2021 Annual Report

A Letter from Our Leadership

 

A huge thank YOU to our donors and volunteers who continued to support the fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community through the tumultuous year of 2021. In a year that held waves of health challenges, the United Way continued the fight, maintaining  large financial commitments to our 29 agencies, addressing root causes through our initiatives and looking for new ways to bring our community together to face our most pressing problems.   

In another year, where nearly every aspect of our life was changed, United Way agencies and initiatives showed resilience in continuing to rebound and adjust to meet the needs of those they served.

Your gift was needed more than ever to support individuals across our community. Thank YOU for your support! Our investments and impact in the community are highlighted throughout the 2021 digital annual report below. This work will be ongoing throughout 2022, as we continue to focus on addressing critical health and human service needs including those that are facing homelessness, mental health challenges, unplanned disasters, and childhood trauma.

“United We’re Strong” was our continued campaign theme for 2021. This theme proved again to be more than just a slogan but a reflection of the power, endurance, and spirit of our entire community. On behalf of the Board of Directors, volunteers, and our staff, we want to thank you for making a difference.

 
Together, we can make a difference. United, We’re Strong.

Danelle Glasscock

Executive Director

Keith Parker

Board President

2021 HIGHLIGHTS

Funding Impact

Over $75,000

raised in Northeast TN and Southwest VA to support Helping Heroes Campaign through Region Ahead

$1.825 Million

allocated to member agency programs, community initiatives, and grants

$731,000

distributed through donor designations to area Community Chests and other United Ways

Over $57,000

administered through UWGK's convening of the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board in Sullivan County (EFSP).

 

Resources

$3.02 Million

raised during the 2021 fundraising campaign, breaking down into over

$2.8

Million from cash and pledges

$21,110

in grants, and

$194,734

received through in-kind media services

Over 80

companies championed our 2021 Campaign Theme, “United We’re Strong,” resulting in

Over 7,000

donors contributing to this year’s fundraising efforts

 

Volunteers

4,586

hours of service completed by community volunteers, with an estimated value of

 Over $130,884

Nearly 100

nonprofits featured on our regional volunteer website, www.Volunteer-United.org, which is utilized by over

1,100

individuals

 

Celebrated 19 graduates from the first cohort of LeaderBoard Training with the Alliance for Better Non-Profits.

 

Community Impact

Over $96,000

in federal tax refunds processed for local households through our re-establishment as a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) location with the IRS

43

individuals have achieved permanent housing through our newly-formed Kingsport Homeless Coalition, a group of more than 20 agencies who work to maximize resources by minimizing redundancy

Over 1,896

meals were provided to Medical Staff and First Responders in the Greater Kingsport area through the Helping Heroes Campaign efforts

Over $110,000

distributed through Community Assessment and Planning (CAP) and Community Partnership grants to local community initiatives that support our impact strategies. Recipients included AveNew, Healthy Kingsport, Kingsport Homeless Coalition, and UETHDA.

 

Internal Operations

Continued the use of the highest standards for financial policies and internal controls.


Red Cross Debbie

 

HEALTH

Health Sidebar Updated

 

With a fatal overdose happening once in every six days in Sullivan County, the need for community education and prevention efforts is important now more than ever.  To offer hope and to diminish the stigma related to substance use disorders, AveNew, a UWGK initiative, executed an awareness campaign that included billboards and social media outreach as well as hosting the first Kingsport/Sullivan County International Overdose Awareness Day Event around the theme of “Recovery is Possible”.  The campaign also included youth prevention ads designed by local high school students from the Cora Cox Academy and the Y.E.L.L. Mayor’s Youth Council.

AveNew also provided funds to the Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition to purchase 400 doses of Narcan, the overdose reversal drug, and to print 1,000 additional copies of the Family Resource Guide to distribute throughout Sullivan County to families and service providers. In an effort to provide students with an evidence-based prevention program, AveNew partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Kingsport to offer their S.M.A.R.T. (Skills Mastery and Resilience Training)  Moves Prevention curriculum to the summer and after-school students at Girls Inc and the YMCA in a one-of-its-kind partnership. 

