Ivy Tech Executives to Lead 2020 United Way Campaign Drive

Pictured L-R: Alisa Wells, Ivy Tech’s Director of Community Engagement and Wraparound Support, Chancellor Jeffrey Scott, and Jeannie Hamblin-Fox, Site Director Henry County Campus.Pictured L-R: Alisa Wells, Ivy Tech’s Director of Community Engagement and Wraparound Support, Chancellor Jeffrey Scott, and Jeannie Hamblin-Fox, Site Director Henry County Campus.

By: Juli Metzger—

Muncie, IN—Three executives from Ivy Tech Community College Muncie-Henry County are leading the 2020 United Way campaign for Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties. Chancellor Jeffrey Scott is joined by Jeannie Hamblin-Fox, Site Director Henry County Campus and Alisa Wells, Director of Community Engagement & Wraparound Support.

Ivy Tech, Indiana’s only full-fledged community college, is uniquely positioned to support this campaign. They, themselves, managed a record-setting fundraising initiative as it launched its downtown Muncie campus rebuild. Ivy Tech offers more than 100 programs that transfer to four-year programs preparing students for everything from professions in supply chain to nursing.

This year’s campaign will be unlike any other campaign but not for the reasons you might think. While COVID-19 pandemic casts a shadow across the country, as organizations – including institutions of higher learning like Ivy Tech develop strategies to move forward – the desire to push forward has never been stronger.

On the heels of three record-breaking fundraising campaigns, this year’s team is determined to achieve the highest possible results.

“We’ve already started our calls with CEOs,” said Scott. “We expected to find them worried about their employees or even themselves in light of cutbacks due to COVID-19. But what we’ve found is every single one is on board and giving more than ever before because as a community, that’s what we do,” said Scott.

This year, more than ever, every dollar counts and can help families. “Our community will step up as they always have,” said Scott.

United Way in Delaware County has raised nearly $4.5 million over the last three years. Each of the campaigns in 2017, 2018 and 2019 surpassed its goal. Since 1925, the Delaware County community has given nearly $280 million, in today’s dollars, to provide a lifeline to its neighbors in need. To conquer generational poverty, UWDC has adopted the bold goal that by 2024 all third graders will be reading at grade level—the single greatest indicator of a child’s success in school and life.

Campaign contributions will be strategically invested in local programs to help put children on a pathway out of poverty through better educational outcomes. UWDC has made huge strides in providing free, educational resources to local families across all three counties. These strides include bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—a program providing children (ages newborn to 5 years old) with a free monthly, high-quality book—to Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties’ residents. There are over 1,200 children enrolled in the program in the three-county region.

“We are so excited about the energy and conviction Jeff, Alisa and Jeannie are bringing to campaign this year. This is our first year running a regional fundraising campaign and Ivy Tech is the perfect partner with whom to venture into this work. This year will bring its own challenges—but none are greater than the challenges the families we serve are struggling with. Our chairs take that to heart and are focused on serving them,” said United Way President and CEO Jenni Marsh.

 

About United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties

United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties focuses resources on education, health and financial stability. The nonprofit fights to create lasting change in community conditions. With its bold goal to reach grade-level reading by 2024, United Way works to help children read at or above grade level by the end of their third-grade year. Learn more at invitedtoliveunited.org.