United Way’s Highest National Award Honors Regional Family

Pete Norden, Sarasota Area Chair; Katie Knight, Sarasota Area President; Barbarb Siemer, Al Siemer and
Diana Baker, President & CEO of United Way Suncoast.

United Way Suncoast is pleased to announce that Barbara and Al Siemer of Sarasota County, will receive the National Tocqueville Award®, United Way Worldwide’s highest recognition within the Tocqueville Society. The prestigious award will be presented at United Way Worldwide’s annual Tocqueville Leaders Gathering in Washington, D.C. on April 12, 2013.

“It is with great delight that Barbara and Al have been selected for this award,” said Diana Baker, president and CEO of United Way Suncoast.  “This is especially wonderful and honors two of our region’s great philanthropists and civic leaders.”  Pete Norden, chair of the Sarasota area board of United Way Suncoast added, “We could not be prouder of our neighbor and friends.  The Siemer family brings so much good to the world with their generosity, I cannot think of anyone more deserving.”

The National Tocqueville Society Award® recognizes outstanding examples of deep and abiding commitment to community service. Membership in the Society is granted to individuals who contribute a minimum of $10,000 annually to United Way programs and services. United Way provides guidance to United Ways in developing local Tocqueville Societies, which recognize outstanding volunteer service by presenting local Tocqueville Society Awards; involving and cultivating new influential leadership; encouraging major gifts among high-wealth individuals; and cultivating additional resources with which to strengthen their communities.

The Siemers are in grand company which includes such notable award recipients as Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan; Microsoft’s Melinda and Bill Gates; Publix Super Markets’ Carol and Barney Barnett; NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle; Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare John W. Gardner; Notre Dame University’s Father Theodore Hesbergh; American labor leader George Meany and many others including the very first recipient, Bob Hope.

“Barbara and Al Siemer’s accomplishments go far beyond their philanthropic leadership,” said Brian Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way Worldwide. “With the Siemer Institute for Family Stability, they have created a model for the future of the United Way network. The only way we can effectively address the issues that face communities around the world, at the scale we must, is by bringing them together to learn from each other and work toward a common purpose in education, income and health. The Institute demonstrates just how the power of our far-reaching network can be harnessed to advance the common good.”

The Siemer Family joined United Way of Sarasota County Tocqueville Society in 2001, and Barbara became active in the United Way Women’s Initiative.  Through the activities of the Women’s Initiative, Barbara and Al supported crisis childcare scholarship, helping a woman named Bridgette not only with childcare, but with Christmas gifts.

By late 2002, Barbara had approached United Way regarding the development of a program that would impact the mobility of students in grades K-12.  She was in the process of commissioning the “Columbus Public Schools Student Mobility Research Project” in Ohio and wanted to explore opportunities in Sarasota.  United Way was the lead agency for the Homeless Continuum of Care and prevention funding was extremely limited.

Under Barbara’s leadership, concepts and outcomes were drafted and an active partnership with the Sarasota County Schools was pursued.  Initial visits were made to the Superintendent and implementation models were explored.  The Superintendent directed school social workers to begin discussion on identification of potential students.  United Way, with Barbara’s guidance, chose the “Single Lead Implementing Agency” model and selected Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Sarasota – Manatee, Inc.  to be that lead agency in 2003.

By June 2, 2003, a six month outline of operational/administrative expenditures for the Sarasota County Prevention of Homeless Program was presented to the Siemer Family with the understanding that as a challenge grant, matching dollars would need to be raised by the United Way for the financial assistance portion of the program.  Barbara answered with the first $50,000 grant on June 26, 2003 and the program began.

Throughout 2003, the Siemer Family Foundation provided dedicated funding for cost effective, integrated case management and emergency financial assistance to improve children’s academic success by decreasing family mobility and supporting homeless prevention.

The Siemer Family Foundation continues to provide a discretionary $10,000 gift each year in addition to the $50,000 funding for the Building Strong Families Program (formerly the Sarasota County Prevention of Homeless Program). Their gift has inspired other Tocqueville families to increase their giving to United Way, by investing in Building Strong Families as well as other programs.

In 2008, Barbara and Al Siemer joined the Tocqueville Society Million Dollar Roundtable.  Their gifts to Columbus, Ohio and Sarasota, Florida have funded and leveraged long-lasting changes by addressing the underlying causes impacting at-risk children and their families.  Their leadership and future plans will create opportunities for a better life throughout Florida.

