MOUNT VERNON – Next steps in an effort to develop and manage community resources were announced at United Way’s February meeting of its board of directors. Kelly Brenneman, life-long Knox County resident and active community volunteer, is United Way of Knox County’s new director of resource development.
“As our organization has quickly grown in recent years, the Board has recognized the need to diversify so that all talents within the organization are maximized,” said Mark Bennett, United Way board president. “These are exciting times for United Way in our community because we have the capacity to manage relationships with various entities in our area, therefore encouraging more collaborative thinking and approaches in how we best meet the needs of our county’s residents.”
In this newly created position, Brenneman will coordinate the ongoing United Way campaign effort, working to enhance relationships with supporters of United Way and to cultivate new individual volunteer and corporate involvement. Plans will be released in 2015 for new and expanded community building efforts focused around women, young leadership givers, volunteer opportunities and community events.
Brenneman assumed her new role in mid-February and is excited about the opportunities this new position will bring to the organization. “This position centers on all of my passions including meeting and speaking with people and groups, developing donor relationships, along with fun and creative fundraising strategy execution,” said Brenneman. “I look forward to continuing the level of excellence our director (Jen Odenweller), the Board of Directors and our staff have created for evaluating community needs and finding ways to address those needs.”
Having most recently served as the American Red Cross of Knox County executive director for five years, Brenneman has even deeper United Way connections from when she and her husband, Charlie, served as 2008 United Way campaign co-chairs. Brenneman is a former board member of the Alcohol and Drug Freedom Center, is a past president of Psi Iota Xi philanthropic sorority and continues to be active in Psi Iota Xi as well as Soroptimist. Brenneman is president-elect of the Mount Vernon Rotary Club.
More information will be shared about the future of United Way’s work in Knox County at its upcoming Annual Meeting on Thursday, March 5, at 4 p.m. at Kenyon College’s Peirce Hall. Jen Odenweller, executive director, will reflect on accomplishments of the organization and its partner agencies in 2014, and will look ahead to what is to come in 2015. Following the business meeting, a celebration of the $1 million campaign goal achievement will take place including a campaign awards ceremony and final results announcement. To attend the meeting and celebration, call United Way at 740.397.5721.
