Posted on April 27, 2012 by kim
Ron Henlein recently joined People Working Cooperatively as director of corporate and community partnerships. A long-time volunteer and formerboard member, he said he is dedicated to helping PWC grow.
In this new position, Henlein will be the conduit between PWC and business and community groups, with an emphasis on increasing PWC’s work in the critical home repairs, modifications and weatherization areas.
"PWC serves the community’s most vulnerable homeowners and helps them remain safely in their homes, where they want to be," Henlein said. "This is important work that has strengthened our community for the past 37 years. I’m excited to help PWC bring their valuable services to even more people in need."
According to Jock Pitts, president of PWC, Henlein brings knowledge and passion to this position.
"Ron already has one career with PWC, as a dedicated volunteer for nearly 30 years," Pitts said. "We’re thrilled that he has decided to take his dedication, deep knowledge of PWC, and his astounding amount of knowledge in marketing and retail management to benefit PWC."
Posted on April 20, 2012 by pwcstaff
This week, the City of Cincinnati received news they will be the recipient of a federal grant earmarked to address lead paint problems in local homes and apartments.
People Working Cooperatively is proud to be one of the local nonprofit agencies selected by the City to help address the problem. They are in good company. Other representative agencies include: Price Hill Will, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, Cincinnati Housing Partners, Working In Neighborhoods and the Northside Community Urban Redevelopment Corp.
Cincinnati has many homes built prior to 1978, when the U.S. banned the use of lead paint. This federal fund will allow the City to address the lead paint problem in the local, older, housing stock.
Lead exposure is dangerous to people of all ages, especially children. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, lead poisoning is the leading environmentally-induced illness in children. Additionally, an estimated 19,000 children under age six in Ohio have unsafe levels of lead in their blood, according to an analysis by the Environmental Working Group. The number includes an estimated 1,400 children in Hamilton County.
“Our last partnership with the City’s Lead Program resulted in 203 homes receiving services,” says Jock Pitts, President of PWC. “We’re excited to be selected to provide more lead services to homeowners in need.”
According to Pitts, the Lead program is a natural extension of PWC’s Whole House Strategy. In the past 37 years, PWC has provided 250,000 services to help individuals stay safely in their homes by providing critical home repairs, modifications, and energy conservation services. All services are critical, not cosmetic, focusing on very basic living conditions that keep a home safe and habitable.
To read more about the City’s announcement, please read the following article from City Beat.
To learn more about how PWC’s services are making a proven difference in our community, read the following article on the results of the first phase of our Cadmus research study.
Posted on April 13, 2012 by staci
Nearly 450 cowboys and cowgirls saddled up and rode out to the Hilton Netherland Plaza for Oscar Night ® America, Viox Services’ Wild Wild West, on February 26. For 15 years, guests have walked the red carpet on Oscar Night to raise money for PWC’s Modifications for Mobility program. This year proved no exception with the event raising $150,000 for the program.
Once again, WCPO-TV’s Steve Raleigh and Hagit Limor served as emcees for the evening which included silent and live auctions, jailhouse, trick roper, live music and cowboys and saloon girls courtesy of the Old West Festival.
This year, PWC’s Paddle Raiser raised money for Jerry Alexander, a 66-year-old disabled senior with Cerebral Palsy and profound learning disabilities. He lives with his sister and caregiver, Louise, and her friend. Oscar Night ® guests donated a generous $25,000 to install a much-needed handicap accessible bathroom in the basement of his sister’s home.
PWC owes its deepest appreciation to the event committee, guests and volunteers for making this another terrific event. Event co-chairs were Cynthia Blocksom and Mary “Mike” Calvin.
This event would not have been possible without the support of all our sponsors. This year’s title sponsor was Viox Services; presenting sponsors Advanced Testing Laboratory, Macy’s, Recker & Boerger; major sponsors Citi, EZ-ACCESS, PNC Bank, Prestige Audio Visual, US Bank and zoneCG; supporting sponsors Fifth Third Bank, Focused Capitol Solutions, Phillips Edison Co. and Towers Watson. This year’s media sponsors included WCPO-TV, WVXU, Cincinnati Magazine and 55KRC.
Photos from the event can be seen at facebook.com/PeopleWorkingCooperatively.
Posted on April 06, 2012 by pwcstaff
Are you handy with a hammer? Do power tools make you drool? Are you in the spirit of lending a helping hand?
PWC's annual Repair Affair is right around the corner, and this year we are celebrating 30 years of springtime repair! On Saturday, May 12 hundreds of volunteers from the Greater Cincinnati area will lend a skilled hand in neighboring areas, spending the day in a home or two to create a safer living environment for residents. PWC staff members and volunteers will work in teams to complete simple and complex repairs while meeting new friends throughout the day. While these repairs vary, we have a great need for volunteers who have a knack for carpentry, plumbing and electrical work.
We hope to gather more than 800 volunteers to complete repairs at 100 houses within our community, but we cannot do this alone. Individuals, businesses and community groups can volunteer for a day to improve the quality of life for residents who are disabled or struggling to live comfortably in their homes.
If you pride yourself on your plumbing, building and "fix-it-up" skills, this is the day for you! Our volunteer crew leaders are eager to meet a new friend, revisit with old ones and celebrate Repair Affair's 30th anniversary of helping residents within our community.
Groups must register online by April 23, 2012. Individual volunteers can also register online or call Sara Bourgeois at (513) 351-7921 for more information.