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United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Strengthens Leadership with Five New Members on Board of Directors

July 24, 2023

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley welcomes Carol D. Birks, Ed.D. of Allentown School District, Scott Blair of B. Braun Medical Inc., Pete Ruggiero of Crayola, Tyrone Russell of Faces International Marketing and Development and Jill Wheeler of City Center Investment Corporation to the organization’s Board of Directors.

“Each new member brings years of experience and expertise to United Way. We look forward to working together to advance the health, safety and education of every person in the Greater Lehigh Valley,” said United Way Board Chair Dorota Gasienica-Kozak, partner in King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC law firm.

Carol D. Birks, Ed.D. is the Superintendent for the Allentown School District. She is a catalytic and transformational educational thought leader with extensive experience in organizational leadership, community engagement and empowerment, executive coaching and change management. The leadership practices she implements are designed to enhance the systems, structures and practices within organizations to accelerate academic progress and promote systems thinking. Dr. Birks began her career as a teacher, quickly growing her administrative capacity by serving as a school, district and state leader. These roles include Teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal for Bridgeport Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent and Chief of Staff for Hartford Public Schools and Superintendent of Schools for New Haven Public Schools and Chester Upland School District.

Scott Blair of B. Braun Medical Inc. is an accomplished educator, mentor/coach and diversity, equity and inclusion thought leader and practitioner. Blair joined B. Braun in April 2022 as its inaugural DEI leader in the role of Senior Director for DE&I. Blair is responsible for building upon and implementing strategies that will encourage and build an inclusive and diverse workforce throughout the company. He also has the privilege of leading B. Braun’s dynamic Employee Resource Group community and supporting the Company’s health equity, sustainability and supplier diversity work. Blair brings close to 20 years of experience in Higher Education, having served in a variety of inaugural DEI leadership positions committed to advancing DEI including professional development facilitation faculty/staff recruitment and strategic planning efforts focused on Inclusive Excellence.

Pete Ruggiero is the Chief Operating Officer for Crayola LLC, the global leading consumer products brand in the children’s creative expression category. Under his leadership, Crayola automated U.S. manufacturing, integrated LEAN and Six Sigma into operating processes, executed numerous environmental sustainability initiatives, and expanded global market share during the pandemic. In his current role, Ruggiero is responsible for Crayola’s global supply chain, global product integrity, global consumer insights, U.S. sales, and International commercial business units.

Tyrone Russell is the Chief Executive Officer of Faces International Marketing and Development, LLC. He is an entrepreneur, community advocate, brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and an award-winning higher education professional. Formerly serving as the Coordinator of Racial and Ethnic Justice with the Community Action Agency of the Lehigh Valley, and as the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Lehigh University, Tyrone executes cultural realization sessions and diversity trainings throughout the region for corporations, non-profits, municipalities and school districts. He assists organizations in creating strategic frameworks to increase inclusion while enhancing tools and experiences that decrease institutional and personal biases that impact culture and day-to-day operations.

Jill Wheeler is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for City Center Investment Corporation. In her role, she applies more than 25 years of experience to developing and implementing corporate strategy for sales, marketing and communications. Wheeler joined City Center Investment Corporation in 2017 and has since helped lead leasing activity, including securing ADP as the anchor tenant of Five City Center and launching the Downtown Allentown Market. She has also overseen the expansion of integrated marketing for City Center’s office, retail, hotel and residential properties, as well as the programming of the development’s public spaces. Wheeler is currently a board member of the Lehigh Valley Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Foundation and sits on the Lehigh Valley Children’s Hospital Ambassador Council.

“We’re focused on building a community where every person belongs and every person thrives. We’re fortunate to benefit from the leadership and vision that each of our new members brings to our Board of Directors,” remarked United Way President David Lewis.

With total revenue exceeding $26 million, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley raises funds and invests in lasting solutions in the areas of education, healthy aging, and community stability.

Birks, Blair, Ruggiero, Russell and Wheeler will serve three-year terms effective July 1, 2023.

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United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and PPL Foundation Partner to Provide $500,000 to Support Housing Stability

July 18, 2023

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and PPL Foundation have partnered to provide immediate solutions to the region’s growing rates of housing insecurity. With $500,000 provided by PPL Foundation, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley will launch a new no-to-low barrier rental assistance program for families and individuals at risk of eviction, as well as increase support for local shelters to provide housing for people experiencing homelessness.