One of the results of the opioid epidemic is broken or separated families where individuals are raising relative family member’s children.  In Sullivan County alone, there were over 2,000 grandparents raising their grandchildren in 2020 - and that doesn’t include other relative caregivers such as aunts and uncles.  To help provide encouragement and resources, the GRANDfamilies Network developed monthly virtual seminars including the following topics: Custody Options, Interacting with the School System, Youth Mental Health, Dangers of the Digital World, and Self-Care Tips. All seminars and additional resources can be found on the GRANDfamilies Page

ENSURING HEALTH, SAFETY, AND STABILITY

American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee – Disaster Response Program ($78,522) serves people affected by disaster and continually strengthens its own capacity and the capacity of communities for disaster, response and recovery.

American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee – Community Resilience Program ($55,500) helps people prevent, prepare for, or respond to emergencies to achieve a positive health outcome, ultimately helping to create a more resilient community.

Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department – Medical First Responder Program ($18,061) provides emergency medical services as licensed First Responders per guidelines set forth by the State of Tennessee & Sullivan County EMS.

CASA for Kids, Inc. – Core Program ($46,000) supports and promotes professionally-trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children’s best interest within the Juvenile Court and ensure safe and stable placements.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County – Counseling Program ($31,287) provides trauma-focused treatment to the child victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse in a child-friendly environment that focuses on the well-being of the child.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County – Victim Services Program ($9,561) provides counseling and assistance to the non-offending parents or caregivers of victims.

Contact 211 of Northeast Tennessee, Inc.– Information & Referral Program ($40,237) administers a telephone helpline staffed by trained volunteers who provide information and referral, a listening ear to distressed callers, crisis intervention, and daily reassurance calls in the 8-county service area.

Friends in Need Health Center– Appalachian Miles for Smiles Mobile Dental Unit ($24,000) provides quality dental care and eye examinations at no cost to uninsured residents of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Friends in Need Health Center – Dental Services Program ($62,000) provides affordable dental care to the working uninsured of the Greater Kingsport area.

Friends in Need Health Center – Medical Services Program ($23,620) provides affordable medical care to the working uninsured or underinsured of the Greater Kingsport area.

Holston Counseling (Frontier Health) – Substance Abuse Counseling Program ($48,892) provides services to individuals who are experiencing interpersonal, family, employment, or legal difficulties due to substance abuse or dependence.

Holston Counseling (Frontier Health) – Crisis Assessment Program ($14,000) Mobile Crisis Response Team provides 24-hour crisis intervention counseling and referral services for persons experiencing a psychiatric crisis or co-occurring disorders.

Kingsport Lifesaving Crew – Emergency Medical, Rescue and Extrication Program ($23,620) provides emergency first responder and specialty extrication services to accident and trauma victims in the Greater Kingsport area.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee – Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Program ($16,762) provides family safety and stability for victims of domestic violence through court orders granting a divorce or order of protection.

Link House (Frontier Health) – Core Program ($38,847) provides food, shelter, crisis intervention, diagnostic and evaluation services as well as counseling to adolescent females who are neglected, abused, runaway, unruly, or delinquent.

Mountain Region Speech & Hearing Center – Speech-Language Scholarship Program ($63,000) provides infants, children and adults with highest quality and cost effective evaluation, treatment and education for speech, language and swallowing disorders regardless of their ability to pay.

SAFE House (Frontier Health) – Domestic Violence Shelter Program ($54,000) provides a safe, confidential, and temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence and their dependent children. 24/7 services may include crisis services, transportation, advocacy, follow-up and community education.

Salvation Army – Social Services Program ($74,758) provides basic human needs--clothing, food, rent, mortgage, utilities, and medicine--without discrimination.

