Campaign KickOff Luncheon Announced

The 2009 United Way KickOff Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 8 at noon at Lighted Gardens in Ossian. Reservations will be accepted until October 1 and tickets are $12 each.

Campaign Chair Tom Kneller will speak briefly to kickoff the annual campaign - the goal this year is an ambitious $315,000. That is just over last year's campaign. The needs are up and the entire community is going to have to come together to support the United Way efforts so that agencies and programs can continue doing all the good works that they have been doing.

Please join us as we kick off the annual campaign this year. Call 824-5589 for reservations.

What Page are You On?

United Way of Wells County is pleased to participate with the Wells County Public Library by extending a grant to purchase books to be used in the schools for the One Book One County project. This year's book is Rocket Boys.

I have read the book, and, as a disclaimer was also on the selection committee. Rocket Boys is riveting and will appeal to folks of all ages and genders. Click here for more complete information on the book and the activities in the community.

I encourage you to support the project by encouraging your friends, service clubs, organizations and businesses to participate. Discuss the book everywhere you go. The whole point it to promote conversation.

There is a discussion board available on the website also. Please add your comments about the book and help us get, and keep, a lively online discussion going.

If you haven't picked up a copy of Rocket Boys at the Wells County Public Library yet, do so today and start reading this engaging book.

Be sure to talk about what you are reading and ask "What Page Are You On?"

Imagination Library facts

I was able to have breakfast last week with the regional director for the Imagination Library. I learned a lot of very interesting facts associated with the IL.

Dolly Parton started the Imagination Library for her home community if Sevier County in Tennessee in 1995 - it was opened up to other areas in 2000 - Wells County United Way became involved in 2001.

Today there are over 1100 communities offering the Imagination Library to its children. Children from the time of birth through their 5th birthday are eligible to receive age appropriate books mailed to their home every single month - at no charge to the families. United Way of Wells County is proud to support the Imagination Library in Wells County and has over 850 children receiving books every single month. The cost of this program is $29 per child per year. The Imagination Library promotes reading, but it also promotes a love of books and learning.

There have been over 20 million books mailed in the years since the Imagination Library began - over 550,000 books are sent every single month. I remember attending a conference with Dolly Parton when she presented the 1 millionth book - the program has been exploding since then.

We plan to continue offering this program for the children in Wells County. If you would like to support this program, please contact United Way of Wells County at 824-5589. If you would like to register your child living in Wells County, please go to our website

How do YOU Live United?

Live United is much more than a slogan - it is a way of life. It is an action - it is what we do. It is not just wearing the shirt - it is living it!

We are looking for individuals who are willing to be recorded on video to tell their story in 2 minutes or less. Personal, authentic video clips of how real people, right here in Wells County, Live United.

Do you volunteer? Do you work with a United Way agency? Do you donate to United Way?

Let us record you and post it on our blog - we want to know how YOU Live United.

Contact the United Way office at 260-824-5589 or comment on this blog and we will make arrangements with you to set up the taping.