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United Way Helps Ottawa County Citizens to Get Connected
C-A-L-L 211. Department of Human Services. Greater Ottawa County United Way. Human Services Coordinating Council. MI Works. Ottawa County Health Department.
What are all these government and nonprofit agencies? What do they do? Whom do they help? How does it all work?
Whether you’re a human services professional or a private citizen, “Getting Connected” is a workshop to help you decode the alphabet soup of agencies and community collaboratives, the work they do and the services they offer, on Thursday, October 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD) Educational Services Building, 13565 Port Sheldon Street, (northeast corner of US31) in Holland. The cost is $25 per person and includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a CD of all materials.
Billed as “a practical and constructive introduction to Ottawa County for human services professionals, community members, agency staff, parents and new residents,” topics include current population demographics; an introduction to human service organizations and collaborative groups, and helpful tools for accessing services that citizens can use in their jobs and their lives. Dozens of agencies will be represented at the Agency Fair from 10:00 to 12:30, and workshop attendees will participate in an “interactive agency experience” where they go in search of resources to meet specific needs.
This annual event is presented by Greater Ottawa County United Way in collaboration with Pathways, MI, Department of Human Services, Community Action Agency, Good Samaritan Ministries, CALL 211, Great Start Collaborative-Ottawa, and Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore.
Click to download a Registration Form. Questions, call Liz DeLaLuz Vanderby (616) 396-7811 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Completed forms, along with $25 per person registration fee, should be mailed by October 13 to Kelly Henry, Greater Ottawa County United Way, P.O. Box 1349, Holland, MI 49422.
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Video link for Day of Caring
Click on the 'Visit us on Facebook' link on theis page to see videos of our Spetember 17th 2009 Day of caring projects.
United Way kicks off campaign with Day of Caring
Today’s late summer sun rose on hundreds of volunteers already at work on projects all over Ottawa County as part of Greater Ottawa County United Way’s 9th Annual Day of Caring. They arrived at job sites by 8:00 a.m.--ready to hammer, saw, paint, clean, rake and renew—in teams from more than 50 companies, schools and organizations throughout the county. (A team from Grand Transformers of Grand Haven is pictured here, with Larry Koops, Campaign Chair, second from left.)
They built bridges and boardwalks in county parks, stocked shelves in food pantries, did yard work at homes and human service agencies, and helped to complete construction on Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity’s 100th house.
When all the work was done, those volunteers had provided nearly $50,000 in labor support. Shannon Morton, United Way Director of Volunteerism, noted that all the volunteers had, in effect, built bridges today. “People from area companies and nonprofit agencies came out to help. Students and teachers helped. They helped individuals who can’t do their own home and yard maintenance, and they worked in our towns, parks, and on our school grounds to better our communities. It’s a true example of how we in Ottawa County LIVE UNITED,” she said.
At noon about 350 of the volunteers gathered at Yogi Bear Camp & Resort in Grand Haven Township to enjoy an appreciation lunch, which was donated by A.D. Bos Vending Services and Sara Lee Corporation and prepared and served by associates from A.D. Bos. With that captive audience under the pavilion at Yogi Bear Resort, United Way kicked off its 2009-10 Community Campaign, which it is calling “The Building Blocks of a Better Life.” Campaign Chair Larry Koops announced a campaign goal of $1.8 million. Noting the goal is less than was raised last year’s campaign, Koops, who is Community President of Fifth Third Bank for the Lakeshore, cited the economic factors that led to the decision.
“Last year, in the midst of economic upheaval, our community rallied and helped us achieve 96 percent of a $2.11 million goal. Since then, many of the companies who make up our traditional base of support have had to lay off workers. As a result, we decided to set a realistic and attainable goal. Yet, because of our current economy, the need to help our neighbors is greater than ever, so we are working hard to reach out to others in Ottawa County who may never have given to United Way, and asking them to join the movement.”
Koops said that, while 221 companies throughout Ottawa County are participating in the 2009-10 Community Campaign, there are many more residents who are not connected to company campaigns. He urged anyone who wanted to learn more about United Way’s work and impact on the community—or who wanted to give, advocate, or volunteer through United Way—to visit www.ottawaunitedway.org for more information and to give and volunteer online.
United Way’s President Patrick Moran said that, while the dollars raised are important, an even greater emphasis belongs on the differences those dollars make in the lives of people. Last year, 10,000 Ottawa County residents gave their dollars or volunteered their time to help 78,000 others through United Way. “Education, Financial Stability, Health, and Basic Needs are the building blocks of a better life,” he said, describing United Way’s new community impact model introduced to the community earlier this year.
A number of local companies also volunteered to set the pace for this year’s campaign by running their campaigns early and acting as a barometer for what to expect this year. Those companies include Shape Corporation, Fifth Third Bank, Priority Health, Mercantile Bank of Michigan, and Greater Ottawa County United Way staff. Based on preliminary results, donations are coming in at close to last year’s levels, which gives United Way officials reason for optimism.
“With Day of Caring, our Pacesetter companies and volunteers have gotten our campaign off to a great start,” said Moran. “We look forward to the momentum to continue throughout the next few months and for the excitement of helping one another to continue.”
United Way’s Day of Caring lunch was made possible by donations from Yogi Bear Camp & Resort, A.D. Bos Vending Services, and Sara Lee Corporation. Day of Caring and Community Campaign expenses are underwritten by Platinum Sponsors Fifth Third Bank, Holland Sentinel and Harbor Industries, Inc; Gold Sponsors Haworth, Inc. and A.D. Bos Vending Services; and Silver Sponsors Mercantile Bank of Michigan, Michigan Commerce Bank; and Varnum Law.
United Way officials also said that their work could not be done without the generosity of corporate partners and volunteers alike. 44 volunteers are helping with the work of the campaign, including 16 volunteer account managers who, along with United Way staff, help area companies to conduct workplace campaigns. Some key volunteers who are helping to lead the campaign, in addition to Koops as Campaign Chair, are Jeff and Tammy Beswick and Karen and Martin McPhee, Lighthouse Leadership Circle Co-Chairs; Jack Russell of Shape Corp. and Kevin Phillips of National City Bank, Major Firms Co-Chairs; Pete Esser, Holland Sentinel and Maury Fredricks, Fredricks Design, Small Business Co-Chairs; Mike Metzger, JSJ Corp. and Mark Wilson, Huntington Bank, Professional Division Co-Chairs; Patrick McGinnis, Grand Haven City Manager, Government Division Chair; Keith Konarska of Grand Haven Area Public Schools and Ron Veldman of Coopersville Public Schools, Education Co-Chairs; Jeanette Hoyer of Pathways, MI and Mark Tucker of Community Action House, Nonprofit Division Co-Chairs; and Sandy Huber and Steve Groters, Co-chairs for the Retiree Division. Additionally, a new “Beyond the Workplace” Division is being co-chaired by United Way Board Members Barry Neal of JQ99 Radio and Paul Thurman of ITW Drawfor; and a new Health Division by Harbor Industries President Tim Parker and board member Brett Burza of Raymond James Associates with help and consultation from Mary Graham and MaryAnn Knowles, executives with Priority Health.
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