By Hannah Carver
NKyTribune reporter
The United Way of Greater Cincinnati is facing a dramatic shift in the way it operates this year, and the lead of those efforts here in Northern Kentucky is Central Bank Market President Jim Uebel.
The bank executive serves as United Way’s Northern Kentucky Area Chairman, and he has been a giver to the agency since back in the mid-1980’s.
“I understand tremendously the importance of United Way, and I realize the importance of the corporate community supporting United Way,” Uebel said.
Jim Uebel
Uebel says he’s excited about the changes coming to the regional United Way. Spurred by corporate structure change in the community, the agency actually has a lower fundraising objective than last year’s. Uebel says it’s important to be more prudent in the use of the capital they’re able to raise. This year’s campaign is not so much about a number. Rather, it’s about a mission — to first and foremost, reduce poverty.
“This is a big commitment. This is completely unlike the United Way,” Uebel said. “This is so different from prior campaigns. This is a specific mission. It’s to reduce poverty, and that’s not been the case in the past. I think it’s a fantastic shift.”
The corporate transition and shift in campaign goals aren’t the only changes facing the agency. United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s new President and CEO Michael Johnson started in July.
Having grown up in public housing in Chicago, Johnson knows all too well the toll that poverty has on individuals, families, cities, and even a region.
“Michael has a passion for reducing poverty, so he’s a perfect fit in his new found position as CEO,” Uebel said.
Johnson has adopted a more grassroots approach to campaigning; personally visiting each of the 10 counties that United Way of Greater Cincinnati serves in town hall-style meetings.
“We not only get a chance to talk to the corporate partner but also the man on the street, so to speak,” Uebel said. “They get a chance to hear Michael Johnson, the CEO of Greater Cincinnati, talk about his passion for the United Way and the focus on reducing poverty.”
Uebel says one of the main approaches they’re taking to this goal is to make solutions more family-centered and holistic.
“Ther are many, many facets of poverty, and the United Way wants to focus and drill down on the question of how we all have [the agencies] work together, collaboratively, as a team, to attack poverty as a whole versus just handing money out to different agencies.”
https://www.facebook.com/UnitedWayofGreaterCincinnati/videos/1824296957655541/
Fighting poverty will be on ongoing focus, and Uebel says he hopes continued progress and successes from year to year brings momentum to future campaigns.
“I think at the end of the day, we’ve determined our community cares. People give a lot” Uebel said. “One thing that everybody universally cares about is reducing poverty, so we’re hopeful that’s going to lead to a lot more participation, individually by people, as well as corporately to support it.”
One of the biggest challenges Uebel and his team face, though, is people’s busy schedules.
“It’s a challenge to get folks. They are committed to being involved, but still, it’s a challenge to get with them and have them find the time in their daily work schedule to talk about what the focus is this year and what their abilities might be in terms of setting goals.”
This does not faze Uebel, though. He says he and his team will just keep trying until they’re able to find a time to sit in front of people and present them with the focus of this year’s campaign.
“This is a very, very giving community, and I think it’s been ingrained in all of us as we’re raised, specifically in Northern Kentucky, to help others,” Uebel said. “I think that’s my responsibility in the position that I’m in, not just to grow Central Bank, but also to help be a leader in the community. You know, at the end of the day, if people see community leaders involved in setting an example, then they want to help.”
Meeting with supporters of United Way is one of Uebel’s favorite parts of the job.
“It’s great to see their commitment. What they do is a lot harder than what I’m doing here. I’m just going out and saying thanks for what you’ve done in the past,” Uebel said. “They’re the ones that come up with all these great [fundraising] ideas, so it’s rewarding to see that.”
Throughout the 10 counties it serves, United Way of Greater Cincinnati serves approximately 145 agencies, 41 of which operate in Northern Kentucky.
Assisting Uebel on the Northern Kentucky United Way team:
Brett Blackwell, Board Treasurer at Central Bank & Trust Co.
Carri Chandler, Vice President, St. Elizabeth Foundation
Niki Clare, Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs at Citi
Mickey Fritz, Senior Investment Consultant with Robert W. Baird & Co.
Trey Grayson, Attorney with Frost Brown Todd
Kristi Nelson, General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer at Pomeroy
Angela Short, Commercial Lending Assistant at Central Bank & Trust Co.
Together the team gets support from Sally Aiken, Amanda Greenwell, and Abby Grimm of the Greater Cincinnati United Way.
