By Angela DeBoskey
Chocolate.
In various forms.
From 30 of your favorite local retailers and food establishments.
On Mother’s Day weekend.
All while supporting United Way of Hancock County’s Vulnerable Children’s Initiative.
Have I got your attention yet?
I have just described our newest event, a sweet fundraiser called the Downtown Chocolate Tour. Patrons will buy a ticket for $25, allowing them to collect a chocolate-themed treat from each of the 30 participating businesses between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. (You can find more information on the event, as well as a link to buy tickets, at www.uwhancock.org.)
It’s a fun, light-hearted way to support an important cause, and it’s part of our effort to host year-round events highlighting the behind-the-scenes work we do all year here at the United Way.
For example, you might be used to seeing us most visibly during our Annual Campaign, from mid-September to mid-November. That’s when we host our Campaign Kickoff Kickball Tournament, as well as our World of Downtown Restaurants tour. And it’s the time of year that our mailers and advertisements circulate heavily, and when we present our message to local employers.
But our efforts never stop.
All year long we are focused on Friendraising – strengthening and enhancing our relationships with folks who are familiar with our mission while creating an on-ramp of sorts for people who are just joining us; Fundraising – engaging with donors to help support the important work of our partner agencies and their programming; and Awareness Raising – highlighting the challenges our friends and neighbors are facing, along with the unique solutions that are in place to help. Events like the Downtown Chocolate Tour do all three by giving us the opportunity to connect to the community while educating them on the resources available right here in Hancock County. Along the way, participants will learn about the sweet and simple ways they can help the 1 in 4 people who rely on those resources.
We, along with our events committee, are also actively planning a United We Can (canstruction) food drive event for this summer, and hope to expand our kickball tournament in the fall. We invite you to come to one of these events and show your support for your community while learning more about our mission to measurably improve the lives of vulnerable children, families and individuals.
So, let’s start with chocolate. What sweeter way can you think of to support community-wide efforts to help kids? We hope you’ll join us.
DeBoskey is CEO of United Way of Hancock County.
(This guest column ran in the Findlay Courier on May 1, 2023.)