Nonprofits Archives - Page 54 of 84

Guest column: Investments—who do you trust?

Posted at 8:29 pm January 14, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Guest Columns Leave a Comment

Lydia Birk

By Lydia Birk

The air waves are filled with commercials regarding which investment firm you should rely on; after all, you want to eventually retire and live comfortably and healthy and maintain your lifestyle. Yet, how much do you personally know about investing: the timing, the company’s track records, transparency, can they be trusted? There is an overload of information spinning around, and for many of us, it is confusing and time-consuming, so we trust our investments to the professionals.

Those of you who donate to the United Way of Anderson County and check the box to have Fund Distribution Volunteers make investment decisions are doing the same thing. Trusting educated, informed, committed people to invest your dollars where they will do the most good. In Anderson County, we have a multitude of programs that serve the needs of youth through food programs, backpack programs, after-school programs, preschool programs, utility assistance so they don’t shiver at night, programs to inspire, to encourage, to challenge. And programs that address the mental and physical health of our youth. Which of these programs are most effective, which ones address the most pressing issues, which ones are transparent in managing your gifts, do you chose to put a roof over their heads or food in their bellies? [Read more…]

Start off 2015 with ‘Dine and Donate,’ help ADFAC

Posted at 8:10 pm January 11, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School students Keegan Yearwood and Camille Mauk-Olson know the best way to beat the winter chill: Dine and Donate! By dining out at Dean’s Restaurant and Bakery on Monday, January 12, the pair get to choose from a variety of hot home-cooked favorites including savory beef pot roast, pulled park barbecue, and turkey and dressing. Dean’s is located in Jackson Square. (Photo courtesy ADFAC)

On Monday, January 12, several local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. As the first ‘Dine and Donate’ of the new year, this special event gives local residents the opportunity to start off 2015 by supporting local eateries as well as raising funds to help the needy in our community.

Restaurants participating on Monday, January 12 are:

Dean’s in Oak Ridge,
Hoskins in Clinton,
Mediterranean Delight in Oak Ridge,
Papa Murphy’s in Oak Ridge,
Razzleberry’s in Oak Ridge,
Riverview Grill in Clinton, and
Salsarita’s in Oak Ridge.

[Read more…]

Lunch Rotary donates to memorial garden at Emory Valley Center

Posted at 1:54 am January 2, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Lunch Rotary and Emory Valley Center Bob Craig Memorial Garden

Pictured above from left are Cindy, Emory Valley President Jennifer Enderson, Kim Moore, Judy Craig, Cassie Russell, Jack Bailey, and Bill Martin. (Submitted photo)

Submitted

Emory Valley Center recently dedicated the Bob Craig Memorial Garden outside of the Adult Enrichment Classrooms in the Daniel Arthur Building. Bob Craig was a longtime community advocate actively involved in the Oak Ridge Lunch Rotary, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and a variety of other area business and organization committees and boards.

Through a donation from the Rotary, Emory Valley was able to purchase a park bench and two raised flower beds, making it easier for people with disabilities to participate in planting items. Several people participating in the Emory Valley Enrichment program, staff and volunteers painted the fence, weeded and mulched the area, and created beautiful birdhouses for the garden. There is also a picnic table in the garden for everyone to enjoy. [Read more…]

Photos: Breakfast Rotary Christmas Angels at Linda Brown Realty

Posted at 10:53 am December 24, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Christmas Angels at Linda Brown Realty

Members of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club’s Christmas Angels and friends and family met at Linda Brown Realty on Saturday to load vans and SUVs with Christmas gifts for families in need. (Photos by D. Ray Smith)

Members of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club’s Christmas Angels and friends and family met at Linda Brown Realty on Saturday morning to load vans and SUVs with Christmas gifts for families in need.

“Thanks to all who participated and thanks especially to Linda Brown and Nancy Donsbach for organizing the effort,” photographer D. Ray Smith said. “Linda has graciously made her office into ‘Christmas Angel Central’ again as she has for the past several years. I well remember when my grandkids were young and they came with me to distribute gifts to three families. My grandsons still recall that experience with fondness at each Christmas gathering of the Smith family!”

