Oak Ridge Today

The ABCs of giving—Y-12 donates school supplies to ADFAC

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Y-12 School Supplies Donated to ADFAC

CNS Security Police Officer John Fellers, left, and Y-12 Site Manager Bill Tindal deliver school supplies to the Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties office. (Submitted photo)

 

Y‑12 National Security Complex employees donated more than $2,000 and numerous school supplies to ensure students in need are starting the school year with what they need. Working with Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, employees donated money along with some 144 wide-ruled notebooks, 132 packs of crayons, 111 packs of pencils, 80 packs of paper, and 66 packs of glue sticks.

“Employees once again shared their giving spirit with those in our communities,” Y‑12 United Way Chair Yvonne Bishop said.

While the event precedes the site’s formal United Way campaign kickoff, Bishop said site employees always are ready to respond. ADFAC volunteers use the donations to provide backpacks and school supplies to fulfill more than 7,000 requests for assistance. [Read more…]

Walmart, United Way, ADFAC team up to collect school supplies

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Walmart and United Way Fill the Bus

Pictured above, from left to right, are Brian Ferguson, First Student dispatcher; Maria Cacheiro; Marcus Cacheiro; Mateo Cacheiro; Diane Gibson, First Student location manager; Becky Hook, ADFAC school supply coordinator; Loraine Brown, Walmart front end zone manager; Liz Herbes, ADFAC social services program director; Annie Cacheiro, ADFAC executive director; and Rick Morrow, United Way of Anderson County executive director. (Photo courtesy ADFAC)

 

Submitted

“Fill The Bus,” an initiative led by Walmart and United Way of Anderson County Inc., helped provide much-needed school supplies to the ADFAC School Supplies Program. ADFAC (Aid To Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties Inc.) provides grade and school specific supplies to an expected 2,500 K-12 students throughout Anderson County. Walmart stores in Clinton and Oak Ridge participated as collection sites for donations.

During the week of July 26-August 4, at both entrances of the Walmart stores, customers were invited to donate school supplies. The concept was that, as customers were purchasing supplies for their own children or grandchildren, they could purchase a few extra for the ADFAC School Supplies Program.

During Tennessee’s sales tax holiday, August 1-3, Walmart in Oak Ridge invited First Student Inc.-Oak Ridge Schools to provide a “real” bus to be parked outside the store to help publicize and raise visibility for the campaign. First Student Inc.-Oak Ridge Schools also provided assistance in transporting the supplies from the donation boxes to the bus and to the storage facility. Several ADFAC staff and volunteers also assisted with the transferring of supplies. [Read more…]

United Way raises $1.17 million, about 90 percent of ‘bold’ goal

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Greta Ownby and Edwena Crowe

UWAC Board President, Greta Ownby, left, announces Edwena Crowe, right, as Volunteer of the Year. (Submitted photos)

The campaign was complicated by the partial government shutdown in October, but the United Way of Anderson County raised close to $1.2 million this year, or about 90 percent of its goal.

The results were announced at an annual meeting and campaign announcement at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge on Thursday.

The campaign goal, which was described as “bold,” had been $1.3 million. The total amount raised was $1,172,742. The United Way said this will allow for stable funding for its agency programs.

“Unfortunately, we will not be able to increase funding to our community partners,” UWAC Executive Director Rick Morrow said. “Last year’s total resulted in a reduction of $200,000 to the funding pool, and this year’s total will only allow for continued funding at that level.” [Read more…]

ORNL FCU donates $65,000 to United Way, a 65 percent increase

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ORNL Federal Credit Union and United Way of Anderson County

Pictured above from left to right are Lisa Thompson and Chris Boler, co-chairs of ORNL Federal Credit Union employee campaign; Leslie Daugherty, ORNL FCU loaned executive; and Edwena and Charles Crowe, 2013 UWAC campaign chair family. (Photo courtesy United Way of Anderson County)

Each fall, ORNL Federal Credit Union employees help raise funds for the United Way of Anderson County, and  donations this year were up more than 65 percent, a press release said.

ORNL FCU raised roughly $66,000, the release said. The money came from employee donations, ORNL FCU’s corporate donation, and an interactive employee auction site. The fundraising total was up significantly from 2012.

