Join Our Events

We’re UNITING for fun, beverages and to ensure ALL children in our community have the caring support and resources they need to achieve student success!

Please join us for a special book drive on Thursday, April 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Ohio Brewing Company at 421 E 2nd Avenue. This communitywide event is an opportunity to collect new or gently used books for local children (birth to age 8) to support the Success By Third Grade movement. Register now and make a difference for hundreds of local children!

The Big Table is a communitywide effort that includes thousands of people representing different backgrounds and perspectives participating in hundreds of conversations to discuss how we create a more kind and equitable future for everyone in central Ohio. United Way is excited to invite you to join us for an exciting exchange of insightful and collaborative ideas as we gather together to discuss several important issues impacting our community.

Attendees can choose from two 90-minute sessions, beginning at 11 a.m. with lunch provided:

1. Needs of Immigrant Children in our Community hosted by Kate Curry-Da-Souza and Alexia Santiago, Network Directors, Success by Third Grade
2. Central Ohio Housing Needs hosted by Michael Wilkos, Senior VP, Community Impact

Registration is required and space is limited. Click the link to register now through Eventbrite.

What better way to celebrate 100 years of impact than with Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams? Join us on Thursday, Sept. 14 starting at 11:30 a.m. on the Columbus Commons as we say thank you to all our donors, volunteers and advocates in central Ohio! We’ll have free Jeni’s ice cream, lawn games and lots of fun. Don’t miss it!

We’re UNITING for fun, beverages and to ensure ALL children in our community have the caring support and resources they need to achieve student success!

As part of United Way’s Centennial, please join us for a special BYOBs (Bring Your Own Books) book drive on Thursday, April 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Railhouse in East Market at 212 Kelton Avenue. This communitywide event is an opportunity to collect new or gently used books for local children (ages 5-10 years old) to support the Success By Third Grade movement. Register now and make a difference for hundreds of local children!

Join United Way and a panel of community leaders for a special Learn United focused on the importance of adding diverse, inclusive leadership to nonprofit boards and partnering to support nonprofits led by people of color. The conversation will take a deep dive into the critical role corporations can play by helping to identify impactful, diverse leaders and joining United Way to invest in nonprofits that can move the needle on building a more equitable central Ohio.

The ability to read by third grade plays a significant role in a person’s success later in life. Join us to hear and discuss this growing communitywide commitment to ensure all students in Franklin County are on a pathway to success by the end of third grade. Success by Third Grade is mobilizing the collective power of government, corporations, school districts, nonprofits and individuals to focus on supporting children in kindergarten through third grade and strengthening their families. Join this special Learn United session to discover how you can be an advocate and champion for this critically important effort.

Join us for a roundtable discussion on the importance and excitement of Tax Time! United Way’s Tax Time Coalition is a network of providers in nonprofit, business, and government organizations that work to provide free tax preparation services for low- and moderate-income households and connect them to financial empowerment resources. This conversation will focus on the significant impact Tax Time has had on the community since its launch in 2007, volunteer experiences, and how you can get involved!

Are you curious to learn about different ways to give back? Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from nonprofit leaders how you can support businesses that directly support the basic needs of our community. Social enterprises provide excellent food, services and experiences, PLUS they support the missions of talented organizations dedicated to paying the profits forward.

The past few years have been difficult for everyone, but the impact of the pandemic has been particularly hard on our children and youth. Stay-at-home orders, virtual learning, social distancing and disruptions to camps, recreation centers and other places where youth meet have made it difficult to develop friendships and experience social and emotional learning. Join us to discuss where and how you can be part of the solution as several United Way funded partners discuss their work and opportunities available to support youth to help them reach their full potential.

House Bill 616 has the potential to impact teachers, businesses, and our communities if it is passed. Join us to hear from a panel of community partners and central Ohio leaders as we discuss the bill and its implications, answer your questions and explain how you can make your voice heard on this important issue.

The disparate impact of the tumultuous past two years and COVID-19 on central Ohio women and minority communities have been significant. Join us for a cross-sector conversation with female leaders in our community to discuss the current climate for women in the workforce and the ongoing pursuit of economic and social equality.

A large majority of Ohioans want fair legislative districts. But we have a very difficult time reaching a consensus on what “fair” means. Compact geographic districts where communities remain intact? Competitive districts where as many as possible could be won by either party? Districts that combine different communities or pieces of communities to bring together people of differing views from different locations? Districts that are majority-minority to assure minority representation in the legislature?
Join us and our panel of speakers for what promises to be a fascinating and lively discussion about the difficult value questions that need to be answered to draw “fair” districts in a state where the geographic spread of Republicans and the concentration of Democrats make line drawing so contentious.

