United Way Celebrates 100 Years - 19 Action News|Cleveland, OH|News, Weather, Sports

43 Forum: United Way Celebrates 100 Years

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CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) -

This is the 100th year anniversary of United Way. Mr. Bill Kitsons is the president and CEO of United Way. He's been with the organization for almost 25 years. Kitsons has been in the Midwest for the past 15 of those years and he's been in Cleveland for the past seven years. Bill Kitsons enjoys the communities he's been a part of, as well as helping, through the United Way.

United Way raises millions of dollars that are then distributed out to the community to make a difference. This distribution is based on whatever the community needs are. This Kitsons describes as the concept of mobilization of resources. There are times when the resource goes beyond money. United Way sees its mission as broad with an intense focus on helping the community.

The agency supports programs and helps more than 450,000 children and adults in the Northeast Ohio area. Some of the ways in which United Way contributes to the greater Cleveland area are through giving to 100 different agencies, providing on the job training, employment activities, and through supporting educational objectives to people and to school districts.

The simplest thing United Way does is offer their 211 referral line. You dial 211 from any phone in the area and you will be connected 24/7, 365 days a year to someone who can help you get help. The 211 referral line took a quarter of a million calls last year. The number one call was people needing food.

 The United Way will continue to provide the best help they can to meet community needs through as many services as possible. At the end of the day, according to Kitsons, the best way to break the cycle and improve our community is through educating our kids.  

Copyright 2013 WOIO. All rights reserved.

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