Updated August 25, 2010 2:30:00 PM
The following articles were published by The Gainesville Sun
Is lack of fluoride hurting kids?
August 10, 2010
By Kimberly C. Moore
At 8:10 every Tuesday morning during the school year, after all the announcements have been made, Cedar Key School teachers hand out cups with a fluoridated liquid for the children to swish in their mouths for about a minute. Read more...
Care void takes toll on kids' teeth
August 9, 2010
By Kimberly C. Moore
As the public health dentist in Clay County, Dr. Tara Hackney walks into a packed reception room in Green Cove Springs every Monday through Thursday as some of the area's poorest residents wait to have their teeth checked. Read more...
Dental care for kids in Florida marked by disparity
August 8, 2010
By Kimberly C. Moore
With blond hair, blue eyes and a bright smile, Taylor Neely, 4, squirmed and giggled as she waited for a light sedative to make her relax before University of Florida pediatric dentist Dr. Michael Tarver put two crowns on her back teeth. Read more...
Event uses mail carriers to help feed the hungry
May 5, 2010
By Yara Simon
Donating food for the nearly 50 million Americans who face hunger every day will be as simple as walking to the mailbox this weekend. Read more...
Free tax preparation begins Monday
January 21, 2010
By Aida Mallard
Thanks to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, you can get your 2009 income tax filed electronically and receive your refund quickly without spending any of your hard-earned money. Read more...
How can I find a volunteer opportunity in my community?
May 10, 2009
By Pat Bellis
Since my last column, I have received several questions about finding volunteer opportunities in the community you live. How do you locate someone who needs your help?
Fall vaccine campaign set for county schools
May 1, 2009
When swine flu cases begin to be reported in Florida, Alachua County may have a slight edge in protecting against the new and virulent strain of virus.Read more...
UF's Students Live United benefits United Way with $10,000 national prize
April 27, 2009
The coordination of fundraisers by UF's Students Live United, collecting funds for the local United Way campaign through Facebook, earned a national $10,000 prize to benefit the United Way of North Central Florida. The lead student group participating was Delta Upsilon Fraternity. Read more...
New center hopes to fight for family unity
March 12, 2009
When the Neighborhood Resource Center opens later this spring, east Gainesville parents will have a place to obtain information and services designed to strengthen their families. Read more...
SFC class spearheads book drive for kids
March 7, 2009
When the students in Corinne Greenberg's reading and language arts for early childhood education class at Santa Fe College heard about the need to help families create home libraries for preschool children, they wanted to help.
Read more...
Food banks need help
March 2, 2009
While the shelves at Bread of the Mighty Food Bank in Gainesville are not bare, inventory has been disappearing more quickly in recent weeks than it ever has before at this time of year.
Read More...
Sun's annual award will shine a spotlight on community service
February 14, 2009
It's time once again to honor this community's volunteers by nominating them for The Gainesville Sun's 46th Annual Communtiy Service Award.Read more...
Nominate outstanding volunteers
February 14, 2009
The work of a few extraordinary community volunteers will rise to the top as local organizations submit their nominations for the Work of Heart Volunteer Awards. Read more...
United Way makes cuts to provide for agencies
January 8, 2009
The United Way of North Central Florida has laid off four people and made other cuts to move $174,000 from its operating budget to provide to member agencies already faced with increased demand for services and slowing donations. Read more...
In tough times, residents still find ways to help
December 21, 2008
As with most every sector of the economy, charitable giving - which faces challenges even in good times - has seen demand for assistance grow while donations decreased. Read more...
United Way of $500,000 Shy of its goal
December 20, 2008
As the 2008 workplace campaign season for United Way of North Central Florida came to a close on Friday, the agency remains $500,000 shy of the revised $3.6 million goal. Read more..
Charities, non-profits helping needy this season
December 14, 2008
When Martha Young and her 9-year-old daughter moved into a homeless shelter last month, the plan was to find a place of their own by Christmas. Read more...
Area Has a Huge Need to Fill This Holiday Season
November 30, 2008
It has always been a struggle for Brent Frank to provide for his two children, especially at Christmas. This year is even more challenging for the single dad, who learned two weeks ago that his worker's compensation is ending. Read more...
Bad Economy Means Fewer Donations to Local Charities
High Springs Herald
November 27, 2008
Donations are drastically down at area charities due to hard economic times affecting people's ability to give, officials say. Read more...