During the past ten years, integration and maximization of limited resources to support homeless prevention have been leveraged by the Siemer family’s generosity.  In addition, their positive influence built strong collaborative partnerships with numerous agencies, funders and in-kind services.

In May 2009, United Way, with Barbara and Al, invited several other Florida communities to consider implementing a localized version of Building Strong Families with the ultimate same two outcomes: improve children’s academic success by decreasing family mobility and supporting homeless prevention.  Each of the communities approached joined and the Siemer moved to spread the success across the country with Ohio communities as the next expansion.

The Siemer Institute for Family Stability was founded in Columbus, Ohio, and today the program is in 22 communities with eight more to be established by the third quarter of 2013 and seven additional communities by the end of 2013 — helping thousands of children and families.

In 1986, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of United Way Suncoast – Sarasota Area was founded by eight outstanding donors and joined as a Member of the National Society under the leadership of Jane Cook and Alex and Betty Schoenbaum.  The Sarasota Area Society has won national awards in 2000, 2004 and 2007 and hosted the annual National de Tocqueville Society meeting in 2001.

Barb and Al Siemer own Desco Corporation, a holding corporation for several manufacturing companies in the United States and Europe. Desco also includes Desco Capital Partners, which makes venture capital investments. A graduate of Muskingum College, Mrs. Siemer began her career as a high school English teacher. She is an active board member with I KNOW I CAN and the Columbus Museum of Art. Mr. Siemer is a graduate of John Carroll University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign trade from the University of Arizona (Thunderbird) and a juris doctor degree from Cleveland Marshall Law School.

The purpose of the Siemer Family Foundation is to provide funding for those institutions and organizations whose purpose is to affect continuing and long-term benefits for societal, educational, and cultural needs of the community.  The Foundation’s goal is to support those organizations which provide solutions for social problems, education and/or training to enable young people to be self-supporting, and support for civic and cultural organizations which enhance the quality of life in this or other communities.  The Siemer Family Foundation was established in 1997 and has focused the majority of its grantmaking in the area of education.

United Way Suncoast is a local not-for-profit organization working in DeSoto, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties since 1924 to mobilize the resources of individuals, companies, government, and labor to achieve positive, lasting changes in the lives of people in the community. The Suncoast  mission is to inspire leaders and partners and mobilize resources to make a measurable difference in the lives of people in our community.

United Way Suncoast views income, education and health as the basic building blocks of independence. By addressing all three of these issues through the human services programs it funds, United Way helps families become stronger and communities more vibrant.  United Way Suncoast helps people build better lives by helping kids graduate and helping families find paths out of poverty.  For more information on United Way visit http://www.UnitedWaySuncoast.org on the web.

From Diana’s Desk

Beside me are Chief Development Officer Afira DeVries and United Way Suncoast Board Chair Gary Sasso. Both are instrumental in our strategic planning.

An historic meeting took place late last month. It was the first strategic planning session with the Suncoast, Tampa Bay area and Sarasota area board members all in the same room, working to move our organization forward. 

Our staff worked long and hard to pull together information about our community and data about the United Way community impact agenda and resources. Board members shared their expectations and we broke into smaller groups to discuss and elevate key observations and questions. We wrapped up the morning with an organizational analysis of our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. 

Spoiler alert: this is a longer message than usual but it only scratches the surface of the data, findings and conclusions we discussed. 

Some key statistics:

• Nearly 19 percent of our community’s residents live in poverty. 
• 71 percent of Florida’s prison inmates read at a 6^th grade level. 
• Families who participate in a banking system decreased by 1.3 percent between 2009 and 2012. 
• Unemployment has increased from 4.2 percent in 2007 to 10.9 percent in 2011. 
• Calls to 2-1-1 have risen 14 percent since 2008. 

We have made progress.

• In Sarasota, since 2008 the number of at-risk children in early learning programs increased from 38 to 62 percent. 
• In Tampa Bay, since 2008 more than 4,000 children attended Summer Care to stop summer learning loss. 
• In 2011, we prepared a total of 12,874 tax returns for free, generating $16.3 million in refunds. 
• 83 percent of financial education students use strategies that help them achieve financial stability. 
• More than 90 percent of families receiving assistance through the Siemer Family Stability initiative have averted homelessness, becoming financially stable and keeping children in their school of origin. 
• Over the last five years our investments have kept 143 seniors in their homes through foreclosure prevention services. 
• Our neighborhood work continues to grow, serving residents in Sulphur Springs and Potter in Hillsborough and North Greenwood and Campbell Park in Pinellas. 

