United Fund Support Crucial to CASA of Talbot County Efforts

One hundred thirty eight years ago, a little girl named Mary Ellen was carried into a New York City courtroom wrapped in a horse blanket. She was only 9 years old, but for the majority of her young life she had been beaten, cut, burned, and tortured. She had never been allowed outdoors and was often locked in a closet where she slept on a worn piece of carpet. Neighbors who heard this little girl screaming reached out to authorities for help, but the police could find no grounds to intervene because in 1874 our country lacked laws to protect children.So distressed was one social worker about Mary Ellen’s situation that she ultimately appealed to Henry Bergh, who was the president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He believed, thankfully, that Mary Ellen was entitled to at least the same rights that our country already provided to animals, and he took up her cause. Mary Ellen’s case was heard in court, and her testimony helped to convict her abuser.

This case was reported in a number of newspapers in 1874, resulting in such a flood of reports of other children’s similar plights that Henry Bergh founded the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The events that followed forever changed the course of child protection in the United States. Mary Ellen’s story is generally regarded as the catalyst for our country’s enactment of child protection laws, which now are strong and still quite necessary.  Even though our society is technologically savvy and has both strong educational institutions and laws, children in our country are still being physically and sexually abused, woefully neglected, or simply abandoned and left to fend for themselves. The children whose situations are most dire typically come to the attention of authorities. Our local Departments of Social Services are kept very busy providing services to many of these children and their families, and they seek court protection for those children who need it.

It is here that CASA enters the picture, helping to fill a need in the child welfare system by providing screened and trained Court Appointed Special Advocates to act solely on behalf of maltreated children. Also called CASA volunteers, each is an officer of the court who is required to bring crucial information to the judge or master about what is in their appointed child’s best interest. Because CASA volunteers typically have only one case, they have time to get to know their appointed child, time to learn everything possible about the child, and time to assess the child’s situation. The CASA concept, created by a judge in Seattle, Washington, is both brilliantly simple and simply brilliant – it absolutely empowers a community to look out for the best interest of its own children. National studies have shown that children with CASA volunteers have their needs identified sooner, and services to meet those needs are put into place much more quickly than for children without CASA volunteers.

Each child’s case is unique, but what these children share is a deep longing for someone to listen and to care about what happens to them. They want to be safe from harm, they wish for a forever family, and they long to have someone speaking on behalf of what they need. CASA volunteers care deeply about what happens to these children, devoting their time now with the fervent hope that this will help the children to grow into happy, healthy, and positive adult members of our communities. A child served by CASA summed it up beautifully when she said: “To give a child a CASA is to give them a voice. To give them a voice is to give them hope, and to give them hope is to give them the world.” As her words clearly indicate, the investment made by CASA can make a difference that lasts a lifetime.

Committed to helping vulnerable children in our community the United Fund has selected the local CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) organization as a member agency for its 2012-13 campaign year. CASA’s Executive Director, Robin Davenport, recently stated, “The United Fund’s endorsement of our program is crucial to our ability to serve all of the abused and neglected children in Talbot County who need a CASA volunteer by their side. We are extremely grateful that the United Fund is committed to supporting our work with the maltreated children in our community.”

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Support for United Fund Participating Agencies Helps Thousands

The 2012-13 United Fund campaign really needs everyone’s help! The United Fund of Talbot County is a long-time leader in generating and distributing critically needed funds to a large number of local community organizations – agencies whose very existence depends on our financial support to them,” explained Executive Director, Ann Jacobs. “We could not do our work without the support of our many generous donors.”

Contributing to the United Fund provides the perfect opportunity to help many agencies with a single gift and improve lives right here in Talbot County. With your support for the 2012-13 campaign thousands of county residents served by United Fund participating agencies will benefit. Could there be a better feeling than knowing you’ve made a difference in the lives of so many who will be touched by your support?

There are only four months remaining in the 2012-13 campaign, and while support has been strong, donations are $40,000 short of the $400,000 annual goal.  Please help the United Fund and its participating agencies by mailing your contribution now to United Fund of Talbot County, P.O. Box 741, Easton, MD 21601 or donate online at www.unitedfund.org.   With your gift of hope, you’ll be helping United Fund partner agencies ensure the ongoing availability of programs and services for many needy local individuals and families.