United Way Forecasts Shortfall in Area Fundraising
November 21, 2008
Despite extending its annual fundraising campaign by a month, the United Way of North Central Florida expects it will still fall just more than a half-million dollars short in its goal to help 36 area programs and organizations. Read more...
Editorial: These hard times
November 14, 2008
These are hard times. Unemployment is up. Consumer confidence is sinking. The state of Florida is looking at a budget deficit of $2 billion or more. And for a community like ours, which depends so heavily on state dollars, the looming cuts can be devastating. Read more...
United Way Extends Fundraising Campaign
November 13, 2008
The United Way of North Central Florida fundraising campaign has been extended for a month because of concerns that the annual effort is falling short of its $4 million goal. Read more...
Economic Crisis Increasing Demand for Services, Hurting Level of Donations
November 9, 2008
This is usually the time of year when people start giving back and helping others.
But this year, people who want to open up their hearts to the needy might have a harder time opening their wallets. Charitable organizations and non-profit groups in Gainesville and Ocala believe the economic crisis and rising unemployment rates will definitely hurt the level of donations from the public, which is typically so generous during the holidays. Read more...
Volunteers Plunge into Day of Giving
September 13, 2008
The Plazas of the Americas at the University of Florida was quite the scene Saturday morning. With orange and blue balloons all around and a free breakfast buffet, around 700 students gathered for a day of volunteering. Read more...
$640,000 in Grants Given to Eight Groups
June 26, 2008
Eight area organizations will share $640,000 in grants supporting their programs in early learning, parent education, health care and family resources, officials with United Way of North Central Florida announced Wednesday. Read more...
United Way Giving to Top Last Year
May 22, 2008
The United Way of North Central Florida announced Wednesday it will donate $1.7 million to community programs over the next year, with grant funding divvied between a variety of groups in the Alachua County area. Read more...
CEO and Caregiver: Mother of Twins Says Flexibility Key
May 11, 2008
By day, Karen Bricklemyer is president and CEO of the United Way of North Central Florida, overseeing 16 employees, hundreds of volunteers and a $4 million budget that helps fund 30 other agencies in six counties. Read more...
United Way 2-1-1 service links area resources
February 14, 2008
Dolores Rodriguez was thrilled when she got the call last February saying a donor kidney was waiting for her at Shands at the University of Florida. Read more...
United Way marks 50 years of charity
October 10, 2007
It started out as the brainchild of about 15 dedicated local residents, and in that first year they raised about $80,000. Read more...
660 United Way volunteers help out on 'Day of Caring'
September 1, 2007
If you spent much time driving around town Friday, you probably noticed crews of folks in matching beige T-shirts trimming back bushes, painting peeling walls or planting gardens at more than 50 locations around Gainesville and beyond. Read more...
United Way funds area programs for youth
June 28, 2007
United Way of North Central Florida has named five agencies as “Success by 6” partners for 2007-08. The organizations will share in more than $420,000 in grants to support programs designed to prepare area youngsters – mentally and physically – to enter school and learn successfully. Read more...
United Way notifies programs of funding
May 25, 2007
Officials with United Way of North Central Florida announced Thursday that more than$1.2 million in contributions has been allocated to support agencies and programs that will have the greatest impact for the neediest members of the community. Read more...
Area officials launch 2-1-1 call-in system
February 15, 2007
Not every emergency call is for an ambulance or a police car. That’s why lawmakers hope social service providers some day will be as easy to contact as the local police or fire services. Read more...
Kids aren't born to fail, we fail them from birth
June 2, 2006
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of speaking to hundreds of local citizens about the significance of the United Way's Success By 6 initiative, which is quickly building momentum throughout North Central Florida. Read more…
The missing graduates
June 2, 2006
Ensuring that all children are ready to learn by the time they get to kindergarten isn't the school system's responsibility. Read more…
Spirit of the Community annual meeting
June 1, 2006
Three groups with a single purpose will share $400,000 in grant support from the United Way, agency officials announced at its annual meeting Wednesday. Read more…
Change is on the way
May 29, 2006
As it enters its 50th year in 2007, the United Way of North Central Florida will realize some changes in not only the way it has been run, but in the way it affects the community.
Read more…
27 agencies to share in United Way fund
May 27, 2006
Twenty-seven agencies in six counties got letters this week spelling out the funding they will receive for 2006-07 from the United Way of North Central Florida. Read more…