United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties Partners with Local School Districts for Literacy Events

May 19, 2021

United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties (UWWH) in partnership with local school districts is pleased to present Reading Under the Lights to the children of the communities served in Wayne and Holmes Counties. Reading Under the lights is as fun, as it is educational.

Reading Under the Lights is in its fourth year. It is an event that was created to assure that children have books to read over the summer months, which in turn reduces the summer slide. The summer slide is the tendency for students, especially those from low-income families, to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the prior school year. “We are excited to be partnering with the local school districts to bring this event to them at the end of a memorable school year.” Said Katie Koglman, Executive Director of UWWH. “Literacy is the cornerstone to learning at so many different levels of education. Doing an event focused around literacy is critical to the success of so many children.”

The Wooster event will be featuring a One Community One Book that will go home to each family that is titled “I am Enough”. This book is about loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another. The author is actor and activist Grace Byers and talented artist Keturah A. Bobo. This book was kindly sponsored by PNC through a grant for the event. “The One Community One Book initiative is a shared reading experience that unites Wooster City Schools students, families and community.” said Karen Arbogast, Director of Elementary Education. “Each family (PK-4) will receive a copy of the book. This book embraces and celebrates the uniqueness of all individuals and sends a powerful message about believing in and loving who you are.”

The districts participating this year, include: Rittman, Triway, Wooster and Southeast will host their event this fall. With the districts that are participating almost 3,000 children will benefit from the Reading Under the Lights events. The events feature community members who come to read as “celebrities” of the community. Many local fire fighters, police officers, mayors, librarians, teachers and social services workers.

A big thank you to the sponsors of these events: Morton Salt, PNC, Mayor Bill and Donna Robertson, Mars Horsecare, Elks Lodge #1346, Stephen and Cheryl Shapiro, Clothing Warehouse, Grace Church, Remax (Lauren Mingay Team), JAFB, Buehlers, Boreman, Norton and Cook Wealth Partners, and Quailcrest Farms.

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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!!