Observations:

• We can pay now or pay later. We can make sure children get a good start or we can fund our prison system. 
• Quality early education is a traditional strength of United Way and a good foundation for future work. 
• Summer Care is a winning strategy. 
• Partner agencies are key to reaching the right people with the right programs. 
• The economic recession demanded more resources than we had planned, but raised awareness of hidden issues such as food insecurity. 

Our session was held at Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College. My thanks go to them and to all the board members who sacrificed their time to advance the common good.

 

Diana Baker, President and CEO

From Diana’s Desk

Eric Bailey addresses the crowd at our tax season kickoff on the set of Daytime.

“Let’s hear it for tax season!” Now that’s something you don’t hear too often. But here at United Way Suncoast, we cheer tax season. That’s because our free tax preparation service helps thousands of working families and individuals keep more of what they earn. And it brings millions of dollars back to our local economy.

Our tax season kickoff was held late last month at WFLA Channel 8 in the Daytime studio. This month and next, Daytime will air interviews with host Cyndi Edwards and our own Kara Moore to help people get ready to prepare their taxes. You can see the first segment here.

At the kickoff Eric Bailey, United Way board member and Managing Principal at CapTrust, said about our free tax service, “This is just the beginning. Tax refunds help families achieve financial stability.” He gave an example of a person who took advantage of our free tax service last year. The tax payer wasn’t familiar with the Earned Income Tax Credit (E.I.T.C.) and had never filed for it. Our volunteer preparer completed his taxes and then went back several years and re-filed, claiming the E.I.T.C. deduction the taxpayer was entitled to. By the time he was finished, the taxpayer received close to $10,000 in refunds. Imagine what that can do to change the story for a family!

At United Way, our goal is to help people keep more of what they earn. We encourage those who get a tax refund to save some for emergencies. We offer budgeting classes to those who are interested. Families who stretch their dollars become more self sufficient, more financially stable. That changes the story for the family and for the community.

We’re grateful to the partners who are involved in this work with us: Walmart, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank, Republic Bank, Hillsborough County, Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, AARP and the IRS (it isn’t often you thank the IRS). In addition, WFLA hosted the kickoff and PNC Bank provided breakfast.

Our free tax service is available to those who earned $57,000 or less in 2012. Since the median household income in Florida in 2012 was $43,924, we have a lot of opportunity to help people with their taxes.

Help us spread the word. Sites are open in DeSoto, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. Click here to find a site near you, call 2-1-1, or do your taxes yourself at:
•    www.myfreetaxes.com/tampa
•    www.myfreetaxes.com/sarasota

 
Diana Baker, President and CEO

From Diana’s Desk

United Way Suncoast had the privilege of being involved in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s first Corporate Philanthropy awards. So many companies in our region give back to the community in big ways and they deserved to be recognized. These awards were designed to do just that, spotlight the many corporate-sanctioned giving and volunteer programs that stand out in the Tampa Bay community.

Nearly 200 companies in the area submitted applications and the top 35 gathered at a luncheon at the A La Carte Pavilion in December. The companies were broken down into three categories based on number of employees and the top three companies in each category were presented with an award at the luncheon. A number of United Way supporters received awards including PCL Civil Constructors, Raymond James Financial and The Mosaic Company. The Tampa Bay Business Journal also presented the top award, Benefactor of the Year, to the Covelli Family Limited Partnership/Panera Bread Franchise for their extensive work in the community.

Listening to all of the different non-profits that are supported and work that is being done in our community, I was proud to be in a room with such giving companies and individuals. Our community is blessed to have so many companies that are invested in corporate philanthropy. Because of their support, United Way and other non-profits are able to continue helping individuals and families and changing the story for so many in our community.

A Memorial

United Way lost a long-time friend, colleague, supporter, and volunteer last month. Bill McBride passed away on Saturday, December 22, after suffering a heart attack. His wife, Alex Sink, notified us of his death and we have communicated with the family to express our sadness at the loss of a wonderful man, husband, and father.

