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How I Live United.

Talent

Amberly W.

I serve on the Board of Directors because I want to have a personal impact on improving our community. I know that United Way is the organization that can make such a positive impact!

Time

Arianna L.

I believe in opening your heart and mind to our differences allows us to be the light to many.

Treasure

The Jolly Roger

I donate time and treasures because of the great partners serving good people of Holmes and Wayne Counties!

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"Be The Light"

2021 Campaign Video

Click to watch our inspirational 2021 Campaign video. How can you be the light?

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Areas We Impact

Health

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment

We believe people need access to health care, mental healthcare and substance abuse treatment in order to improve their overall chances of prosperity.

Safety Net

Food, Shelter and Clothing

We believe people need food, shelter and clothing in order to be positioned for improvement.

Workforce Development

Training, Transportation and Child Care

We believe people need skills, training, proper equipment, reliable transportation and childcare in order to advance their career opportunities.

Youth Development

We believe children need safe, stable, active and fun environments to learn, grow, adapt and succeed.

Impact Stories

Holmes Center for the Arts

Receiving a scholarship for my youngest daughter and son has helped in numerous ways. In general, it has helped me to be able to afford to have them...

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Wayne Center for the Arts

We have been providing Hip Hop dance sessions at the Boys and Girls Club Edgewood site. One 7th grader who participated in the program make the...

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Viola Startzman Clinic

Linda was a young mom who was sent to us from the Wooster Community Hospital ER. She had gone there to get food for her 11 month old baby who was...

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Wayne Center for the Arts

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Holmes Center for the Arts

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Viola Startzman Clinic

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Partners Spotlight

Salvation Army

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National Inventors Hall of Fame

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Boys & Girls Club of Wooster

Kids Come First

We live united by making sure our kids are learning about and addressing community needs!

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Children Advocacy

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YMCA of Wayne County

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Other Partners

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Goodwill Industries

Providing a Future

We live united by providing hope of a brighter future by placing people in jobs that earn higher than minimum wage!

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Learn N Play

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American Red Cross

Bringing Positivity and Change
We live united every day by thinking outside of ourselves and knowing that we have the power to bring about positive and lasting change - large or small!

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Wayne Center for the Arts

Enriching lives and strengthening communities through art.

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Anazao Community Partners

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Holmes Center for the Arts

Enriching lives through the arts

We live united by reaching children and families with need through the arts!

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NAMI Wayne and Holmes Counties

We must stay united

We are a small group, so if we’re not united, we would fall apart.

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Holmes County Health District

Everett Miller’s Early Intervention Journey

When Kayla Phillips became concerned about her son’s speech development, she chose to reach out to Holmes County Early Intervention (EI) to learn more about the local services available to help her son, Everett. Kayla explains, “We first heard of EI from Everett’s doctor, and then from a couple friends who also had children in EI”. Holmes County EI is a part of the statewide system which provides coordinated early intervention services to parents of eligible children under the age of three with developmental delays or disabilities.

After Kayla spoke with an early intervention service coordinator at the Holmes County General Health District, an evaluation was completed to gain a picture of Everett’s development (in safe adherence with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities’ guidance for completing the EI eligibility process during COVID-19). Everett was determined eligible for EI services and quickly began receiving services from the Holmes County EI team with Angie Willard, a speech and language pathologist, serving as Everett’s primary service provider. Kayla emphasizes, “To anyone with a child who seems to be behind in their speech, I highly recommend reaching out to EI. I know that it can be difficult as a parent to ask for help for your child. As a parent who has been there, trust me when I say it is so worth it.”

Holmes County EI is grounded in the philosophy that young children learn best from familiar people in familiar settings. When recently asked about Everett’s journey in EI, Kayla shares, “When we first started Everett in EI, he was only saying one, rarely two words, at a time. He also struggled with using the correct sounds at the beginning of a lot of his words. We had a difficult time understanding Everett which led to him being very frustrated when he was trying to talk to us. With that frustration came a lot of temper tantrums. With the help of Angie and EI, we began noticing a change in Everett very quickly. We were able to incorporate the tips Angie provided into our day-to-day lives. We are still working on improving his sounds, but after only three months of EI, Everett is now saying three-to-four-word phrases and sometimes even a full sentence. His confidence in speaking has grown significantly, and the tantrums are rare now.”

The Holmes County EI team is honored to provide services to local families through a family-friendly, coaching model. Angie Willard, the team’s speech and language pathologist, further explains, “The best part of my job as the Holmes County EI SLP is witnessing the progress made when families, like Everett’s, embrace the methods taught in our sessions which then evolve into positive changes in their child's speech. I am honored to pass knowledge and tools onto our families that help make a real difference in their daily lives. It is truly a blessing."

When a child’s journey in Early Intervention nears the end, families face many choices about what they will do next. Many children in EI are eligible at age three for special education services provided by the Ohio Department of Education. The Holmes County EI team provides support to local families in EI as they face this transition. Kayla summarizes the closure of Everett’s EI services by explaining, “We have since transitioned Everett into preschool. I was worried there would be a big break between EI and him beginning preschool, but that was not the case. We were able to set everything up prior to Everett's 3rd birthday. As soon as that day came, he was able to go right into preschool. Everyone at EI has been incredible to work with. They've all made us so comfortable through this journey.” Families with concerns regarding their child’s development are encouraged to reach out early and without hesitation to the dedicated Holmes County EI team. As Kayla affirms, “Seeing your child succeed in something they were previously struggling with is amazing!”

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Wayne County Schools Career Center

Live United

We live united by working cooperatively with many organizations!

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OHuddle

A Triway student recently came to the OHuddle office with the observation that many teachers’ school supplies were becoming depleted since the start of the year. The student and his mentor partnered to organize and deliver school supplies donated through OHuddle for Triway, creating a mid-year supply delivery in “service to others” (Developmental Asset #9).

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