Salvation Army – Emergency Shelter Program ($37,835) provides lodging, meals, personal hygiene items, clothing, counseling, job placement, financial planning, and survival skills to assist individuals/ families in becoming self-sufficient.

SUPPORTING AGING WITH CHOICES

First Tennessee Human Resource Agency – Personal Support Services Program ($19,234) promotes self-sufficiency and prevents institutional placement by providing cost-effective in-home care for individuals in threat of harm due to abuse or neglect.

Meals on Wheels of Kingsport – Core Program ($111,064) provides hot, nutritious meals and human contact to isolated, incapacitated senior citizens and, if appropriate, other home-bound, disabled persons to facilitate safe, independent living.

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EDUCATION

Restrictions, school closures, remote learning, quarantine - all lead to stressful home lives, lower quality education, and feelings of isolation for many students. UWGK strived to maintain financial support for many agencies in the education realm, several of which remained open to provide a safe place for kids to go during the day. After a year that changed nearly every aspect of life, UWGK held fast to the mission to improve lives.

In the summer of 2021, United WE READ, a UWGK initiative, worked with Kingsport City Schools and community stakeholders to improve literacy and promote future success for a select group of rising Kindergarten students through the “Jump Start to Kindergarten” summer program. Jump Start was designed to strengthen readiness skills and prevent the summer slide. The classes were fully inclusive and taught by dual certified teachers to meet IEP goals for children with special needs. United WE READ was able to provide a free “book fair” where students were able to pick out 5 books each to expand their home libraries.

Along with the distribution of individual hard copies of books, the Greater Kingsport Afterschool Network partnered with the Kingsport Library to expand access to digital resources. As a solution to internet barriers and lack of access to books for some youth, e-readers were purchased with grant funds to be utilized by students in afterschool programs. 36 e-readers and covers were purchased by United WE READ and were donated to the Friends of the Kingsport Library to expand the love of reading. Moreover, United WE READ, partnered with First Book of Kingsport to distribute 2,569 books to 1,705 students in Title 1 schools and afterschool programs.

 

 

HELPING CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUCCEED

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Tri-Cities – Community-Based & Site-Based Mentoring Program ($76,000) matches caring, consistent adult volunteers with children in our community who need a friend and mentor.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport – Formula for Impact ($161,062) this is a combined program that provides a safe environment helping teens realize their fullest potential by providing quality programs that enhance health, social, and educational development. Also helps children realize their fullest potential by providing childcare programs that enhance their health, social, and educational development.

Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, Inc. – Leadership Experience Program ($17,000) provides a comprehensive leadership development program that positively impacts girls grades K-12 by building skills that lead to future success.

Girls Inc. of Kingsport – Core Program ($185,000) provides facility-based and off-site outreach programs both after-school, after hours, and during the summer for girls ages 4-19 that enhance their educational, occupational and physical development.

Holston Children & Youth Services (Frontier Health)  – School-Based Prevention Program ($33,100) provides clinical services for at-risk students with academic, social, and/or behavioral problems; helps schools maintain safe, disciplined learning environments; and provides consultation for teachers and collaboration with counselors.

Holston Children & Youth Services (Frontier Health) – School Based Prevention Program ($33,100) provides clinical services for at-risk students with academic, social, and/or behavioral problems; helps schools maintain safe, disciplined learning environments; and provides consultation for teachers and collaboration with counselors.

Kingsport Child Development Center – Sliding Fee Scale/Income-Based Childcare Program ($116,468) provides quality childcare/preschool services implementing developmentally-appropriate programs meeting the social, emotional, and educational needs of all children served at affordable rates for parents/guardians.

Sequoyah Council, Boy Scouts of America – Youth Development Program ($15,000) teaches participants life-long skills and values. They acquire the skills they need to make the right choices, meet challenges and overcome them. Youth learn today what will sustain them tomorrow.

Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies Program ($18,000) enhances the physical, emotional, social, cognitive and behavioral growth of individuals with special needs and disabilities through both mounted and unmounted equine-assisted activities and therapies.

Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Equine-Assisted Positive Youth Development Program ($14,000) enhances the fundamental life skills and personal development of children and youth by providing prosocial, leadership and work/college-readiness skills through the utilization of equine-assisted experiential learning activities.

Sullivan County Imagination Library – Sullivan County Imagination Library Program ($20,000) promotes early childhood reading through monthly mailings of free, age-appropriate books to registered children in our county who are between birth and age five.

Ernie header image

 

FINANCIAL STABILITY

With 50% of households struggling to make ends meet, the needs of the community are greater than ever. Self Sufficiency has many levels, starting with basic needs. The Kingsport Homeless Coalition worked tirelessly throughout 2021 to ensure individuals had a safe place to sleep, access to food, and clothing on their backs. The next step for these individuals was getting into permanent housing. In 2021, 43 individuals made their way into stable housing with the combined efforts of the coalition and many agencies working collaboratively.

The path to Financial Stability can certainly have many hurdles to overcome. Through the generosity of the community, UWGK was able to provide $32,500 in grants to the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency (UETHDA) for the Neighborhood Service Center to distribute financial assistance to individuals behind on rent or utilities. Sometimes clearing just that hurdle is all someone needs to get on the right path to financial stability.

Along with securing a safe home, assistance finding a job and maintaining a food supply, often it’s something like filing taxes that allows someone to take one more step toward self-sufficiency. UWGK partnered with the IRS to offer a free tax filing service with the use of trained volunteers. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) returned in 2021 but not without its challenges. Utilizing a drop-off service to stay safe during the pandemic, over $90,000 was returned to individuals through tax returns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Frontier Industries (Frontier Health) – Day Services Program ($44,312) offers pre-vocational, employment, residential, and community integration services to individuals who have intellectual, developmental, emotional and/or physical disabilities.

Hope Haven Ministries – Work Program ($27,300) provides emergency shelter and assistance to individuals so they may obtain gainful employment, build self- sufficiency and break the cycle of homelessness.

Hope House – Fresh Start Program ($19,369) offers support services for pregnant women, new parents, and extended family members who are in crisis concerning pregnancy, parenting, and providing basic needs for themselves and their young children.

 

Family Promise of Greater Kingsport – Family Self-Sufficiency Program ($18,300) enhances the lives of homeless in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia by providing families with children temporary shelter and assistance so they may become self-sufficient.

Literacy Council of Kingsport – Tutoring Program for Adults ($29,289) helps adults improve their literacy skills and assists students in learning to speak and read English through one-on-one tutoring with trained volunteers.

Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Horses Empower Heroes Program ($8,976) promotes the recovery, stability and self-sufficiency of veterans by assisting with the transition from mere survival-mode into resiliency and hope through trauma-focused, relationship-rich, equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT).

CNA header image

 

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Approximately every 4 years the Community Assessment and Planning Committee of UWGK conducts a Community Needs Assessment. The goal of this assessment is to help determine the areas of highest need in which the UWGK along with community stakeholders can best serve the community. The 2021 survey solicited 100 community leaders across the Government, Education, Business, Medical/Health, Community Volunteer, Non-Profit, Faith-Based spectrum and asked them to rank 23 issues identified by the UWGK Visions Councils.

View a full presentation below on the top 10 needs identified for the Greater Kingsport Community. 

Click here to download a PDF of the slides used in this presentation.

