United Way Campaign Kick-Off & Goal Announcement for 2021

August 10, 2021

Wooster, Ohio (August 2, 2021) - United Way of Waynes and Holmes Counties (UWWH) is excited to kick-off their 2021 Campaign. This year the UWWH goal is $1.65 Million. Fundraising is underway with lots of events and festivities planned. The dollars raised help thousands of local people each year.

Last year, United Way successfully hit their goal of $1.5 Million dollars. With Katie Koglman at the helm as the CEO of United Way, along with the Board of Directors, they continue to see increased needs in our community and the UWWH is raising the goal for 2021 by 10%, as they have done since Koglman was the CEO.

This year the United Way campaign theme is “Be the Light”. United Way wants to show people the many ways you can be the light in your community. You can be the difference, be the love, be the voice, be the strength, be the hope and be the encouragement to so many.

One donation to UWWH funds 40 local programs led by local organizations, including: American Red Cross, Anazao Community Partners, Boys & Girls Club of Wooster, Catholic Charities, Children’s Advocacy Center, Forget Me Not Baskets, Goodwill Industries, Holmes Center for the Arts, Holmes County Health District, Learn N Play, NAMI, National Inventors Hall of Fame, OHuddle, OneEighty, Salvation Army Wooster, The Counseling Center, Viola Startzman Clinic, Wayne Center for the Arts, Wayne County Schools Career Center, Wooster City Schools and YMCA.

In addition to the funded partner programs UWWH supports many other initiatives, including, but not limited to: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Glenmont Food Pantry, Matthew 25 Project, the Severe Weather Shelter, and West Salem Outreach.

“We are asking you to Be the Light this year to the people in our community who are struggling. They may be struggling with a mental illness, addiction or loneliness and helplessness. You never know what other people are actually going through”, stated Katie Koglman, CEO of United Way of Wayne and Holmes. “We live in one of the best communities in the country with generous and loving people. We also have people in our community who are hurting and need a helping hand. Now is the time to unite and show others love and to be the light.”

United Way of Wayne and Holmes is asking community members to consider a gift of any size to help them toward their goal. You can donate by calling the office at (330) 264-5576, mailing a gift to 215 S. Walnut Street, Wooster, Ohio 44691, by visiting: uwwh.org or by texting: GIVEHERE to 44-321.

The 2021 Campaign video, can be viewed at the following link:

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Why we stay nonpartisan

By Katie Koglman • October 7, 2026

United We Help: Why United Way Wayne and Holmes Stays Nonpartisan Turn on the television. Scroll social media. Check your mailbox. Election season brings a steady stream of political messages, each competing for our attention and asking us to choose a side. It can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to separate facts from opinions and decide whom to trust. At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we value the trust our community places in us. That is why we want to be clear about our role during elections.We do not endorse candidates, oppose candidates, or tell people whom to vote for. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we are prohibited from participating in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. This is a legal requirement , not simply an organizational preference. Our responsibility is to serve Wayne and Holmes Counties and bring people together to help our neighbors. Nonpartisan does not mean silent We see the challenges people face every day: families struggling to afford groceries, workers facing transportation barriers, children needing opportunities to learn, and neighbors searching for mental health support. We have a role in helping our community and policymakers understand those needs. We can share information, educate elected officials, build relationships, and speak up about issues connected to our mission. We can also engage in some lobbying on specific legislation, within the limits that apply to charitable organizations. Speaking up about a community need is different from asking you to vote for a particular candidate. Can we do that? Our “Can We Do That? A Quick Guide to Nonprofit Advocacy” graphic uses a traffic-light approach to explain the difference. Green: Speak up for our community. Share stories, explain community needs, educate policymakers, and encourage civic participation. Yellow: Know the rules. Supporting or opposing specific legislation is lobbying, which comes with limits and responsibilities. Red: No candidate endorsements. We cannot support or oppose candidates, contribute organizational funds to their campaigns, or use our organizational voice to tell you whom to elect. We can encourage people to register and vote, and provide voter information, as long as those efforts remain neutral and do not favor or oppose candidates or political parties. Your vote belongs to you You may hear us discuss hunger, literacy, housing, transportation, or other issues affecting local families. You may see us meeting with elected officials to help them understand what is happening in our communities. Those conversations are about the people we serve. They are not candidate endorsements. We encourage you to ask questions, examine reliable information, learn about candidates, and make your own informed choices. The neighbors who turn to us for help have different backgrounds, beliefs, and political views. So do the donors, volunteers, and partners who make our work possible. Helping our community takes all of us. Election season will come and go. Our commitment to Wayne and Holmes counties continues regardless of the outcome. We encourage all of you to vote, and vote for who you think is the best candidate! Early voting begins October 6, 2026 through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. To find where you should go to vote Click Here. Go VOTE!!