April is National Volunteer Month and the perfect time to honor the important role of volunteers in our community. In fact, many central Ohio organizations can’t function without volunteers. Join us and a panel of community partners and leaders to discuss the increased need for volunteers and how volunteerism has changed to meet the demands of a virtual environment. You’ll learn about the critical need for volunteers and the technology updates that have made it easier than ever to get involved.

It is obvious to the casual observer that our region is growing. In fact, 90% of the population growth in Ohio in the last decade occurred in Metro Columbus. Within the City of Columbus, the 2020 Census revealed it was the largest decade of growth in the city’s history, adding almost 120,000 more residents. The city’s current zoning was written in the 1950s and no longer aligns with how the city is growing. An effort is underway to rewrite the zoning code, and it will have far-reaching impacts on both existing neighborhoods and how the city grows for decades to come. Join a panel of city officials and nonprofit leaders to discuss how a new zoning code will change our city and impact affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and development, and accommodate future growth.

For the first time in history, there are five generations in the workforce! Join us for a discussion with a panel of community partners and central Ohio leaders representing various generations (Baby Boomer, Generation X, Millennial, Generation Z), as they share their experiences in the multigenerational workforce. The conversation will focus on the similarities of generations, rather than the generational stereotypes that are commonly portrayed in social media.

In Columbus, a person would have to make $19.83 an hour to afford a two-bedroom home at the fair market rate of $1,031 per month. But the average renter in our community falls short of that number, making $16.99 per hour. Affordable housing is in short supply in central Ohio, but United Way and other organizations are committed to ensuring families have access to safe, affordable housing. Join our discussion with local nonprofit partners about housing trends and issues, what is being done to solve this complex problem and how we can all be part of the solution.

Did you know that high school graduates earn a national average of $9,204 more annually compared to high school dropouts, and they are less likely to engage in criminal behavior or require social services? Join us to learn about the importance of increasing high school graduation rates, current trends, and the work that is being done by local nonprofit partners and United Way to ensure every student graduates and reaches their full potential.

According to Mid-Ohio Food Collective, 153,000 families in Franklin County have visited a food pantry since March 2021. Of those families, 35% did so for the first time. Join us to discuss and learn from our local nonprofit partners about the trends, program investment, and hard work that is being done by organizations and United Way to ensure equitable access to nutritious food throughout our community.

In Franklin County, only 40% of children enter kindergarten with the academic, social and emotional skills necessary to be ready to learn. School readiness gives children a strong foundation for future success in school and in life. Join us for this important discussion about the importance of quality early education and the supportive programs that ensure children are prepared for kindergarten.

The recently released U.S. Census revealed fascinating facts about the population and shifting demographics of the City of Columbus and Franklin County. Join us to learn where, how and why the Columbus metro area is outperforming the state, region and nation with robust population growth. We’ll discuss what the changes mean for our community, and how we can continue to work together to create a stronger, more equitable central Ohio for everyone who lives here.

According to the latest 2020 Census, Columbus’ population is now 905,748, up by 15% since 2010.  Much of the growth is attributed to racially and ethnically diverse groups, including Hispanic and Latinx.  Join us to learn about and celebrate the profound impact and cultural significance of the Hispanic and Latinx community from a diverse panel of speakers during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Join us to learn from local advocates and policy experts as they break down and discuss the effect the state budget will have on children and education in Ohio. While the budget will be signed by the time the session takes place, advocates will offer their reflections and provide strategies for how to stay engaged and continue to advocate for our community’s children and families.

Juneteenth is considered the “longest running African American holiday” and has been called “America’s second Independence Day.” However, activists continue to fight for its observance in many states. Please join us as we challenge our understanding of the holiday, explore the context of its history and discuss ways to honor its legacy.

Most residents of central Ohio come from outside the metro area, across the country or around the world, meaning they are not well-versed on the city’s history. What do the Short North arches mean? What was the first tax approved in Columbus? Why did the state capital move three times before landing in Columbus? Full of importance, the city has a unique history with many great contributions to regional and national history. Established in 1812 as the first city in the United States solely created to be a state capital, Columbus was not an early success. Prosperity in the city is not evenly felt. Some neighborhoods struggle while others thrive.  This session provides fun, quirky, interesting and historically noteworthy facts about Ohio’s capital and largest city, and how the past shapes our current day.

Columbus runs on Pride! Since 1981, Columbus has been celebrating its LGBTQ+ community and is known as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the United States. However, there are still struggles and hurdles experienced by our LGBTQ+ neighbors. Join a panel of local leaders sharing their own pride and discussing the needs of our LGBTQ+ community and how we can best support them. Moderator: Solonas Karoulla, Relationship Manager at United Way of Central Ohio.