Bill served our United Way most notably as Board Chair, Campaign Chair, Tocqueville Growth Chair, and champion for our Tocqueville Legacy (Planned Giving) Circle. I had the privilege to work closely with Bill over the years and know that he loved and served with passion – his family, his community, his country, his profession, and his United Way. Bill often worked behind the scenes on our behalf, using his many contacts and relationships to open doors of opportunity to talk about our work and gain support from others.  He was a leader – he never asked others to do anything he wasn’t willing to do himself. He was also a good sport – wearing his United Way campaign t-shirt for weeks on end trying to break the $10M mark so long ago.

I, along with many others, will miss Bill. His passing leaves a definite void in our lives and in the life of our community (and beyond).  Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex, their children, and the entire family as they grieve the loss of this wonderful man.

Diana Baker, President and CEO

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR READINGPALS EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM

United Way Suncoast is looking for volunteers to serve as part of a statewide initiative to help young children learn to read at grade level.  ReadingPals is a program focused on increasing the number of students who are reading at grade level by the end of third grade.

United Way will connect volunteers to a particular site based on their preferred location schedule. Volunteers will undergo a background screening and receive training in the curriculum selected for their region prior to being assigned a reading pal. Volunteers will continue to work with children in ReadingPals throughout 2013.

Those interested in becoming ReadingPals volunteers should contact United Way Suncoast. Interested prospective volunteers should contact Nicole Brown, Program Manager, ReadingPals, by calling 813-274-0998 or emailing her at nbrown@uwsuncoast.org.  She encourages volunteers to become a part of the program.  “Great readers eventually become great leaders,” said Ms. Brown.

Volunteers will commit to reading for at least an hour per week throughout the school year with one, two or three children. The program uses proven techniques to meet the needs of each community. Volunteers will read a book out loud, guiding children through literacy activities and general conversations about the book. The program also begins to build home libraries for participating children by sending books home throughout the school year.

Children who read at grade level by the fourth grade are four times more likely to graduate from high school. Graduates earn more throughout their lifetime, make better choices, use fewer social services and statistically are more likely to stay out of trouble.

“United Way Suncoast is working with local school districts, early learning coalitions, children’s services councils and other children’s organizations to help students from pre-kindergarten to third grade,” said Diana Baker, president and CEO of United Way Suncoast. “Through Carol and Barney Barnett’s generosity, we will be able to recruit hundreds of local adult volunteers and launch the program in some of the most challenged public schools and neighborhoods.”

In August, 2012, Governor Rick Scott and First Lady Ann Scott joined former Miami Herald Publisher Dave Lawrence, chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida, and Carol Barnett, president of Publix Super Markets Charities, to launch ReadingPals early literacy initiative. Thanks to the Barnett’s generosity, ten United Ways across Florida will share $3 million over three years to achieve the goal of helping children read on grade level by third grade.

“We so strongly believe that the future of our state rests in the hands and minds of our youngest that we have personally contributed to the launching of  Reading Pals — an early literacy initiative in ten Florida regions. Our goal is to ensure that more children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade,” said ReadingPals sponsor and proponent of early learning, Carol Barnett. United Way is extremely excited to embark on this new journey towards academic excellence and help people throughout the community.

“Today’s third graders are tomorrow’s doctors, engineers, teachers and innovators — tomorrow’s job creators,” said Governor Rick Scott. “What Carol and Barney Barnett are making possible will make such a difference in the future of our state, and Ann and I look forward to working with them on this great initiative.”

“We are a blessed family, and feel obliged to make sure we give back a full measure to our community and country,” said Carol Barnett, who is also vice chair of The Children’s Movement. “There’s no greater investment we could make in the future of Florida.”

“The early years when 90 percent of brain growth occurs are crucial to growing children who become eager students and contributing adults,” said David Lawrence, Jr., chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida. “Learning to read by third grade is crucial, and reading to learn must become the standard by no later than fourth grade. The very future of our state and country depend on this.”

The Florida Department of Education recently released the statewide 2012 third-grade FCAT 2.0 reading scores, and 44 percent – 89,491 students – were found to be reading below grade level. These children, who struggle with reading at a young age, will be four times more likely to drop out of high school than their peers reading at grade level.

Ten United Ways across the state have received ReadingPals grants.  Locally, this includes United Way of Central Florida (Polk and Highlands counties), United Way of Manatee County, and United Way Suncoast (DeSoto, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.