CNA highlights chart

 

 

Very Serious

Somewhat Serious

Not Very Serious

Not A Problem

Do Not Know

Total

Master score

Illegal Drug Use

73.47%

36

22.45%

11

4.08%

2

0.00%

0

0.00%

0

49

350

Prescription Drug Misuse

71.43%

35

28.57%

14

0.00%

0

0.00%

0

0.00%

0

49

348

Child Abuse and Neglect

65.31%

32

34.69%

17

0.00%

0

0.00%

0

0.00%

0

49

339

Lack of Access to/Availability of Mental Health Support

61.22%

30

22.45%

11

16.33%

8

0.00%

0

0.00%

0

49

311

Child Poverty

53.06%

26

42.86%

21

4.08%

2

0.00%

0

0.00%

0

49

299

Lack of Affordable/Available Childcare (0-5)

44.90%

22

42.86%

21

4.08%

2

2.04%

1

6.12%

3

49

263

Domestic Violence

42.86%

21

40.82%

20

10.20%

5

0.00%

0

6.12%

3

49

254

Hunger

42.86%

21

32.65%

16

20.41%

10

0.00%

0

4.08%

2

49

247

Early Grade Reading Deficiencies

38.78%

19

48.98%

24

10.20%

5

0.00%

0

2.04%

1

49

239

Obesity

34.69%

17

51.02%

25

12.24%

6

2.04%

1

0.00%

0

49

234

Short Term/ Emergency Shelter

32.65%

16

48.98%

24

16.33%

8

2.04%

1

0.00%

0

49

224

Affordable Housing

6.12%

3

46.94%

23

44.90%

22

0.00%

0

2.04%

1

49

217

Adults Lacking Soft Skills (eg: financial, time management, parenting)

28.57%

14

57.14%

28

8.16%

4

6.12%

3

0.00%

0

49

214

Lack of knowledge of Available Resources and Services

26.53%

13

48.98%

24

20.41%

10

0.00%

0

4.08%

2

49

199

Access to Dental Care

26.53%

13

42.86%

21

26.53%

13

2.04%

1

2.04%

1

49

193

Racial Inequity

30.61%

15

28.57%

14

28.57%

14

8.16%

4

4.08%

2

49

191

Preparedness for Post-Secondary Education/ Career/ Technical/ Adulthood

12.24%

6

69.39%

34

16.33%

8

2.04%

1

0.00%

0

49

164

Elder Abuse and Neglect

18.37%

9

44.90%

22

24.49%

12

0.00%

0

12.24%

6

49

159

Youth Crime

12.24%

6

61.22%

30

26.53%

13

0.00%

0

0.00%

0

49

157

Teen Pregnancy

6.12%

3

59.18%

29

28.57%

14

2.04%

1

4.08%

2

49

128

Availability of Public Transportation (KATS/NetTrans/ Taxi/ UBER)

14.29%

7

22.45%

11

48.98%

24

10.20%

5

4.08%

2

49

120

Sexually-Transmitted Diseases

6.12%

3

44.90%

22

28.57%

14

4.08%

2

16.33%

8

49

107

Unsafe Neighborhoods

28.57%

14

46.94%

23

18.37%

9

4.08%

2

2.04%

1

49

105

Campaign Cabinet Header Image

 

FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

UWGK’s 2021 campaign theme was “United We’re Strong,” focusing on Greater Kingsport’s collective power to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. Thank you to every donor, volunteer, and service provider in our area who helped raise the $3.02 Million for this year’s campaign! Because of your generosity, we can continue our fight to make the life of every person in our community better.

2021 Top Giving Companies

 

Platinum Level                              Gold Level                                           Silver Level     

Bank of Tennessee                               First Community Bank                              Citizens Bank 
Domtar                                                   Hamlett Dobson Funeral Homes            Edwards Tipton Witt Agency 
Eastman                                                                                                                       First Horizon Bank 
Eastman Credit Union                                                                                               Rodefer Moss
Kingsport Chamber
Powell Valley National Bank
Primester Cerdia

 

  Bronze Level                                Member Agencies - Bronze Level

 Brown Edwards                                  American Red Cross
 Wilson Worley                                        Big Brothers Big Sisters of East TN          

                                                                   Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport
                                                                   Frontier Health
                                                                   Girls Inc.
                                                                   Literacy Council of Kingspo
rt
                                                                   Mountain Region Speech & Hearing
                                                                   The Salvation Army

 

Campaign Chair
Chad Austin (City of Kingsport)
Campaign Vice-Chair
Greg Perdue (First Horizon Bank)

