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United Way Honors Volunteers, Elects Board and Campaign Leaders (Mar 07, 2007)

A new team of campaign leaders and board members took the helm of United Way of Delaware County on March 7 at the organization's 47th annual meeting, as several United Way volunteers were honored for exemplary contributions to community service. Approximately 70 local volunteers attended the annual meeting at The Conference Center at NorthPointe.

Bill Nolan, an attorney with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, was elected board chair, succeeding Mel Meyers, CEO of Bry-Air Corp. Other officers for the 2006-2007 year include Walt Abood from Verizon Wireless, chair-elect; Barbara Pappas from The Ohio State University, secretary; and Amy Shore from Nationwide, treasurer.

Laura Frum received the 12th annual Nancy Frankenberg Award, named in honor of the late community activist whose accomplishments included founding the local United Way. Frum is the senior loan officer for the Ohio Statewide Development Corp. and a former winner of the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Advocate of the Year award. An active community volunteer, she has chaired United Way’s allocations committee and allocations redesign task force, as well as serving as a current trustee.

Jim Merhar, a Nationwide retiree and former chair of the United Way board of trustees, was honored with United Way's Life Member Award for multiple volunteer contributions to United Way of Delaware County. Merhar was also honored for his service to the United Way board as he retires following two terms.

Jeff Benton, president and CEO of The Delaware County Bank & Trust Co., was recognized for campaign leadership which led United Way of Delaware County to a campaign total of more than $2.7 million during the fall 2005 campaign. The campaign total was a 5 percent increase over the prior year. Benton served as campaign chair, heading a team of volunteers representing businesses and educational, professional and government sectors.

United Way President Katherine Tatterson updated the group on the funding of programs that address five “Impact Areas” representing the community's most pressing social problems. They include improving the lives of children; enriching the lives of seniors; promoting physical and behavioral health; increasing affordable housing; and sustaining basic needs and emergency services.

Five trustees were re-elected for three-year terms, and two new trustees will join the United Way board. Newly elected to the board of trustees with terms ending in 2009 are Steve Garlock, CEO of OhioHealth – Grady Memorial Hospital, and Debra Strohmaier, director of communications at Greif Inc.

Mel Meyers was lauded for his role as board president during the past year.

United Way officials also recognized three local "Pacesetter" companies who led the annual campaign with early, exemplary results from employee workplace pledges and generous corporation contributions. Earning honors as "Pacesetters" were Delaware County Bank & Trust, Macy’s store #52 and Wal-Mart store #1990.

Contributions to United Way from these and other companies support more than 45 programs at 24 local human service agencies funded by United Way. For more information, call (740) 369-9618 or visit the United Way Web site at www.liveuniteddelawarecounty.org.