United Way Suncoast has made a commitment to work with children and youth to help them achieve their full potential in life by focusing programs on early childhood learning.  This is part of their three-part community impact agenda that includes financial stability for families and health initiatives.  Learn more about United Way Suncoast at www.UnitedWaySuncoast.org .

 

MCBRIDE MEMORIAL FUND ESTABLISHED

United Way Suncoast was honored to call Bill McBride a great friend.

His passing darkens today, but his life brightened so many in our community.  Bill, and his wife Alex, were members of United Way’s Tocqueville Society.  For as long as we can remember, Bill was passionate and giving to United Way.  In his honor we have established the McBride Memorial Fund, which we do so in his memory.

Contributions to the Memorial Fund may be made online here, or, may be mailed directly to United Way Suncoast, 5201 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 600, Tampa, FL, 33609. Please add McBride Memorial Fund on the envelope.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Alex and the family during this time of grief and loss. Bill will be remembered for a life well lived in service to family, friends, country and community.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE MCBRIDE MEMORIAL FUND LINK

From Diana’s Desk

Change the story. There’s no better way to describe what you do with your gift to United Way. You change stories daily right here in your community.

You help send a child whose parents may not be able to afford it to an after-school program. There he continues to learn, putting him on track for high school graduation. High school graduates earn more, use fewer social services and make better choices in life.

You provide job training for a disabled adult who may otherwise need to depend on government programs to support her. Not only does she learn a skill that can support her, she lives with dignity and the knowledge that she is valued.

You provide safety nets for those among us who are desperate – for food, for a place to stay, for an escape from the unimaginable.

You support isolated senior citizens who have limited access to community services with routine visits, crisis intervention or a weekly call so they can maintain self-sufficiency and remain at home.

From cradle to career and beyond, you help change the story for your community.

This fall we are advancing that message with the help of our many partners in the media. Clear Channel Radio in Sarasota and Tampa, Clear Channel Outdoor, The Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, *tbt, Tampa Bay Business Journal, WFLA News Channel 8, The Power Broker, tbo.com, wfla.com, the Sarasota Herald Tribune, SNN 6 and Tampa Digital Studios are working with us to spread the message. Thanks to these generous partners and their commitment to our community, I am certain you’ll see or hear our messages at some point this fall.

As a United Way supporter, thank you for what you do to change stories in our community. If you give, advocate or volunteer, you are doing more than you might imagine.

Change the Story. Thanks to you, we’re doing just that every day.

Sincerely,

 

Diana Baker
President and CEO

International Walk to School Day was in October. I joined our partners at the Tampa Bay Rays, City of St. Petersburg, All Children’s Hospital and Jabil to walk Campbell Park Elementary children through a downpour to get to school on time and safely.

From Diana’s Desk

Here at United Way Suncoast, we hold our internal campaign just before the official kickoff. I believe in leading by example, and I’m proud to report that United Way Suncoast’s campaign goal of $69,000 was exceeded, with several of our employees taking advantage of the Helios Education Foundation 15 percent match and the Tampa Bay Rays step up program.   

When your campaign kicks off, you’ll learn about both of these programs. The Helios match will go to our early literacy initiative  in Tampa Bay, and the Rays step up program is designed to allow more people to become leadership donors.

“Change the story” is the official theme of our campaign year, and it played out beautifully at our campaign kickoff last week. Once again, the Tampa Bay Rays hosted us at Tropicana Field for a morning of lively music, a hot breakfast, and an enthusiastic crowd. A highlight was a six-foot mock book, where we invited guests to tell us how they will change the story. “Volunteer more,” “Mentor a child,” “Spread the word about United Way’s work” – these were a few of the pledges written in the book. Children from the Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast answered questions such as “How would you raise a million dollars?” and “What are some of the problems in our community?” on video, and our campaign cabinet, Business Cares Sponsors and top 15 companies were recognized. Our campaign video was revealed and I believe a few tears were shed in the Trop that morning.

If you’re reading this, I know you care about your community. You believe in the work we do to improve people’s lives through education, income and health. If you’re involved in a workplace fundraising campaign, and if you can, try to give more this year. If you aren’t, you can donate here. Help us change the story for more people in the Suncoast area. 