 

Alexis de Tocqueville Society (Gifts of $10,000 or more)

  • Chairs – Mark and Laurie Bogle
  • Vice Chairs – Brett & Joni Sago

 

Signature Club (Gifts between $1,000 and $9,999)

  • Chairs – Patrick and Stacey Harnetty
  • Vice Chairs – Dr. Kent & Jeanette Blazier

Eastman –

  • Donna Deason

Industry I & II –

  • Chair –Will Earhart

Commercial Firms –

  • Chair – Mike Baker
  • Vice Chair – Wes Argabrite

Community Business –

  • Chair – Mike Bailey
  • Vice Chair – Stephanie Hernandez

Healthcare –

  • Chair – Dr. Robert Geer
  • Vice Chairs – Dr. Jake Bateman

Professionals –

  • Chair – Jack Graham
  • Vice Chair – Tanya Collins

Public Service –

  • Chair – John Pendleton
  • Vice Chairs – Teddy Gaines
 

 

 

Executive Team Header Image

 

2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF

View and contact current staff

SERVING BY POSITION (Officers, Committee Chairs & Vice Chairs)

President Keith Parker (Eastman)
Vice-President Michelle Bacon (Partner Industrial)
Secretary Kelly Price (ECU)
Treasurer/Finance Chair Andy Hatfield (Blackburn, Childers & Steagall)
Assistant Treasurer/Finance Vice-Chair Ron Nussman (Domtar)
Administration Committee Chair Jenny Dugger (Bank of Tennessee)
Administration Committee Vice-Chair Isaac Allman (Worley)
Audit Committee Chair Michelle Stewart (Eastman)
Audit Committee Vice-Chair Jonathan Bailey (General Shale)
Communications Chair Ben Conkin (WJHL)
Communications Co-Vice-Chair Diana Meredith (Community Volunteer)
Communications Co-Vice-Chair Carmen Musick (Kingsport Times-News)
Community Assessment Planning Chair Jeff Hooker (Community Volunteer)
Community Assessment Planning V-Chair  Laurie Paulonis (Community Volunteer)
Community Investment Chair Allen Booth (Community Volunteer)
Community Investment Vice-Chair  Brian Alderson (BLS Thompson & Litton)
Human Resources Chair Nina Nabors (Eastman)
Human Resources Vice-Chair Eryn O’Brien (Eastman)
Leadership Development Chair Selina Hall (Domtar)
Leadership Development Vice-Chair Stacey Swisher Harnetty (Eastman)
Quality Chair Alan Freeman (Community Volunteer)
Quality Vice-Chair Justin Hutchison (Frontier Health)
Resource Development Chair Chad Austin (City of Kingsport)
Resource Development Vice-Chair  Greg Perdue (First Horizon)
Strategy Advisor  Bill Fortenberry (Community Volunteer)
Strategy Advisor – Vice John Perdue (Community Volunteer)

SERVING AS AT-LARGE MEMBERS

Michael Borders (City of Kingsport)
Bradley Hoover (Chamber/PEAK)
Paul Montgomery (CMDA)
Jeff Moorhouse (Kingsport City Schools)
Dwight Owens (Ballad)
Brett Sago (Eastman)
Craig Schmidt (Eastman)
Angie Stanley (Sullivan County Commission)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President Keith Parker (Eastman)
Vice-President Michelle Bacon (Partner Industrial)
Secretary Kelly Price (ECU)
Treasurer/Finance Chair Andy Hatfield (Blackburn, Childers, Steagall)
Assistant Treasurer/Finance Vice-Chair Ron Nussman (Domtar)

2021 ADVISORY COUNCIL

Jeanette Blazier

Doris Bush

Craig Denison

Ted Fields

Rick Johnson Cari Parker

John Perdue

Norris Sneed Andy Wampler

Greg Boehling

Etta Clark Rick Witt

Jim Harlan

Brian Miller  

Brett Sago

Fred Wallin