 

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United Fund of Talbot County Accepting Applications For 2013-14 Campaign Year

The United Fund of Talbot County will be accepting applications until April 15, 2013, from qualified non-profit agencies in Talbot County requesting funds from its 2013-14 campaign.

To qualify, agencies must be registered 501 (c) 3 organizations; grant requests should seek to fund programs or initiatives that address the health and human services needs of individuals and families in Talbot County, and must demonstrate the agency’s fit with the United Fund charter to benefit underfunded and underrepresented Talbot County residents.

Any first time applicants who wish to be considered as potential participants in the upcoming campaign are requested to submit a one-page document no later than March 1, 2013 that explains how their agency fits with the United Fund mission, and how the services they provide their clients are different from those provided by other agencies serving the Talbot County community.

Agencies accepted to participate in the 2013-14 campaign must also agree not to fundraise during September, October, and November when the United Fund’s campaign is underway. For an application, write the United Fund of Talbot County office at P.O. Box 741, Easton, MD 21601; request an application on-line at uftc@unitedfund.org or call 410-822-1957.  All applications must be received at the United Fund office by April 15, 2013.

 

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United Fund Supports Tilghman After School Programs

The Tilghman Area Youth Association has introduced Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) into its after school program utilizing
Design It!, an interactive program offered through the National Partnership
for After School Science. 

Thanks to the United Fund of Talbot County the after school program was able to offer scholarships to most of the 13 participants ranging in age from Kindergarten through 3rd grade.  Last semester, this class was offered to students in grades 4 through 6.

In this semester’s class, there are 5 girls and 8 boys.  To quote one of the second
grade male participants, “I didn’t know that girls could build things!!” The students are currently designing their own ski jumps and roller coasters.  The class is being taught by Mrs. Katie Fox, the first grade teacher at Tilghman Elementary School.

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United Fund Makes First Disbursements of 2012-13 Campaign

As 2012 drew to a close, the United Fund of Talbot County allocated $141,975,  the first of three distributions to its 2012-13 participating agencies. Representatives from the Fund’s 21 member agencies were on hand to receive their checks at the Fund’s office at 121 North Washington Street.  This year’s Fund appeal has generated a robust community response, resulting in contributions totaling 83% of the $400,000 goal so far.  “We are delighted by the continued strong flow of donations,” Ann Jacobs, United Fund of Talbot County Executive Director said, “and are optimistic we will reach this year’s campaign goal.”

The 2012-13 UFTC participating agencies are: BAAM, Boy Scouts in Talbot County, CASA of Talbot County, Character Counts!,Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers, Delmarva Community Services, Epilepsy Association of the Eastern Shore, For All Seasons, Girl Scouts of Talbot County; Kids on Campus, Mental Health Association in Talbot County, Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence, Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Neighborhood Service Center, Partners in Care, St. Martin’s Ministries, St. Michaels Community Center. Talbot Mentors, Tilghman Area Youth Association, Talbot Special Riders, and Upper Shore Aging.

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Holiday Giving To the United Fund Is The Best Gift of All

The United Fund of Talbot County provides the perfect opportunity to help many agencies with a single holiday gift. With your support for the 2012-13 campaign thousands of county residents served by United Fund participating agencies will benefit.

Many people have been touched in one way or another by the United Fund in Talbot County. Those who have advocated for the United Fund, pledged financial support, or been helped by a United Fund charity – collectively have experienced positive change, hope and a better understanding of the incredible impact of working together.

The United Fund of Talbot County is a long-time leader in generating and distributing critically needed funds to a large number of local community organizations – agencies whose very existence depends on our financial support to them. “We could not do our work without the support of our many generous donors. Every gift is important to the work of improving lives right here in our community,” noted Ann Jacobs, Executive Director.

