United In Purpose 2023

June 8, 2023

United In Purpose 2023

United in Purpose 2023

May 17 - 19

Houston, TX

I wasn’t going to attend this conference. After all, I had just returned from Great Rivers Conference in Rochester, MN and, United in Purpose was scheduled to take place during Wooster’s Reading Under the Lights event, that I, along with our super committee, worked all year to help put together.

United in Purpose 2023, was a conference for United Way organizations from all over the world – an opportunity to come together, rally around the brand and learn best practices from one another. There would be 1,100 people were in attendance at this conference.

Like I said, I wasn’t going to attend. However, someone nominated me to be a presenter – and present on Reading Under the Lights, as a best practice for other United Way organizations to implement in their community. I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to brag about our community and share the successes of Reading Under the Lights.

While at this conference, I also enjoyed many opportunities for self-growth, learning other best practices and networking with leaders like me across the country. On day one, I received a notification through the conference app, “Cathryn Gore, would like to connect”. So, I responded “Hello!”. After a few back-and-forth communications, we decided to meet for lunch that day, and were inseparable for the rest of the conference. Cathy is the CEO of United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County in Virginia – she is also a triathlete! We were able to network and really learn and lean on one another for the next few days. She is making incredible strides in her community – I wanted to learn more from her!

I also got to experience two minutes of fame, as I was honored to share the stage with Catt Sadler, a tv personality, author and podcaster. A few presenters were chosen to highlight their best practice. Of course, I was energized by this opportunity, but more importantly – I was able to showcase a successful program here in our community that not only reduces the summer reading slide in children, but also gives our corporate partners a chance to engage directly with their future workforce.

There were about 120 people in my session and since the conference Kayley (my colleague) and I have been doing many one-on-one zoom meetings with United Way organizations all over the country. In fact, United Way of Lea County in New Mexico just wrapped up their first Reading Under the Lights event! In attendance, was another United Way leader – whom I had only met virtually, Michael Apfelberg from United Way of Greater Nashua in New Hampshire. As soon as we saw each other, we gave big hugs! Michael and I have shared many ideas back and forth throughout the last couple of years. It was so great to meet in person. He even invited me to go Facebook Live with him after my presentation.

One of the most meaningful concepts at the conference is that multiple organizations with their respected leaders are in one location (as we are all our own organization, not umbrellas, not charters – but separate charitable organizations) sharing our best practices and knowledge with one another to make our communities the best that we can. Every United Way organization is a little different, filling the needs in their community, but we all share the same logo. We all want to close gaps and open opportunities for every person in our communities.

Other topics covered at the conference included, but not limited to: Corporate Partnerships beyond the Workplace Campaign, Culture Transformation, Ensuring Strong Board and CEO Partnerships, 2-1-1 National Strategic Vision, and many sessions on fundraising, volunteerism, and leadership.

Thank you to whomever nominated me to present! If you are interested in learning more about the United in Purpose Conference or Reading Under the Lights. Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or directly via email katie@uwwh.org

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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!!