“PPL Foundation’s contribution of $500,000 will provide support for thousands of people who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity right here in the communities we serve,” stated Ryan Hill, president of the PPL Foundation.

“By partnering with United Way, we know these funds will be invested in immediate solutions to address housing insecurity through prevention and intervention,” added Hill.

The housing crisis in our community has increased due to many factors, including the recent years’ health and economic crises. In the Lehigh Valley, over a third of households spend more than the recommended percentage of their income on housing costs, putting them at risk of eviction. With an increasing number of people experiencing homelessness and serious financial instability in the region, the PPL Foundation partnered to create Be a Housing Hero and make an additional contribution in honor of every new or increased gift to United Way during the 2022 annual campaign.

“Housing stability has a direct connection to both physical and mental health for children and adults. Through this significant contribution by the PPL Foundation, we will make a direct and lasting impact for families experiencing hardship today,” said David Lewis, president of United Way.

Rental Assistance
$300,000 in rental assistance will be available starting this month to families and individuals in the eviction process in two district courts in Allentown (31-1-01) and Bethlehem (03-02-10). They are two of the most high-need districts in the Greater Lehigh Valley, seeing the most evictions cases. They also directly cover United Way Community Schools, in many cases allowing children to remain in both their homes and schools.

“The last few years have proved that emergency rental funds are highly effective at keeping families housed. As government funds become more limited, support from partners such as PPL Foundation will fill a critical need for many that have fallen behind in rent,” remarked Erin Connelly, Vice President of Impact for United Way.

The program was developed in partnership with members of the Lehigh Valley Regional Homeless Advisory Board and North Penn Legal Services. Funds will be distributed by housing partners including Lehigh Conference of Churches and New Bethany.

Shelter Supports
$200,000 will fund 3,500 nights of emergency shelter at five Lehigh Valley shelters in the Allentown and Bethlehem areas throughout 2023 and 2024. For individuals and families who need immediate shelter, emergency shelters or funding to support hotel/motel stays ensure that they have a place to go. A total of 500 households experiencing homelessness will access one week of housing through this funding over the next two years.

Services will be provided by Sixth Street Shelter, Victory House, Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, The Salvation Army of the Lehigh Valley and Valley Youth House. Shelters will provide wrap-around services and case management support to help youth, families, veterans, older adults and women experiencing domestic abuse get back on the path to stability.

Organizations began receiving funds on July 1, 2023.

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“We get better together.” First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union commits to United Way Community School in Allentown with $100,000 donation

July 06, 2023

Francis D. Raub Middle School, a United Way Community School in the Allentown School District, received a $100,000 donation from First Commonwealth Credit Union to provide financial literacy education to students and their families, assist in funding the school store and support school-wide incentives for attendance and behavior.

The funds will be spent over three years and will be used to promote positive student behavior and strengthen a sense of belonging through incentives such as Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) rewards, student achievement events, among others.

“We get better together,” shares Dr. Carol Birks, Allentown School District Superintendent, on the exciting collaboration between United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Raub Middle School and First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union.

United Way’s Community School Network serves over 20,000 students in Allentown, Bangor Area, Bethlehem Area, Easton Area and Panther Valley school districts. As a Community School with lead partner St. Luke’s University Health Network, Raub Middle School is one of four middle schools in the city of Allentown and serves nearly 1,000 students.

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Photo Gallery: Emerging Leaders Axe Throwing

June 27, 2023

Thank you for joining United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s Emerging Leaders for an evening of axe throwing and networking.

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United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Recognizes Outgoing Board Members

June 21, 2023

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) thanks Thomas Daub, Rafael De La Hoz, Marc Granson, M.D. and Bill Schaninger, Ph.D. for their deep commitment to creating a stronger community for everyone in the region during their tenue on the organization’s Board of Directors.

Thomas A. Daub has been a board member since 2017. He is a third-generation automobile dealer, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, William J. Daub, II, and his father, L. Anderson Daub. William J. Daub started Brown Daub Chrysler Plymouth in 1936 with his brother-in-law, Thomas Brown. Daub is currently a general partner in the Brown-Daub franchise which recently received the PPL LIVE UNITED Award at United Way’s Celebration of Caring for its significant contribution toward improving the quality of life for those in need in the Lehigh Valley. Along with being on the UWGLV Board Recruitment Committee, Daub is or has been a member of the boards of The Children’s Home of Easton, Community Services for Children, Equi-librium, Northampton Community College Foundation, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber Nonprofit and Business Council and Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association.

