been $5,330,” UWMC President and CEO Scot Quintel said. “In many instances, I can tell you that those dollars were the difference between a family literally being out on the street looking for a place to live and giving them that assistance they needed for a period of time until they could take the steps forward to maintain their own stability.”

The Marion County Commission received a new award that United Way offered this year, Changemaker of the Year, for its role in the COVID-19 assistance.

“The county got the money. We knew we had to get it out into the community as fast as we could,” Commissioner Michelle Stone said. “We didn’t have the staff, we didn’t think, to be able to effectively move that money out as quickly as we knew was necessary, so by partnering with the United Way, we were one of the first across the nation to get the first ERA I funds out in its entirety.”

United Way programs support education, families, disaster relief

The United Way, which funds 27 programs across 22 partner agencies, highlighted its Strong Families program, ReadingPals initiative, tornado relief and 211 hotline at the event.

Strong Families, a program that helps families achieve financial stability, gain new skills and seek employment opportunities, has had 372 families graduate since 2016, all of which are now stably housed. Graduates have increased their household income by 65%, and 84% have reduced their household debt.

The ReadingPals program, in its 10th year, is in 17 Marion County schools, where volunteers spend extra time reading with and mentoring young students. In 2021, United Way invested over $107,000 in the program.

When a tornado came through Marion County in March, United Way provided assistance to families that didn’t have insurance or financial means to relocate to new housing.

“We were happy to say that we were able to assist 11 households to the total of $49,940 worth of assistance,” Quintel said.

He told attendees that over 25,000 calls to the 211 resource hotline were fielded in 2021, helping residents get connected to food, housing, utilities, volunteer tax assistance and mental health services.

Quintel also announced that Charity Navigator has given the nonprofit a four-star rating in 2022, which is the highest rating. It is the fourth consecutive year United Way has received this ranking, something done by only 21% of charities.

Roseann Fricks honored with community service award

The evening's awards highlighted groups and individuals who had the greatest impact on the annual fundraising campaign and in the community

Publix Super Markets and its associates led the way by donating $400,000 to the campaign, for which the grocery chain received the Platinum Award.

Volunteer of the Year Shari Morris led Marion County Publics Schools to nearly $244,000 in donations.

Outstanding Campaign Coordinator of the Year Heather James helped the Heart of Florida Health Center team raise more than $23,000.

Alexander’s Chairman’s Award went to Signature Brands, which raised nearly $172,000, including a $90,000 sponsorship for the Strong Families program.

“We’re blessed to be here. We’re grateful for the opportunity, and we feel if we do this year after year after year, we will fundamentally change the community for good,” Signature Brands CEO Jared Konstanty, who will be the 2022-2023 giving chair, said.

Wrapping up the evening’s awards, Marion County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller Greg Harrell, who is the United Way’s board chair, recognized Roseann Fricks with the Phyllis Ewers Community Service Award.

The “preeminent award,” established in 2019, honors a female leader with a passion for volunteering time to women’s and children’s causes.

“An award named after a wonderful woman given to a wonderful woman,” Harrell said. “Roseann is committed to the support of education and helping development for the community’s children and families.”

Along with leading the Early Learning Coalition for 19 years, she is a member of many organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Healthy Start of North Central Florida, Kiwanis Club of Ocala, Altrusa International of Ocala and the Association of Early Learning Coalitions.

“What an honor, truly an honor, and I thank you and appreciate the opportunity to serve the community,” Fricks said.

For more information about the United Way of Marion County’s programs, visit UWMC.org.

Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: United Way of Marion County raises over $1.4 million in 2021 campaign