Bob Maxey of the United Way of Richland County was the guest speaker at Thursday morning’s Ontario Growth Association meeting. President David Yaney announced membership renewals and officer nominations for 2014. And some community events were announced for December.
Maxey provided an update on the United Way campaign.
“Before I got into the non-profit world I worked with the Ohio Highway Patrol. We have set a pretty aggressive goal this year of $1,650,000 and for the first time in our history we have gone past the $1 million mark in November. So, we are off to a great start. I am very encouraged by what is going on because we have picked up a lot of new donors and new businesses,” said Maxey.
Maxey described how valuable the resources are that United Way provides. “Never in my life did I ever think that I would need to go to a charitable organization for assistance. I always had a job and I always had insurance. So, I thought to myself why would I ever need a United Way agency?
“I wasn’t real sure what the United Way did years ago until on November 19, 1990 I got a phone call while I was working in my office from my wife. My daughter had developed an ear and throat infection and she had taken her to the doctor for antibiotics. I’m thinking that all four-year-olds get ear and throat infections and there wasn’t anything to be concerned with,” said Maxey.
“Well on November 19 about 10 a.m. the phone rings and the dispatcher told me my wife was on the phone. I was thinking she was going to tell me they had given my daughter the antibiotics and she was going to be fine. My wife told me that our daughter had leukemia. That changed our world. It is one of those calls that just stops everything. The only thing I knew about leukemia was that kids die from it.
“That started a two and a half year weekly trip to Akron Children’s Hospital for us. About a year into her protocol, one of the nurses looks at me and tells me that the blood from the transfusions was all donated through the American Red Cross. That stuck with me all these years,” said Maxey.
Maxey said it became clear his daughter had developmental delays. Radiation to her brain resulted in some permanent impairment. Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center, a United Way agency, contributed to his daughter’s therapy. She rode for for six or seven years.
“I thought United Way was for poor people or for people who don’t have jobs, but how wrong I was. I have changed my outlook about United Way. I look at it more as an insurance policy for those of us who live in Richland County because you don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” said Maxey.
Maxey also noted that the United Way helps with other services to individuals as well. And in 2012 all of the revenue generated by non-profits in Richland County totalled $48 million.
“Last year, we decided to do a project that we could put our names on that would impact our community. We talked with teachers and we found out our kids are showing up to school unprepared in kindergarten and first grade. We thought we would go after literacy initiative. We launched the project called the ‘Big Red Bookshelf,’” said Maxey.
The bookshelves were placed in community centers. All of the books are donated. The programs asks for books for children from birth to third grade.
Maxey also made note of a donation that was made to the United Way by former Madison Middle School librarian Marjorie Kieffer. “I worked with Mrs. Kieffer in the library. Marjorie Kieffer left half of her estate to the United Way when she passed. That really touched my heart because knowing Mrs. Kieffer, she really loved her kids. We designed a plaque in her memory that Superintendent Lee Kaple of Madison Schools will hang in the middle school library,” said Maxey.
In other meeting proceeding, President David Yaney updated members on membership renewals and officer nominations for 2014.
Kim Miers with the Mansfield/Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau highlighted the “Great Ohio Bike Adventure” that will be taking place in Richland County on June 15. A bike committee is being formed and anyone interested in participating can call 419-525-1300.
The Richland Mall will be hosting “Breakfast with Santa” on December 14 from 9-11 a.m. The cost of tickets is $5. The breakfast will be catered by Doc’s Deli. Call 419-529-5312 for more information.