Rafael De La Hoz joined the Board in 2015. He is the first Latino State Farm agent in the city of Allentown. De La Hoz joined State Farm with over 15 years in retail banking, financial planning and retail and commercial lending experience. He has also served as Store Manager, Service Manager, Licensed Financial Specialist and Sales Manager. De La Hoz maintains active involvement in several community service organizations. In addition to his board service for UWGLV, he serves on the financial advisory board of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley.

Marc Granson, M.D. has been a board member since 2014. Dr. Granson was a practicing vascular surgeon for 33 years and Chair of Surgery for St. Luke’s University Health Network from 2003 to 2016. While he was Chair of Surgery, he realized hospitals did not have a comprehensive tool to analyze the quality and cost of their surgeons and patients had no way to objectively choose their surgeon. As the move toward value-based reimbursements became clear, he also understood that hospital and insurance leaders would need help navigating the transition. With this in mind, he developed the SurgeonCheck platform. In late 2016, Dr. Granson stepped down as Chair of Surgery to dedicate all his energy to SurgeonCheck. He is on a mission to bring transparency and objective measurement to surgical outcomes.

Bill Schaninger, Ph.D. has been a board member since 2015. He joined McKinsey & Company’s London office in 2000. Schaninger was part of the team that created the Organizational Health Index (OHI) and the Influence Model. Over the course of his time at McKinsey, Schaninger has developed and led the Organizational Diagnostics team, the North America Transformational Change service line and the Global Talent Management service line. He has also been the Global Knowledge Leader for the Organization Practice. Schaninger now focuses his energy on helping CEOs, CHROs, government leaders and other executives across a broad range of organizational topics. He has been published in academic and professional journals and is a frequent speaker at conferences globally. In his continued commitment to his community, Schaninger held a seat on both the Board of Directors for UWGLV and currently holds a seat on the Advisory Board for the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University and he is a trustee for Moravian College.

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Moses Taylor Foundation Grant awards $70,000 to support students and families in the Panther Valley School District

June 19, 2023

Moses Taylor Foundation Grant recently awarded $70,000 across two years to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) to support the Family Development Specialist role at Panther Valley School District (PVSD). This is the organization’s third award from Moses Taylor Foundation and the second award to support this program.

The youth mental health epidemic is rising with more children reporting that they experienced traumatic events in and outside of home. In partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network and Carbon County Office of Children & Youth Services (CYS), the Family Development Specialist (FDS) Project aims to connect students and families with essential resources and protective factors in the community, thereby reducing instances of child abuse and neglect.

The FDS position was first created at Panther Valley School District beginning in the 2021-2022 school year through funding from the Ametek Foundation. This position later shifted to the role of Community School Coordinator, as PVES became the first United Way Community School in Carbon County. After generously being awarded a grant from Moses Taylor Foundation in 2022, the FDS position transitioned to a role supporting the whole district, with an acute focus on supporting students in grades 7-12.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, the impact of the FDS position expanded beyond PVSD, generating interest from CYS. This agency recognized the potential synergy between their mission and the outcomes of the FDS role. By collaborating with CYS and proactively addressing potential issues, the FDS can help prevent negative outcomes and promote healthy family environments.

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United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley welcomes Amy Golding and Lindsey A. H. Parks to the Philanthropy Team

June 14, 2023

Amy Golding joined United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley as Associate Vice President, Philanthropy and Donor Engagement in April. She brings seven years of experience leading major gifts as Head of the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley. Amy will lead donor engagement and philanthropy for Tocqueville Society donors and prospects.

Lindsey A. H. Parks joined UWGLV at the end of March to fill a new role, Special Gifts Officer. She has over 15 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in the Lehigh Valley and a decade of nonprofit leadership experience, including six years as Executive Director of a nonprofit in Emmaus and, most recently, Director of Development and Marketing at Civic Theatre of Allentown. Lindsey will secure special major gifts that will fund initiatives in our community focused on specific areas.

