Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Schools students, staff increase United Way donations by more than 25 percent

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Oak Ridge Schools Donate to United Way

Michael Mott, second from left, was the winner of the grand prize of a weekend getaway donated by United Way of Anderson County Loaned Executive Becky Hook, a retired Oak Ridge teacher. Mott is pictured above with Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers, right, and Principal Bruce Lay, left, and Rick Morrow, UWAC executive director. (Submitted photo)

Students and staff in the Oak Ridge School system increased their contributions to this year’s United Way of Anderson County campaign by more than 25 percent, an official said.

“We are excited to be able to give back to our community,” said Bruce Borchers, Oak Ridge School superintendent. “This is a great community to be part of.”

“To see an increase during these very challenging times really means a lot,” said Rick Morrow, UWAC executive director. [Read more…]

ORAU exceeds $100,000 in annual giving campaign for sixth consecutive year

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ORAU Annual Giving

The 2013 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign Chair Sarah Roberts, pictured far right; Co-Chair Michael Ickowitz, pictured far left; ORAU President and CEO Andy Page, pictured second from left; and keynote speaker Edwena Crowe, one of four Crowe Family members serving as the 2013 United Way of Anderson County Campaign Family, reveal ORAU’s combined giving total of $132,109.32.

For the sixth year in a row, Oak Ridge Associated Universities has broken the $100,000 mark in donations as part of the annual giving campaign for the United Way and Community Shares, a press release said.

During a concluding ceremony on Nov. 12 in the ORAU Pollard Technology Conference Center, ORAU President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Page announced the 2013 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign total donation amount—$132,109.32. As part of the total donation, ORAU gave $98,432.34 to the United Way and $33,676.98 to Community Shares. [Read more…]

United Way Golf Tournament raises close to $19,000

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United Way Golf Tournament First Place 2013

The first place team in this year’s United Way Golf Tournament included Shane Peters, Rick Cornell, Jason Hembree, and Alan Grigsby. (Submitted photos)

An annual golf tournament for the United Way of Anderson County raised close to $19,000 this month, officials said Monday.

The tournament was Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

“We are so pleased to have raised nearly $19,000 through this year’s tournament,” said David Wilson, tournament chairman. “We had 16 teams come out and enjoy great weather and great golf!” [Read more…]

United Way Golf Tournament needs your support

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United Way Golf Tournament Winners

Winners of the 2012 United Way Golf Tournament pictured above are Doug Guinn, Keith Newport, Tom White, and Jody Waddell. (Submitted photo)

The United Way of Anderson County will host its annual golf tournament on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

“Proceeds from this tournament directly support UWAC’s 34 partner agencies,” said David Wilson, tournament chairman. “Every sponsorship and every team registration is so important and so appreciated.”

This year, the tournament will feature two divisions. The Pro Division will offer platinum, gold, and silver sponsors a local club pro to play as their fourth in a modified scramble. The Champions Division will have four players with a team handicap. Prizes will be awarded to the top two teams in each division. [Read more…]

United Way of Anderson County sets fundraising goal at $1.3 million

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Crowe Family

The 2013 United Way of Anderson County Campaign Family—Charles, Edwena, Nick, and Rebecca Crowe—ask everyone to join the UWAC family this year. (Submitted photo)

“The measure of a community is how it treats its vulnerable members.”

~ Various people including Gandhi and Pope John Paul

By Edwena, Charles, Rebecca, and Nick Crowe, the 2013 Campaign Crew for United Way of Anderson County

The United Way of Anderson County board of directors—under the leadership of the campaign crew of Edwena, Charles, Rebecca, and Nick Crowe—has established a fundraising goal of $1.3 million for the fall 2013 campaign.