When deciding how much to give to the 2012-13 United Fund campaign, consider how many thousands of lives that will be touched by your support. Could there be a better gift than knowing you’ve made a difference?  Visit www.unitedfund.org to donate online, or send your contribution to United Fund of Talbot County, P.O. Box 741, Easton, MD 21601 and give the gift of hope and help this holiday season.

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United Fund Helps Delmarva Daybreak Serve Talbot County’s Medically Dependent and Frail

Delmarva Daybreak is a non-profit Adult Medical Daycare facility, one of the many programs of Delmarva Community Services, Inc. serving clients in Talbot, Dorchester and Caroline counties.  The mission of Delmarva Community Services has been to help all individuals in need that wish to maintain an independent lifestyle within their community on the Delmarva Peninsula; consequently preventing them from becoming institutionalized.

The United Fund of Talbot County provides funds for clients that reside in Talbot County. This support has helped with days of services, transportation, and prescription costs. Without these funds these individuals would be unable to attend the Adult Medical Daycare which provides socialization opportunities, exercise, therapeutic activities, transportation, family support, personal care and, respite for caregivers as well as not being able to afford the cost of their co-pays for their medication.

 

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Epilepsy Association Meets Local Needs with Help From The United Fund

Easton. A request for a seizure program for a Talbot County private school to better understand what to do for a student that is having a seizure, a young handicapped child inspires the local community to mobilize and help his family purchase a wheelchair accessible van for him, a call comes in for individual(s) needing dental care, eye care, medical supplies, housing supplies, adaptive technology, diapers, and clothing all of this and more are illustrative of the daily gaps in assistance that are requested and received at the Epilepsy Association of the Eastern Shore (EAES) for residents of Talbot County.

With the help of the United Fund of Talbot County Campaign — local needs are met and addressed. The multiple needs sited are typical examples of real everyday challenges of residents with developmental disabilities and epilepsy that are our neighbors, friends, colleagues and families living in Talbot County who require professional and expeditious responses from the Epilepsy Association of the Eastern Shore (EAES).

EAES is dedicated to serving persons with developmental disabilities and/or epilepsy, assisting its clients in achieving their personal goals as well as independence and productivity within the community. In total over 60 individuals in the county were helped with over 130 requests and over $196,000 in assistance allocated to residents of Talbot County for services. “The Epilepsy Association of the Eastern Shore cannot do this work alone,” said Dr. Jose Balea, Director of Public Affairs at EAES. “With the help of United Fund of Talbot County campaign local needs are assessed and gaps in care are addressed in an appropriate fashion for the local community”.

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United Fund 2012-13 Campaign Off to A Strong Start

The United Fund’s 2012-13 campaign officially kicked off on September 17th and already has attracted over $188,000 in contributions toward its $400,000 goal, donations that assist people here in Talbot County with medical needs, childcare, crisis situations, character development, youth mentoring and so much more.

As a long-time leader in generating and distributing critically needed funds to a large number of local community organizations, the United Fund of Talbot County helps its agencies to connect with the critical underfunded human services needs in our community, helping residents lead healthier, more productive and self-sufficient lives.

Currently there are 21 participating agencies, most of whom are small and whose very existence depends on the Fund’s financial support of them. Please help the United Fund achieve its mission to fund the underfunded health and human services needs here in our community. Mail your support to United Fund of Talbot County, P.O. Box 741, Easton, MD 21601 or donate online at www.unitedfund.org and help create lasting changes now!

 

 

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Local Businesses Support The United Fund

Being part of a community is vital for any local business, and one way to ensure businesses thrive in Talbot County is to help build a thriving community. Recently, three local businesses – Bristol Realty, The Talbot Bank and Weaver, Mavity, Short Associates – did just that with their contributions to the 2012-13 United Fund of Talbot County campaign.  “The support from these organizations helps fulfill an important role here in our community, helping to insure the current and future needs of our neighbors, family and friends are met,” noted Ann Jacobs, United Fund Executive Director.

Support for the United Fund is not only a great way to be involved, but it helps support causes that need help in our community. To make a contribution to the 2012-13 campaign goal of $400,000, please mail your support to United Fund of Talbot County, P.O. Box 741, Easton, MD 21601 or donate securely online at www.unitedfund.org.

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