I first joined the steering committee for United Way of Greater Stark County’s Women United (formerly Women’s Leadership Council) in January 2014, and in April 2019, I became chair. While serving on the steering committee, I assisted with creating a new strategic plan for Women United. We revised our mission to: “Women United engages women in creating opportunities for supporting …
As a life-long Stark County resident, Bob Fernandez wanted to give back to his community from an early age. “I had parents who had a great deal of pride in Stark County, and they instilled that in me,” said Fernandez. “I always had an eye on the vitality and health of the community. When I reached an age where I …
When Aultman Hospital CEO Christopher Remark first began supporting United Way of Greater Stark County, he knew it played a vital role in the community. But it wasn’t until he joined the organization’s board of directors in 2011 that he fully appreciated its impact. “When I started giving nearly 25 years ago, I knew [United Way of Greater Stark …
Courtney Johnson-Benson has a passion for education. As Senior Assistant Director of Admissions for the University of Akron, she helps students pursue their dreams of higher education, while navigating them through the complexities of the college admissions process. When she joined United Way of Greater Stark County’s Young Leaders Society (YLS) in 2016, the organization’s focus on education seemed like a …
Kevin Smith knows what it’s like to face tough challenges. He grew up in an unstable household with limited resources. He started working at an early age to help his single mother with five children make ends meet. Although he is mindful of his humble beginnings, he also acknowledges a work ethic instilled by his grandfather and how this helped …
By Rich Desrosiers, Repository Executive Editor July 9, 2017 In most homes, a baby’s first birthday is celebrated in grand style. Big parties with gifts and balloons, maybe even a smash cake — although why anyone would buy or bake a cake and not eat it seems like a waste of great sugar (and a subject for another day). Today’s …
Chuck Ducey worked for Diebold 35 years and supported United Way of Greater Stark County through the annual workplace campaign. He heard about United Way’s work in the community work at campaign rallies, and it piqued his curiosity about volunteering. Chuck checked out volunteer opportunities, and decided that he was interested in the area of education. He spoke with Kim …
I am proud to re-introduce to you an organization that has been involved in our community well over 75 years. Its people and mission have evolved to be community leaders in addressing and removing obstacles in order to help local men, women and children achieve their full potential – regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, economic position or location. We utilize …
I would like to share a story with you. As a local business owner, I run a workplace-giving campaign for United Way of Greater Stark County. While reviewing this year’s employee contributions, I discovered that a staff member named Charlie had made a rather generous donation. I was familiar with Charlie’s job and pay scale, and I was concerned that …