Diana Baker, President and CEO

I enjoyed the “Ready Set Grow!” Fair in Sarasota in August. To my left is Wendy Smith, District Manager of Publix and Success By 6 Leadership Council member.

From Diana’s Desk

Pete Norden, Sarasota Area board chair, and me at the first Sarasota Area board meeting since we merged in July.

Our friends, the Tampa Bay Rays, threw a party at Tropicana Field last month and United Way Suncoast was the guest of honor.

As fans arrived at Tropicana Field, the Rays fan hosts greeted them wearing LIVE UNITED stickers. Our just-produced campaign video played on the Rays Vision giant screen. Marcia Perri from Mosaic, another great United Way partner, threw out the opening pitch wearing a LIVE UNITED t-shirt. Ten-year old Anthony Wilson, who participated in the United Way Summer Care program at the Childs Park Y, ran the rosin to the pitcher sporting a LIVE UNITED t-shirt. Mosaic’s KaSondra Trexler led the crowd in a round of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” surrounded by a group of LIVE UNITED t-shirt-clad fans. Our messages ran throughout the game on the Rays Vision and I was interviewed on TV (Sun Sports) and radio (620 WDAE) during the squeaker of a game against the Seattle Marlins.  

The Rays sure know how to be great community partners.

Our Night with the Rays was perfect timing. We got to show off our new identity as United Way Suncoast and give fans a prequel to our upcoming workplace campaign with the video. (If you missed my previous message, on July 1 United Way Tampa Bay and United Way Sarasota officially consolidated operations to become United Way Suncoast.) Our 2012 fundraising campaign season has begun in some of our partner companies. And our official kickoffs to the campaign will be Wed., Sept. 5 at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay and Sept. 14 at Michaels on East in Sarasota.

 We would love to see you at the kickoff. Click here for the details and to RSVP to the Tampa Bay kickoff. Call 941-366-2686 ext. 303 to register for the Sarasota kickoff. I hope you’ll make time to join us.

 See you there.

 

 

 

Diana Baker, President and CEO

From Diana’s Desk

We’re at the lawyers’ office signing final merger documents. From left Emery Ivery, Tampa Bay area president; Brian Deming, United Way Tampa Bay board chair; Kim Hopper, United Way Sarasota board chair; Katie Knight, Sarasota area president; and me, Suncoast President/CEO.

With the first of July came the dawn of a new day for United Way on Florida’s Gulf Coast.  United Way Suncoast was born. United Way of Tampa Bay, serving Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and United Way of Sarasota County, serving Sarasota and DeSoto counties, are now unified.

United Way volunteer leadership spent two years exploring the opportunities associated with a more regional United Way structure. It is now a reality.

The real work of United Way will continue to be local. Our new structure maintains our tradition of local leadership by staff and volunteers, local presence with area offices and programming, and local decision-making regarding the investment of funds raised. Our focus remains funding local agencies and creating programs that target education, income and health. But the regional identity helps United Way Suncoast have a larger presence in the region, which will translate into more resources available to help people.

The major benefits of the new structure include:
•    The ability to increase capacity to deliver on United Way’s mission and community impact priorities by pooling resources and sharing knowledge.
•    The opportunity to minimize costs and maximize best practices in all aspects of the United Way work locally and around the region.
•    The ability to provide the best possible opportunities and experiences for donors, acknowledging the live-work patterns of individuals and the interests of our regional corporate and community partners.

I will serve as President and CEO of the new regional organization. Local area boards will remain in place, supported by area presidents, local staff, and local offices. Gary L. Sasso, President and CEO of Carlton Fields, P.A. is the incoming board chair of the new United Way Suncoast.On the staff side, Katie Knight is the new Sarasota area president and Emery Ivery is the new Tampa Bay area president.

I’m proud to be part of United Way, whose vision and passion to improve the lives of others throughout Florida, the U.S., and around the world have been recognized by numerous civic and corporate leaders. In more than nine decades of service in west central Florida, millions of deserving people have been helped throughout DeSoto, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. This is accomplished through mobilizing the tens of thousands of generous individual and corporate donors, and countless volunteers, who understand that when you reach out a hand to one, you influence the condition of all.

You can learn more about our new organization at http://www.UnitedWaySuncoast.org.  I hope you will watch us grow as we bring the best of both regions together.

Diana Baker, President and CEO United Way Suncoast