“We recognize this is a bold goal, one that may be difficult to achieve,” said Charles Crowe. “Yet, we are all in this together, and together, we can begin the recovery that is so important to our county.” [Read more…]

Picture: United Way celebrates ‘Christmas in July’

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United Way Christmas in July

United Way of Anderson County kicked off its annual campaign with a “Christmas in July” fundraiser at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge on July 13. Proceeds will help fund UWAC’s 34 agency partners and their three core areas of service: providing basic needs, developing our youth, and enabling seniors to live with honor. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

United Way of Anderson County kicked off its annual campaign with a “Christmas in July” fundraiser at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge on July 13. The evening included a cocktail hour, silent auction, buffet dinner, ugly Christmas sweater contest, and a live auction.

Proceeds from this year’s event will help fund UWAC’s 34 agency partners and their three core areas of service: providing basic needs, developing our youth, and enabling seniors to live with honor.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory kicked off its United Way campaign in June with the help of University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones. [Read more…]

It’s ‘Christmas in July’ for United Way of Anderson County

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United Way of Anderson County will kick off their annual campaign with a “Christmas in July” event at the DoubleTree Oak Ridge from 6-10 p.m. July 13. The evening will include a cocktail hour, silent auction, buffet dinner, ugly Christmas sweater contest, an evening of entertainment emceed by Kim Hansard of Star 102.1 FM, and a live auction.

The event is chaired by Katy Jett of Enrichment Federal Credit Union and De Wayne Kirchner of The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum. [Read more…]

UT football coach helps ORNL kick off United Way campaign

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Butch Jones at ORNL United Way Kickoff

Fans of University of Tennessee football and supporters of the United Way had a chance to see UT coach Butch Jones, right, on Monday at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s United Way campaign kickoff. (ORNL photo by Jason Richards)

University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones helped Oak Ridge National Laboratory kick off this year’s United Way campaign on Monday morning.

“United Way means everything,” Jones said after discussing leadership—and football—with several hundred workers at ORNL. “It’s a great way to give back to your community.”

He said United Way agencies help about 100,000 people in the Knoxville area. [Read more…]

United Way donations down after security breach, contractor changes

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United Way of Anderson County

Tom Hilton, 2012-2013 campaign chair, left, with outgoing United Way of Anderson County Board President Jimmy Stone, who accepted the No. 1 Company Campaign Award on behalf of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. (Photo courtesy of D. Ray Smith)

Donations to the United Way of Anderson County were down this year, and on Thursday, officials cited challenges in the federal contracting community, including the July 28 security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex and the later departure of security contractor WSI.

There was also an end to federal stimulus money, a freeze in federal budgets and salaries, and a new consolidated contract to manage Y-12 and the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, which could result in the departure of B&W Y-12, said Rick Morrow, UWAC executive director.

The United Way of Anderson County had hoped to raise $1.4 million in the fiscal year that ended March 31, but volunteers and staff members fell short of that, collecting $1,277,771. [Read more…]

United Way will announce 2012 campaign results in annual meeting Thursday

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It’s been a challenging year, and the United Way of Anderson County is scaling back its annual meeting this year and reducing expenses.

The campaign results from 2012 will be announced at an annual meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, a UWAC member agency. The meeting is open to the public with advance reservation. It will include a brief networking and continental breakfast, followed by the annual business meeting and campaign recognition. [Read more…]

UWAC announces 2012 campaign chair, fundraising goal

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United Way Campaign Cabinet Members

United Way of Anderson County 2012 Campaign Cabinet members are, from left, Mike Belbeck, Jim Reafsnyder, Marilyn Reafsynder, Tom Hilton, and D. Ray Smith. Not pictured are David Bradshaw, Brenda Curtis, and Jenny Freeman. (Photo submitted by UWAC)

The United Way of Anderson County has named a chair for the 2012 fundraising campaign and announced a fundraising goal of $1.4 million.

Tom Hilton is the chair, and “Lives Touched Through Sustained Services” is the theme of this year’s fundraising campaign, a press release said.

“It will take about $1.4 million to sustain services and be there when people need us,” Hilton said. “With the dollars you donated last year, we were able to be there when someone needed help over 51,000 times.”

[Read more…]