The theme of this year’s internal fundraising effort was Uni and Ted Way’s Excellent Adventure, a parody of the movie “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” the release said. [Read more…]

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Parade of Trees to benefit Girls Inc. on Nov. 16

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Girls Inc. Parade of Trees

Helping to decorate gift bags for the Girls Inc. Parade of Trees are, from left, Carolyn Singer, Ella Stewart, Savannah Russell, Samantha Asbury, and Bailee Lane. (Submitted photos)

The festive spirit of a New York Christmas holiday will transform the Pollard Center for an evening of glitz and glamour on Saturday, Nov. 16. It’s the 19th Annual Parade of Trees, a benefit for Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge.

“Beautifully decorated and lighted trees, wreaths, centerpieces, and of course, mistletoe, will enhance the magical atmosphere of a night in Manhattan,” a press release said. “In addition, this year’s ‘Park Avenue’ gift shop will feature unique hostess gifts and items to make your holiday table sparkle. Jams, jellies, and baked treats (tastings will be available) can be purchased in gift bags ready to deliver to a special friend. Don’t need a new Christmas tree? Then plan to take home a bag of beautiful ornaments to freshen your existing tree!” [Read more…]

New executive director, board members at Girls Inc.

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Girls Inc.

Pictured above are Girls Inc. Board President Terry Domm, Ternica Raley, Executive Director Rhoni Basden, Judy Gooch, and Board Secretary Melissa McMahan. (Submitted photo)

Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge has a new executive director and five new board members.

Rhoni Basden is the new executive director. She succeeds Carol Mullane, who retired after seven successful years, a press release said.

New board members include Ternecia Raley, Judy Gooch, Melissa McMahan, David Mosby, and Hugh Ward. [Read more…]

Y-12 collects school supplies for ADFAC

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Y-12 Donates School Supplies to ADFAC

Y-12 National Security Complex employees Stacy DeMonbrun, Judy Allen, Stacy Cotton, Dana Davis, Becky Hook (ADFAC), Janie Hoard, Susan Beckham, Telesa Kaye Weaver, and John Fellers deliver school supplies to ADFAC. (Photo courtesy B&W Y-12/Scott Fraker)

Kids around the country are heading back to school, and with help from employees at the Y-12 National Security Complex, many in East Tennessee will head back with all the supplies they’ll need for a successful school year, a press release said.

The release said Y-12 recently collected thousands of individual items for Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties’ annual school supply drive as part of the United Way Days of Caring drive. That total included more than 230 boxes of crayons and markers, 320 notebooks, 300 glue sticks, and 220 packs of pens and pencils. Employees also donated more than $2,500. [Read more…]

UT football coach helps ORNL kick off United Way campaign

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By 8 Comments

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…]

ORAU again donates more than $100,000 to United Way, Community Shares

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ORAU Annual Giving

John Huppmann, second from right, chair of the 2012 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign and co-chair Sarah Roberts, right, are pictured with ORAU President and CEO Andy Page, second from left, and East Tennessee Economic Council President and former United Way Chairman Jim Campbell during a ceremony announcing ORAU had raised about $140,000.

For the fifth year in a row, Oak Ridge Associated Universities has exceeded $100,000 in donations as part of its annual campaign to raise money for United Way and Community Shares, a press release said.

The total amount raised, about $140,000, includes roughly $100,000 for the United Way and close to $40,000 to Community Shares.

ORAU President and CEO Andy Page announced the total for the 2012 Annual Giving Campaign during a Nov. 7 ceremony at Pollard Auditorium, the press release said.

The ceremony was attended by Rick Morrow, executive director of United Way of Anderson County; Shelley Wascom, director of the Community Shares of Knoxville; and special guest Jim Campbell, president of the East Tennessee Economic Council and former United Way of Anderson County chairman.

ORAU is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 105 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies, and private industry. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy.

ADFAC celebrates 25th anniversary on Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Bill Capshaw Raku Vase

Local artist Bill Capshaw has donated a ceramic Raku vase for an auction at ADFAC’s 25th anniversary celebration on Monday. (Submitted photo)

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, also known as ADFAC, will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Monday.

The ceremony is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The free celebration will include catered food, music, a live auction, balloon art, a raffle, and more, a press release said. Display tables will host historical as well as current program information.

Monday’s celebration will also include the ADFAC Annual Meeting, when new board members will be elected and outgoing board members recognized for their service.

The public is invited, but ADFAC has asked those who want to attend to make a reservation by sending an e-mail to Jamie Olson at [email protected] or calling her at (865) 425-0256, ext. 108. Reservations can also be made through the website http://www.adfac.org/25thcelebration.html.

[Read more…]