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“We witness firsthand the positive impact that United Way has on students and the community.”

June 13, 2023

United Way Tocqueville Society is an alliance of nearly 350 successful business and philanthropic leaders and their families who share a strong commitment and passion for investing in our local community. Chris Baldrige, Executive Director at Harrisburg Public School Foundation, and David Skerpon, SVP, Sales and Marketing at Capital Blue Cross, are new United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Tocqueville Society members (members of United Way of the Capital Region since 2003). They recently shared their personal reasons for supporting United Way for nearly 40 years.

“Prior involvement with the Capital Region affiliate gave us personal experience with United Way programs. We supported the organization in various capacities, including serving as Campaign, Board, and Tocqueville Chairs. Chris’s position as a principal in the Allentown School District has allowed us to witness firsthand the positive impact that United Way has on students and the community.”

David and Chris reside in Harrisburg and have three children, Gregg, Jennifer and Joseph, and two grandchildren, Fox and Runa.

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United Way Announces Tony and Adrienne DaRe of BSI Corporate Benefits as 2023 Campaign Chairs

June 12, 2023

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has announced that Tony and Adrienne DaRe of BSI Corporate Benefits will serve as the organization’s 2023 Campaign Chairs. In this role, the DaRe’s will volunteer to lead United Way’s largest annual fundraising effort, which raised a record-breaking $22,642,018 in 2022.

“Tony and Adrienne are deeply committed to the health and wellness of our entire community, and we are honored to work together with them to build a brighter future in the Greater Lehigh Valley,” said United Way President David Lewis. “Their efforts over the next year will create a lasting impact on the health, safety and education of thousands of our neighbors throughout Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties.”

As United Way Tocqueville Society members since 2018, the DaRe’s are deeply committed to giving back through their leadership and service. Through their leadership, BSI Corporate Benefits has become one of 19 members of the United Way Cornerstone Society, increased their contributions through their workplace campaign each year, and achieved 100% participation among employees the last three years.

“Participating in the United Way campaign on a companywide level has become an engrained part of our culture at BSI. Our BSI team is 100% committed, and our combined impact reaches nearly 50 organizations with United Way. Showing up in the community every day and partnering with United Way allows us to achieve our definition of success,” said Tony DaRe.

Under Tony’s direction as Founder and Chief Executive Officer, BSI Corporate Benefits has successfully identified, implemented and executed immediate and long-term cost control strategies to effectively manage its clients’ healthcare costs. Since inception of the firm, BSI has achieved 98% client retention, a testament to the promises made and delivered to clients. During the past several years BSI has earned awards and accolades including: “Best Employee Benefits Consulting Firm”; “Fastest Growing”; “Inc. 5000”; “Best Workplaces”; “Best in Business”; “Who’s Who”, and most recently “Business of the Year.”

Along with serving on United Way’s Campaign Cabinet since 2019, Tony actively leads local councils, boards, government and health committees serving as an expert employee benefits consultant and volunteer. In 2020, he was named Lehigh Valley “Community Service Person of the Year” and has been recognized as a “Power 100” three times for being an individual who helps shape the Lehigh Valley and influence the quality of life throughout the region. Most recently, Tony was named an Entrepreneur of The Year® 2023 Greater Philadelphia Award finalist for being a transformative entrepreneur and leader of a high-growth firm focused on building long-term value through purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

In 2022, Tony and his wife Adrienne donated $1 million to St. Luke’s University Health Network to help fund construction of the Women & Babies Tower at St. Luke’s Allentown campus and to establish an endowment for scholarships for students at Temple/St. Luke’s Medical School.

“Supporting organizations like St. Luke’s through our United Way partnership allows Adrienne and I to identify and directly engage the Greater Lehigh Valley community which has given us so much. We believe United Way is the heart and soul of our nonprofit community, protecting and providing for our most vulnerable and at need population,” added DaRe.

United Way’s 2023 annual campaign runs through March 31, 2024.

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Photo Gallery: HumanKind Day 2023

June 10, 2023

Thank you for joining us for HumanKind Day, organized by the Unidos Foundation, to promote a healthy, active, and safe start to summer success for the kids in our community. In addition to organizations tabling, there were activities, a drive-thru giveaway, COVID vaccines clinic area and a toy distribution.