John and Julia Franz, Shelby County United Way 2024 Campaign Chairs, have announced the volunteer team to lead the 67th United Way fall campaign. The theme this year is “Unite & Uplift.”
John and Julia Frantz, John Bertsch, and Mickey Hamer along with Karla Young, President of the Shelby County United Way have started the process of making CEO visits to Shelby County companies. There are many returning division leaders for this year’s campaign.
John and Julia Frantz have been active community member over the years in church, school, professional organizations and member agencies.
Julia Frantz is a registered nurse who has both teaching and community experience. She is a longtime volunteer at Elizabeth New Life Center, a member of the United Way Allocation team for two decades, a former Shelby County Library Board member and was board president during the renovation and expansion campaign.
John Frantz is the owner and president of Sidney Electric, a regional leader in electrical contracting, after he began his employed as a student intern in 1977. He is a current board member of the National Electrical Contractors Association, Western Ohio Chapter as well as a member of the Academy of Electrical Contracting being inducted in 2011.
John Frantz’s involvements stretch into his local community as he is an Executive Board member of the Miami Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America and a committee member for the Troop 95. John is a Trustee for the Lehman Catholic High School Foundation. Sidney Electric has been the sole supporter for more than 50 years of the Sidney Electric Girls Softball League supporting more than 300 girls each year.
The Large Manufacturing Division will be led by John Bertsch, who is the owner of Detailed Machining. John has served many years rotating on different United Way Allocation Teams. This is his first year as a division leader.
The Large Manufacturing Assistant will be Mickey Hamer, retired from Cargill. He is a board member of partner agency Shelby County CASA and will be serving in his fourth campaign.
The Small Manufacturing Division will be led this year by Jason Wagner, Commercial Lender for Minster Bank. This will be Jason’s ninth year as a division leader.
The Service Division will be co-chaired by Mark Shipman. Mark is the Distribution Manager at Amos Media. This will be Mark’s 15th year to serve in a leadership role in the United Way campaign.
The Retail Division will be chaired by Evan Jameson. Evan is the Assistant Branch Manager for Mutual Federal. This is his first year to serve as a division leader.
In her seventh year leading the Professional Division is Ashley Himes, who is the owner and insurance agent of Ashley Himes State Farm Insurance. She is serving her fifth year on the Shelby County United Way board and serves on the Executive Committee as the Past Board Chair.
The Health Care Division will be led by Jenny Huelskamp, Marketing Liaison at Wilson Health Foundation, and Mark Klosterman, C.E.O. for Wilson Health. This is Huelskamp’s ninth year serving on the campaign and Kosterman will be participating in his sixth campaign.
Andrew Bowsher, City Manager for the City of Sidney, will lead the City Employee’s campaign. This will be Andrew’s third campaign.
The County Public Service Division this year will be co-chaired by Bob Guillozet and Jodi Siegel. This is the 10th year for Shelby County Commissioner Bob Guillozet and the eighth campaign for Shelby County Recorder Jodi Siegel.
The Education Division will be co-chaired by Tiffany Rank, Sidney City Schools Communications Coordinator and Amy Simindinger, Juvenile Court Liaison, Midwest Regional Educational Service Center.
Rank is serving on her 12fth campaign and a former United Way Board Member. Amy Simindinger is serving on her 13th United Way campaign. Simindinger facilitates the I.M.P.A.C.T. Program, a United Way funded program. Simindinger will be leading the County Segment of the Education Division while Rank will lead the Sidney City Schools campaign.
Traci Milanese, Director of Compassionate Care will be joined by Emily Neu, Director of the Mercy Mission House as co-chairs of the Nonprofit Division for this year’s campaign. Both programs are United Way partner agencies. This will be Traci’s fifth campaign and second as a division leader for Emily.
The Retirees Division and Cornerstone Society Leadership Giving Division will be led by Shelby County United Way employee Jayne Smith. This is her 14th year being a division leader in our campaign. Smith is the Director of Finance and Administration.
The 2024 campaign kick-off luncheon will be held on Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the Palazzo in Botkins and is open to the public with a complimentary meal provided. Reservations are not needed.
The campaign will continue through the finale celebration on Nov. 7. The Finale will have a new venue and time of celebration as we are excited to host the event at the Historic Sidney Theater starting at 5 p.m. with a cash bar and heavy Hors D’ Oeuvres. A shorter presentation will begin at 5:30.
Last year over $1,400 ,000 was raised during the annual campaign. Agency funding requests were significantly higher this spring and the allocation budget was increased. The 110 percent club continues in the 2024 campaign as the Shelby County United Way challenges our donors to increase their gift by 10 percent or more to assist in addressing increased requests by the partner agencies.
The mission statement of the Shelby County United Way is to identify, evaluate, and make possible human services to Shelby County residents.
For more information on the Shelby County United Way or to donate to support the campaign visit shelbycountyunitedway.org, Shelby County United Way Facebook page, or text Shelby to 40403.
The Shelby County United Way is a 4 Star Excellence Rated organization by Charity Navigator 10 out of the past 12 years.