Here are are four more photos by Smith: [Read more…]

Centrus raises more than $16,000 for United Way

Posted at 9:20 am December 22, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Pictured above are Lou Ann Lawson, Faye Grantham, Amanda Smith, Lydia Birk (2014 United Way Campaign Chair), Larry Cutlip, Cindy Light, and Gayla Hunter. United Way Committee members not present are Jamie Poland and Lana DiFiore. (Submitted photo)

Centrus Energy Corporation, formerly known as USEC, recently announced that they raised more than $16,000 in their 2014 United Way of Anderson County campaign. That’s a 10 percent increase compared to 2013, a press release said.

The release said the increase is vitally important for United Way of Anderson County, helping it recover from the last two years, which have been difficult.

“We are delighted that we are part of the solution,” said Larry Cutlip, a Centrus deputy director. “We know our community has struggled the last two years due to changes in federal funding, so our growth is exciting.” [Read more…]

Remembered as a model community volunteer, Myrick died Sunday

Posted at 11:17 am December 15, 2014
By John Huotari 4 Comments

Tim and Teresa Myrick with ADFAC Bow Tie Award

Tim Myrick, left, received the 2014 Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award from ADFAC on Oct. 30. Pictured with Myrick at Y-12’s New Hope Center is his wife Teresa. (Photo courtesy ADFAC)

Note: This story was last updated at 3:30 p.m.

Tim Myrick, one of the area’s most active community volunteers, died Sunday morning. He was at home with his wife Teresa by his side.

Friends are remembering him as a model community leader and volunteer. Myrick, who had been battling prostate cancer, had provided decades of service to the church and to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, as well as to Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County. He played a key role in the renovation of Oak Ridge High School and modernization work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In 2012, he and Teresa pledged $25,000 to the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation’s “Making the Critical Difference” campaign for grants and scholarships.

“We sure lost a strong advocate for our community,” said friend D. Ray Smith, who serves on both the ADFAC and Habitat for Humanity boards. [Read more…]

Apply for literacy grants from Altrusa, Breakfast Rotary by Dec. 31

Posted at 12:33 pm December 12, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

There is a December 31 deadline for grant applications for work that will improve literacy in Oak Ridge and Anderson and Roane counties.

The application deadline was announced this week by Altrusa International of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club. Applications and award criteria may be found on the Altrusa International website at www.oakridge.altrusa.org/What-We-Do/Literacy.aspx or the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club website at www.orbrc.org.

“Lack of literacy skills continues to be a serious problem in the lives of many of our East Tennessee neighbors and for many throughout the world,” a press release said. “Non-readers and below-grade readers cannot realize their full potential in life, which in turn adversely affects our local and national economies and society in general.” [Read more…]

ASAP coalition wins award for work to reduce underage drinking

Posted at 1:03 am December 10, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County (ASAP) has won a GOT OUTCOMES! Coalition of Excellence award by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, or CADCA. ASAP won in the “Milestones Award” category for their efforts to reduce underage drinking rates in the community, a press release said.

Sponsored by CADCA’s National Coalition Institute, the GOT OUTCOMES! Awards give national recognition to coalitions that make a strong case for their contribution to population-level substance outcomes by using an inclusive, data-driven, and comprehensive community problem-solving process. Coalitions complete a competitive and rigorous two-phase application process and are judged by a panel of experts at the federal, state and local levels.

The Milestone category provides newer coalitions—or those with more recently implemented strategies—the opportunity to highlight their contributions toward achieving community-level reductions in one or more substance abuse or substance abuse-related issues, the press release said. [Read more…]

Guest column: Small gifts can have big impact

Posted at 8:06 pm December 8, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Guest Columns Leave a Comment

Lydia Birk

By Lydia Birk

United Way of Anderson County 2014 Campaign Chair

You might recognize them, four special days that have grown up around Thanksgiving.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, “Cyber” Monday, and Giving Tuesday all start with Thanksgiving, a day when all Americans reflect on family and give thanks for their many blessings.

On Black Friday, Americans turn their attention to shop for great deals to stretch out those blessings; Small Business Saturday, we are all asked to support our locally owned small business; and Cyber Monday, Americans are all clicking away online for that Christmas bargain.

#Giving Tuesday is new, only three years old now. Americans everywhere are asked to consider sharing a little of their blessings with organizations that can turn their small gift into large rewards. [Read more…]

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