Going for the win

We fight together. We win together.

That’s the message United Way of Jay County brought to Harold E. Schutz Memorial Stadium on Friday night as it kicked off its annual campaign during halftime of the Jay County High School football team’s game against Adams Central.

“Fight United. Win United.” It’s the new national slogan for United Way.

“We thought we would adopt it,” said Cindy Denney, who is co-chairing the campaign with Cindy Gardner. “It just seems so appropriate right now. I think everybody is in a fight, whatever their struggle is. … The organizations, they need us more than ever now, and we want to help them win united.”

United Way of Jay County president Mike Weitzel, Denney and Gardner emphasized the important role the organization has played in the community, especially in the last 18 months during the coronavirus pandemic.

It joined Second Harvest Food Bank in expanding free food tailgate events from once a month to once a week during the height of the coronavirus pandemic shutdown in 2020. Its funding helped local organizations purchase key items like cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer and wipes. And it also supported local day cares and Jay-Randolph Developmental Services.

“With the COVID monies last year we were able to support both East and West Jay community centers to allow them to have their boys and girls clubs over the summer and their summer camps,” added Weitzel. “So the money supported the youth in the community very well.”

United Way also provided support to those impacted by the June tornado.

Denney said most local service organizations are in need of help as many regular fundraisers were eliminated last year. She used Jay County Special Olympics as an example, noting that it did not take part in competitions in 2020.

“We’re back,” she added. “And we hope to stay strong.

“And I think that’s what this is about. We’re fighting. Everybody is fighting united. And we want to win united, and we will because of this awesome community.”

United Way of Jay County member agencies include A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Bryant Community Center, Jay County Crippled Children and Adults, Jay County Boys and Girls Club, Jay County Cancer Society, Jayland Homeless Shelter, Jayland Partners, Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, Pennville Community Center, Second Harvest Food Bank, West Jay Community Center and Youth Service Bureau.

Organizations participating in the Pacesetter campaign still have already made more than $35,000 in donations, about 25 percent of this year’s campaign goal of $140,000. (That number is the same as last year’s total, which the organization was able to reach thanks in large part to matching grants.) Those early donors include First Merchants Bank, First Financial Bank, Moser Engineering, Performance Tool, MSSL Wiring, Jay School Corporation and Jay County REMC.

This mark’s Denney’s fourth annual campaign as a co-chair, having previously teamed up with the late Vicki Tague on consecutive campaigns from 2016-17 through 2018-19. It will be Gardner’s first in a leadership role.

“She’s the best,” Gardner said of Denney. “I knew if I was going to agree to do it, it was because of Cindy. …

“I did want to get involved. I want to help. I want to see the best for the community.”

Campaign cabinet members in addition to the co-chairs are board liaison Weitzel, education chair Rex Pinkerton, professional co-chairs Drew Houck and Rita Lutes, small business chair Jeanna Ford, agriculture chair Mark Tillman, leadership co-chairs Pat and Pam Bennett, healthcare chair Monica Goble, service organization chair Traci Gross, government co-chairs Patrick Wells, Tony Lennartz and Weitzel and special events chair Denney.

United Way board members are Weitzel (president), Brenda Funk (president elect), Kristen Gibson (secretary), Emily Richards (treasurer), Gross (past president), Tamara Kaufman, Dilcia Ruiz, Tami Vormohr, Goble and Houck.