United Way Continues to Meet Community Needs Through Grant Funding Process

April 5, 2022

United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties (UWWH) recently announced their grant funding awards to 20 area organizations meeting 65 local community needs. This comes after United Way raised $1.51 Million Dollars through their 2021 Campaign. These area organizations submitted requests for funding in late December. In January and February the Volunteer Investment Team reviewed the proposals and made a recommendation to the United Way of Wayne and Holmes Board of Directors.

“We are excited to have the ability to help so many through this funding process.“ said Katie Koglman, United Way CEO. “Our community is blessed to have wonderful organizations that meet vital needs in our communities. We are proud to say that in 2022 we have funded 65 of those needs within 20 organizations.” added Koglman.

The United Way Board of Directors met on March 15, 2022 to review the recommendations submitted by the Volunteer Investment Team and made a final vote on the awards. United Way funds needs in four specific areas: Health/Mental Health/Substance Abuse Treatment, Safety Net, Workforce Development and Youth Development, all with the purpose of helping people improve their lives.

2022 United Way Grant Awards totaled: $1,052,184.00 and were given to the following organizations: American Red Cross, Anazao Community Partners, Boys & Girls Club of Wooster, Catholic Charities, Forget Me Not Baskets, Goodwill Industries, Holmes Center for the Arts, Holmes County Health District, Learn N’ Play, NAMI, OHUDDLE, OneEighty, Salvation Army, The Counseling Center, Viola Startzman Clinic, Wayne Center for the Arts, Wayne County Schools Career Center, Wayne County Children’s Advocacy Center, Wooster City Schools and the YMCA of Wayne County.

Amberly Wolf, United Way Board President stated, “United Way is addressing some of the most pressing needs in our community. We learn of these needs through our first call for help hotline (WHIRE) and want to be a part of the solution. Our funded partner organizations are financially stable, their results are driven, and are a good investment in our community. We know these programs are necessary and integral to the success of a diverse population of people in our community and the needs they have. We are grateful for our donors support!”

Other programs/emergency needs met through United Way of Wayne and Holmes funding included, but not limited to:

$ 4,979.87 to area organizations in direct designations.

$ 44,960.00 to other local United Way organizations in direct designations

$11,946.75 to the Severe Weather Shelter

$40,608.00 to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

$30,000.00 restricted for WHIRE

$50,837.86 to the Board Restricted Fund

$104,931.00 to Emergency Food and Shelter Programs Through FEMA

Grants from the Board Restricted Fund will open for new program applications in April. The details for those grants will be available on our website. (uwwh.org)

Non-profits that received funding must meet United Way standards and demonstrate results through their needs outcomes. United Way volunteers analyze each request through a thorough evaluation process. Volunteers (community members that have a vested interest in United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties) decide which programs receive funding. “If you’re a part of this community and you want to understand more on how the process works and how community needs are met, volunteering with United Way of Wayne and Holmes on their Volunteer Investment Team will do it.” said Kim Sayers, a 2022 Volunteer Investment Team member. The United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties Board of Directors review the recommendations and give final funding approval.

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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!!