Nonprofit sets $1.2 million goal, awarded $175,000 in grants

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Empathy is a rare commodity these days, but that’s exactly why it matters. These are the words Jessica Ausbrook spoke to the crowd at the United Way of Howard and Tipton Counties 2025 campaign kickoff last week. As the president of the nonprofit’s executive board, she is among those leading the charge to help the community.

That empathy is exactly what United Way is relying upon to help literally thousands of citizens in the local area. To that end, the organization unveiled its goal for the 2025 fundraising campaign. It hopes to secure $1.2 million from those who have the empathy and the resources to help.

“We no longer have the luxury of shrugging our shoulders and waiting for someone else to step up,” said Ausbrook. “Not when kids are falling behind. As community leaders, we set the tone. If we don’t act with compassion, who will? If we don’t invest in our children’s future, who’s going to? Hunger for literacy, lack of opportunity; these things don’t pause. They don’t fix themselves. It’s up to us.”

The United Way, locally, accomplished some impressive things over the past year. It provided meals each week to more than 300 schoolchildren – more than 10,000 Buddy Bags filled with food. It distributed more than 200,000 books to children through a partnership with Imagination Library, a literacy program spearheaded by Country music superstar Dolly Parton.

United Way also served more than 2,500 local residents by connecting them to resources such as housing and utility assistance, food, and transportation through its Information and Referral Services program. It provided similar assistance to more than three dozen U.S. military veterans in need.

And by offering free income tax filing services to more than 1,600 working individuals and families, United Way helped bring more than $800,000 in refunds back to the local economy.

“We cannot do the work that we do and have that impact without the support of our community,” said Morgan Quinn, Interim President and CEO of the local United Way. “So, thank you to each and every one of you for allowing us to serve our community in this way.

“None of these programs would be possible without community support, whether it’s through financial contributions, through your time, or even just through your advocacy of telling people that we offer those programs and sending the referrals to us.”

Quinn disclosed that United Way awarded $423,226 in grants to local nonprofits over the past 18 months, thanks to the generosity of the community, as well as a significant contribution from the Stellantis Foundation. In just the fall grant cycle, which concluded at the kickoff, more than $175,000 was awarded to 10 different organizations.

To reach the $1.2 million goal, United Way will need the community to respond with generosity. Workplace campaigns and pledges from individual donors will be requested over the next few months, and should the people of Howard and Tipton counties respond as they have so many times in the past, the organization is confident that it will continue to meet the needs of thousands.

That means boots on the ground for United Way. Campaign director Allie Tomlinson introduced the 2025 campaign’s co-chairs, Abby Ripberger and Santos Salinas, who will lead the charge. This year, United Way decided to have a campaign chair for each county to better deliver the message.

“I am really passionate about my home and the people who live and work there,” said Ripberger, the Tipton County chair and owner of the Love Bug Food Truck and Cafe. “I got involved with United Way because this summer, we had a situation like most counties in Indiana where we were unable to fund summer food programs.

“I just couldn’t think of a way to make sure that the kids in my community have food. So, I took to the internet, and within a week, the Family Resource Center, the United Way, and Food Finders answered the call. I know that doesn’t seem complicated, and that has to be because United Way has such a strong backbone and such a strong partnership with the community.”

Ripberger said that summer lunch program served more than 300 kids in Tipton County. But she wants to do more, which takes the entire community to accomplish.

“I hope that when I call, you will answer, and that you’re ready to give an open and generous heart,” said Ripberger.

Salinas will oversee the Howard County campaign. He first became involved with United Way through its literacy efforts. He regularly makes school visits to read to children. At the kickoff, he brought along the book he reads most often, “The Book with No Pictures.”

Most children’s books are filled with illustrations, but with this one, it urges participation without them. And the kids ask for the story to be read again and again. It is that level of participation Salinas hopes to foster in Howard County.

“Many of us may not see the pictures in our community of the poverty or actually see the hunger firsthand,” said Salinas. “All these organizations that the United Way helps support and lift up do see those pictures for us. Our community is asking us to step up, and they continue to ask us to step up. So, even though we had a campaign last year, we have to keep doing it.”

The annual campaign for United Way Serving Howard and Tipton Counties is underway now. For information on how to donate or to invite the organization to speak to employees, civic groups, churches, and more, visit https://www.howardandtiptonunitedway.org/ or call 765-457-4357.